International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Jyothi R, Raghavendra Yaligar, Kavitha Ullikashi, Mallikarjuna Lingadalli, Revathi RM, Radha J and G Narappa

abstract
Cucurbits group of vegetables are among the protective ones with more nutritional value. They are also very important with respect to more medicinal value and are economically significant cultivable crop among small and marginal farmers. Ridge gourd is the important cucurbit vegetable crop with more of Vit A, B, C, minerals like Fe, Mg and high fibre content. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature in the gourds making them placing in new area for food selection for present day requirement for health management. In Koppal district of Karnataka horticulture crop are increasing steadily and at present 210 ha. area is under cucurbit group of vegetable crop ridge gourd. Farmers are cultivating this crop by getting a district average productivity of 11.43 t/ha. which could be 3.5 times lesser when all the management practices are followed along with high yielding varieties. To address this front-line demonstration on nutritionally rich high yielding variety Arka Prasan was carried out for three consecutive years of 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. Along with yield parameter the fruit and plant health parameters were recorded. During demonstration 55.81% and 17.94% of higher yield was recorded compared to district average and farmers practise respectively. In the demonstration Arka Prasan exhibited 68.46% higher yield over potential yield of 26.0 t/ha. In fruit parameters Arka Prasan fruits exhibited more tenderness (1.19 K-Pa) compared to check (1.38 K-Pa). The crop duration was extended to extra 15 days allowing a greater number of picking (15.07 VS 11.93). Higher fruit weight (104.93g), fruit length (31.78 cm) and a greater number of fruits per plant (140.06) were observed in demonstrated variety compared to farmers check variety (81.3g, 20.74 cm and 105.93 no. respectively). It was observed that percent fruit damage by fruit fly in demo plot was 3.33 and percent powdery mildew incidence was 6.27 as compared to farmers practice (7.65% and 10.99% respectively). These were all resulted in higher net returns with more B:C ratio of 4.81 over check 3.21. This established awareness of higher profitability and economic advantages upon adopting Araka Prasan with nutrient, pest and disease management and also with cultural operation like staking or pendal system of cultivating, which is helped to the greater extent in expression of the crop variety potential which are having and breed for their indeterminate type of plant growth.