Impact of cluster frontline demonstrations on pigeon pea productivity and profitability

Introduction

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) is the second most important pulse crop in India after chickpea, predominantly cultivated under rainfed and dryland conditions. It plays a dual role in Indian agriculture: serving as a vital source of dietary protein (20-22%) for the population and contributing to soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation of about 40 kg N/ha. India contributes more than 90% of the global pigeonpea production, with an acreage of 4.80 million ha and production of 4.28 million tonnes, yet the national average productivity is 850-900 kg ha⁻¹ which remains substantially lower than the potential yield of improved varieties (1900-2000 kg ha⁻¹). This yield gap is attributed to multiple factors including low adoption of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties, imbalanced fertilizer use, inadequate seed treatment and inoculation, improper crop geometry, and poor adoption of integrated pest management practices. Biotic stresses such as wilt, sterility mosaic, and pod borer infestation (causing up to 30-40 % yield loss), along with abiotic constraints like terminal drought and erratic monsoon rainfall, further aggravate productivity losses. Maharashtra is one of the leading pigeonpea-growing states, with 13.35 lakh ha under cultivation, producing 12.36 lakh tonnes at an average productivity of 1012 kg/ha. Despite its importance, productivity levels in the state remain far below potential. To address these challenges, the Government of India launched Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs) under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM). These demonstrations serve as farmerparticipatory field trials, designed to showcase improved varieties and packages of practices under real farming situations, thereby bridging the yield gap and enhancing technology adoption.

Materials and Methods

The present study was conducted in Akola district of Maharashtra during four consecutive Kharif seasons (2020-2024) under the Cluster Frontline Demonstration (CFLD) programme on pigeon pea. A total of 200 demonstrations were implemented on farmers' fields to evaluate the performance of improved varieties under real farming situations. The variety PKV-TARA was demonstrated during 2020-21, while BDN-716 was introduced during 2022-24. Demonstrations were laid out on rainfed fields with soils ranging from medium to heavy texture and medium fertility status.

The recommended package of practices was followed in demonstration plots, including  Timely sowing within the recommended window,  Seed treatment with fungicides and bio-agents,  Seed inoculation with Rhizobium and PSB cultures,  Balanced nutrient application as per soil test recommendations,  Adoption of appropriate crop geometry,  Integrated weed management, and  Integrated pest management (IPM) practices.  Farmers' practice plots, where local varieties and traditional management practices were followed, served as local checks for comparison.

Data collection and analysis

Data on yield and economics were collected from both demonstration and local check plots using the random crop cutting method in the presence of farmers and KVK scientists.

The following indicators were computed to assess yield performance and technology gaps (Samui et al., 2000) [7] 

Results and Discussion

Yield performance

Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs) consistently outperformed farmers' traditional practices across all four years of study (Table 1). (2023) [3] documented 18-24% yield advantages in pigeonpea CFLDs in Maharashtra, and Singh (2020) [8] observed 15-20% yield improvements under rainfed conditions in Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, Kumar et al. (2021) [4] reported that adoption of improved varieties and integrated crop management practices enhanced pigeonpea yields by 17-22%. Such findings reaffirm that FLDs are effective tools for reducing yield gaps and motivating farmers toward adoption of improved technologies. [3] in Maharashtra but slightly higher than those observed by Verma et al. (2023) [10] in Uttar Pradesh, suggesting regional variation in technology adoption and agro-ecological response.

Economics

Economic analysis revealed that FLDs were more profitable than local checks (Table 3). The mean net return from demonstration plots was ₹25,175 ha⁻¹, compared with ₹18,658 ha⁻¹ in local checks. The average B:C ratio was 1.77 for FLDs, higher than 1.41 in local practices. These findings corroborate the reports of Bodakhe et al. (2023) [1] , who observed higher profitability with improved pigeonpea technologies in Maharashtra. Similarly, Patil et al. (2022) [5] highlighted that adoption of high-yielding varieties coupled with IPM practices significantly enhances farmers' income. 4).

Full adoption gaps were observed in seed management, irrigation, weed control, and biofertilizer use, while partial gaps existed in seed rate, fertilizer application, and pest management. This clearly indicates that bridging these gaps through capacitybuilding, timely availability of inputs, and extension efforts can significantly enhance productivity and sustainability of pigeon pea cultivation.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs) significantly enhanced the productivity and profitability of pigeonpea under rainfed conditions in Akola district. Improved varieties PKV-TARA and BDN-716, coupled with recommended production technologies, recorded an average yield advantage of 19% over farmers' practices, with higher gains consistently achieved by BDN-716. Economic analysis also confirmed the superiority of CFLDs, with substantially higher net returns (₹25,175 ha⁻¹) and B:C ratio (1.77) compared to local practices (₹18,658 ha⁻¹; B:C 1.41). Despite these gains, a considerable technology gap (437.4 kg ha⁻¹) and technology index (23.0%) indicate that further improvements are possible through timely input use, better pest and disease management, and climate-resilient practices. The analysis of adoption gaps revealed that farmers rarely followed seed treatment, seed inoculation, balanced fertilization, or IPM, while continuing with higher seed rates and reliance on indiscriminate pesticide use. Overall, the study establishes that CFLDs are an effective extension tool for demonstrating the potential of improved technologies under farmers' field conditions. Wider dissemination and adoption of recommended practices, along with assured input supply and capacity building, can play a crucial role in bridging yield gaps and ensuring sustainable pigeonpea production in Maharashtra and similar rainfed agroecosystems.

Policy and Extension Implications

References

1. Bodakhe GM, Shelke RD, Kamble SH. An economic analysis of pigeon pea production in Maharashtra State, India. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change. 2023;13(12):696-703. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2023/v13i123731
2. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Economics and Statistics Division. Agriculture Statistics at a Glance. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Government of India; 2022. Available from: http://desagri.gov.in
3. Garud HS, Gaikwad BB, Surpam TB, Patgaonkar DC, Jagtap KL. Impact of cluster frontline demonstrations on productivity and profitability of pigeonpea under NFSM in Beed district of Maharashtra, India. Legume Research. 2023;46(7):888-892. https://doi.org/10.18805/LR-5116
4. Kumar R, Singh AK, Singh SS, Bhatt BP, Shivani. Impact of improved varieties and management practices on yield enhancement of Cajanus cajan in Eastern India. Indian Journal of Extension Education. 2021;57(1):85-90.
5. Patil JV, Rathod JH, Kshirsagar PJ. Impact of frontline demonstrations on Cajanus cajan productivity and profitability in Maharashtra. International Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2022;14(2):116-120.
6. Matale RG, Wankhade DJ, Birajdar KV, Tambe DV, Hinge VR, Jadhav PK, et al. Molecular characterization of Sclerotium rolfsii causing collar rot disease in soybean using ISSR markers. International Journal of Advance Biochemistry Research. 2025;9(7):1721-1726. https://doi.org/10.33545/26174693.2025.v9.i7v.5021
7. Samui SK, Mitra S, Roy DK, Mandal AK, Saha D. Evaluation of frontline demonstration on groundnut. Journal of the Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research. 2000;18(2):180-183.
8. Singh B. Impact of cluster frontline demonstrations on productivity and profitability of Cajanus cajan in rainfed Eastern Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 2020;9(6):2315-2321. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.906.289
9. Thakare UG, Ingle PO. Development and standardization of socio-economic status scale. Indian Journal of Extension Education. 2007;4:8-16.
10. Verma A, Singh R, Yadav R. Yield gap analysis of Cajanus cajan through frontline demonstrations in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Journal of Food Legumes. 2023;36(1):45-49.