Impact of Front Line Demonstration on the Yield and Economics of Okra

Abstract

S. Krishnakumar, Chelvi Ramessh, B. Venudevan, T. Balaji, J. Selvi, P. Arul Arasu and K. Krishna Surendar

Conventional farming is one of the major issues leads to lesser productivity due to lack of available package of practices and high yielding varieties. To replace these difficulties, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Madurai conducted Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs’) in the twenty farmer’s field. The FLDs’ was done in the farmers fields of Lekkadipatti village, Kottampatti Block and Melanedungulam village, Thruparangundrum Block during 2020-21 and 2021-22. The farmers realized very good fruit (Okra hybrid CO 4) yield (10.14 t/acre) in okra and could sell the produce @ Rs 18 per kg in nearby market and got gross return of Rs. 1,82,520/-. He is eyewitnessed the performance of IIHR Vegetable Special in terms of better fruit size, fruit weight, extended crop duration, yield and net returns. They earned average net profit of Rs. 1,02,194 for four months crop duration and very much satisfied. Whereas the conventional farming ie. Farmers practice average yield was 9.05 t/acre and got gross returns of Rs. 1,62,900/- and net returns of Rs. 80,450/-. The percentage increase over farmers practice is 12.06. IIHR Vegetable Special can give continuous flowering and fruiting. Further, the farmer convinced that as the 1.5 % IIHR Vegetable Special spray had the maximum plant height (97.89 cm), and very good fruit length. It also helps in retaining more number of flowers, thus increase in the fruit set leading to higher yield. Once he started spraying IIHR vegetable special in his field, neighboring vegetable growers also came to know about this fertilizer and performance which he was used in the field. Now farmers are using IIHR vegetable special regularly for all the vegetable crops as he has noticed improvement in yield and fruit quality particularly in okra. The farmers were experienced the technologies and very well adopted in the field and attained the socio economic benefits.

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