International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
BO Mallikarjuna, TN Devaraja and DV Kolekar

abstract
Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) is an important food crop grown under rainfed and irrigated condition. Finger millet crop is grown in summer (bore well) under irrigated condition where the yields were low due to growing of long duration local varieties. ICAR-Taralabalu Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Davangere conducted the Frontline demonstration on the integrated crop management practices in summer finger millet in Davangere district for three years in an area of 38 ha with 75 farmers. The Improved Crop Management practices viz., promotion of high yielding and short duration variety ML 365, integrated nutrient, pest and disease management technologies and irrigation at critical stages were demonstrated and compared with the farmers practice. Results indicated that demonstration of finger millet variety ML 365 with Improved Crop Management practices recorded higher grain yield of 32.39 qha^-1 and farmers practice (GPU-28) recorded lower yield of 28.49 qha^-1 and also observed the 13.07 percent increase yield over farmer’s practice. The highest average net income was recorded in Demonstration plot of rs.61086.6ha^-1 over the farmer’s practice with rs.47155 ha^-1. Besides, farmers realized higher average benefit cost ratio (2.46) through the demonstration compared to farmer’s practice (2.07). The improved production technology in high yielding variety of finger millet (ML-365) had improved the grain yield and net returns of the farmers growing under irrigated condition. In the present study, potential of the new variety and improved production technologies were demonstrated systematically and scientifically in the farmer’s field along with farmers practice for further adoption in larger scale by farming community.