Scaling Up of Pulse Production under Frontline Demonstration Technology Transfer Program in Himachal Himalayas, India

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Vol. 45; no. 14; pp. 1934 - 1948
• Main Authors: Choudhary, Anil Kumar, Suri, V. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis 01-01-2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; black gram; Cajanus cajan; chickpeas; Cicer arietinum; cost benefit analysis; cowpeas; Farmers; farming systems; Frontline demonstrations; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; innovation adoption; Legumes; Lens culinaris; lentils; livelihood; Phaseolus vulgaris; pigeon peas; production technology; productivity; profitability; pulses; Soil sciences; technology index; technology transfer; Vigna mungo; Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata; water use efficiency; India; Asia; Himalayas; South Asia; Pakistan, Himalayas; India, Himachal Pradesh; Productivity; Profitability; Mountain; Frontline demonstrations; Technology transfer; water-use efficiency; pulses; Water use efficiency; technology index
• ISSN: 1532-2416; 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2014.909836

Frontline demonstrations technology-transfer program (FLD-TTP) in pulses is a noble initiative of the government of India for higher technology adoption to bridge yield gaps. Thus, a study was conducted in Himachal Pradesh, India, on pulse productivity and profitability enhancement using proven technology besides yield gap analysis under FLD-TTP. Extension yield gaps varied by 485–550, 210–460, 470–640, 290–320, 494–600, and 277–512 kg ha ⁻¹ in blackgram (Vigna mungo), kidneybean (Phaseolus vulgaris), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), cowpea (Vigna sinensis), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), and lentil (Lens culinaris), respectively, in the current study. Greater technology gaps were registered in cowpea and chickpea and the least in kidneybean. It was inferred that by adopting improved pulse production technology, pulse productivity can be raised by 97–128, 39–82, 112–129, 59–65, 130–141, and 67–126% in blackgram, kidneybean, pigeonpea, cowpea, chickpea, and lentil, respectively. Improved technology package has also enhanced profitability and additional returns enhancing incremental benefit–cost ratio (1.25–7.21). Technology indexes in blackgram (34.3–34.7%), kidneybean (32–37.5%), pigeonpea (47–50.6%), cowpea (68.8–73%), chickpea (59–65%), and lentil (44.3–60.2%) revealed that demonstrated technology under FLD-TTP is quite feasible in prevailing farming situations in Himachal Pradesh, but it strongly emphasizes educating farmers intensively to adopt available technology. Improved technology has also raised water-use-efficiency in Kharif (0.89–1.32 kg ha ⁻¹ mm) and Rabi pulses (2.41–5.62 kg ha ⁻¹ mm). Overall, FLD-TTP has great potential to scale up pulse productivity and farmers’ livelihoods in Himachal Pradesh and collateral farming situations in the developing world to enhance agricultural production.