Assessment of Integrated Crop Management for Enhancing Mango Yield through Front Line Demonstrations in Sangareddy District, Telangana, India

Abstract

The study assessed the impact of Integrated Crop Management (ICM) practices on mango yield and profitability through frontline demonstrations conducted in Sangareddy district, Telangana, during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. The findings revealed a total yield gap of 63.5% between potential and actual mango yields, comprising a 27.75% gap between demonstration plots and farmers practice plots and a 35.8% technological gap. High adoption rates were recorded for key practices, such as water management during flowering and fruiting (93.3%), harvesting methods (90.0%), the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers (83.3%), cultivating legumes as intercrops (80.0%) and applying the recommended amount of farmyard manure (76.6%). Additionally, adoption rates for mango-specific sprays (70.0%) and growth regulator sprays (40.0%) increased significantly following the demonstrations. The demonstration showed a 43.0% increase in mango yield, with demonstration plots outperforming traditional practices in both productivity and profitability. Economic analysis showed higher net returns and benefit-cost (B:C) ratios in the demonstration plots compared to farmers conventional practices. These results underscore the positive impact of ICM practices on mango productivity and profitability, emphasizing the need for adopting improved technologies to promote sustainable mango cultivation.