Impact of Cluster Frontline Demonstrations on Promotion of Pulse Crops in Farmers Fields of Telangana, India

Abstract

Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs) were conducted in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana state in the operational areas KVK Palem to assess the productivity and profitability of improved rabi pulse varieties—green gram (WGG-42) and black gram (PU-31)—using scientific production technologies from 2018–19 to 2020–21. Conducted across 150 farmer fields covering 60 hectares, the demonstrations revealed average yields of 16.7 q/ha for black gram and 14.2 q/ha for green gram, representing yield increase of 15.2–16.1% and 12.5–13.8% respectively over traditional practices. The extension gap was 4.0 q/ha for black gram and 2.8 q/ha for green gram, while the technology gap was 8.3 q/ha and 7.8 q/ha, with technology indices of 33.20% and 35.61%, respectively. Economic analysis showed that the demonstrations generated significantly higher returns, with net increase of Rs. 15,365/ha for black gram and Rs. 18,785/ha for green gram, and benefit-cost ratio of 2.80 and 2.81, respectively.