Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
KR Barad, RS Prajapati and KV Chaudhary

Abstract:
Demonstration is a powerful tool for motivating the farmers to adopt new practices by comparing the superior results of recommended practices with the usual method. The main objective of front-line demonstration is to demonstrate newly released crop production and protection technologies and management practices at the farmers’ fields under different agro-climatic regions and farming situations. Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is an important rabi season oilseed crop. The study was conducted in Banaskantha district of Gujarat state. The Banaskantha district comprises of 14 talukas, out of which, three talukas viz., Dantiwada, Tharad and Dhanera were selected purposively for present investigation because greater number of FLDs on mustard crop were conducted in these three talukas by KVK, Deesa and KVK, Tharad of the SDAU. The ex-post facto research design and multistage sampling technique were followed for present study. Three villages were selected purposively from each taluka where frontline demonstrations conducted by KVK, Deesa and KVK, Tharad. From each selected village, ten farmers were selected randomly, 90 beneficiary farmers were selected and equal numbers of non-beneficiary farmers were also selected from same villages. Thus, total 180 mustard growers were selected for the study. The study revealed that majority constraints faced by the mustard growers were; high cost of fertilizers, low price produce at time of harvesting and non-availability of finance at time. The most important suggestions expressed by mustard growers were; availability of improved seed from co-operative society and government agency, provision of chemical fertilizer in subsidized rate and fair price should be given to the product.