J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2016: Vol.

30 (1):25-28
(25) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

PERFORMANCE OF FRONT LINE DEMONSTRATION OF MILLET CROPS UNDER

RAINFED CONDITIONS IN THE REGION OF TEHRI GARHWAL OF UTTARAKHAND
Kirti Kumari-1, Suman Rai-2 and Devanand Giri-3
1-
KVK, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal,UUHF (Uttarakhand)
2-
Centre of Food Science and Technology, BHU (Varanasi)
3-
MPDC, Lucknow (U.P.)
[Corresponding author E-mail1: kumarikirti95@gmail.com]

Received: 29-12-2015 Accepted: 29-04-2016

For this study demonstrations were laid out in farmers' fields by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ranichauri to show the potential of the High
yielding varieties of Finger millet (PRM 1), Barnyard Millet (PRJ 1) and Amaranth (PRA 1) as compared to local practice usually
followed by the farmers in the locality in order to increase the production of millet crops viz: finger millet & barnyard millet and
Amaranth from the period of study (2010-14) in the different villages of Tehri Garhwal district. It was observed that yield of
demonstrations was significantly higher (10.5 to 13q/ha) than local check plots (8.5 to 9.0 q/ha) for Finger millet, 9.2 to 13.0 q/ha
than local check (7.5 to 11.0 q/ha) for barnyard millet and 12 to 13q/ha than local check (9 to 11.5 q/ha) for Amaranth, respectively.
). It showed that the B:C ratio of demonstration plots are significantly higher than the local check plots. In case of finger millet B:C
ratio ranged from 1.24 to 1.37 for demonstration plots when as compared to local plots of finger millet the B:C ratio ranged from
1.14 to 1.29. Similarly in case of barnyard millet and amaranth B:C ratio of demonstration plots ranged from 1.26 to 1.38 and 1.53
to 2.22, respectively and when compared to B:C ratio of local checks for barnyard millet and Amaranth ranged from 1.06 to 2.05 and
1.38 to 1.75, respectively.

In kharif season Millets are one of the cereals besides the
major wheat, rice, and maize. Millets are major food sources
for millions of people, especially those who live in hot and
humid areas of the world. They are grown mostly in marginal
areas under agricultural conditions in which major cereals fail
to give substantial yields1. Millets are important foods in many
under developed countries because of their ability to grow under
adverse weather conditions2-3. Crop farming in the Arid and
Semi-arid Lands (ASALs) is a big challenge due to factors
such as the harsh climatic conditions experienced there, low
adoption of improved drought tolerant crop varieties and limited
farmer's knowledge on appropriate agricultural technologies4-5.
These factors contribute significantly to low food production,
which leads to food insecurity persistently experienced in the
ASALs, which are home to about a third of the world's
population5. Finger millet is an important crop for the semi-
arid tropics and it is nutritious, easy to grow, mature in short
time to and also its grains can store for many years without
storage pest damage6. Finger millet is especially valuable as
it contains methionine amino acid which is important in
controlling malnutrition but lacking in other major starchy diets.
Barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp.), is also known as Madira
or Jhangora or Sawan is the second most important small
NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20
crop after finger millet among kharif crops both in terms of
acreage and production in the hill region of the Uttarakhand.
Seeds of the crop are very nutritious. Its grain contains 11.2g/
100g Proteins, 10.1g/100g crude fibre, 4.4g/100g minerals and
15.2mg/100g iron5. The crop is largely grown in harsh and
fragile environments, with minimal use of agricultural inputs
due to its remarkable ability to withstand erratic rainfall and
varying weather conditions it is a regular crop up to 2,300 m
msl during kharif season in Uttarakhand and form main
stay of agricultural diet and cultural system of hill people7.
Grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) belongs to the family
Amaranthaceae with over 800 species8. The seed of grain
amaranth is important for its relatively high nutritive value
especially protein content compared to major food grains like
maize, wheat, oat, barley and rye9. It is processed into many
food items, supplements and additives10-14. It is drought tolerant
and highly adaptable to the tropics as a potential crop 15.
Incidentally, the arid and semiarid zones that are primarily
affected by water deficit, have traditionally contributed around
40 per cent of the total production of all categories of food
grains16. Due to increasing incidence of drought, the time is
opportune for identifying such crops that are able to tolerate
 FRONT LINE DEMONSTRATION OF MILLET CROPS (26)

Table-1. Yield of finger millet under demonstration and local check practices.

Table-2. Economics of Finger Millet under demonstration and local check practices.

Table-3. Yield of Barnyard Millet under demonstration and local check practices.

Table-4. Economics of Barnyard Millet under demonstration and local check practices.

extreme water deficit stress, without having a significant effect knowledge of improved/recommended practices of high yielding
on their growth and development. It is relatively easy to grow varieties including adoption, speedy and wider dissemination
finger millet under stressful regimes, without hampering the of the recommended practices to other members of farming
net productivity17. community18.

The concept of 'Front Line Demonstration' may be applied to To improve the productivity of millet crops Krishi Vigyan
all farmer-categories for changing the attitude, skill and Kendra, Ranichauri conducted Front Line Demonstration
(27) KUMARI, RAI AND GIRI
Table-5. Yield of Amaranth under demonstration and local check practices
Table-6. Economics of Amaranth under demonstration and local check practice.
Programme on High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) which was
developed at Department of Genetic and Plant Breeding,
College of Forestry. We observed the impact of improved
varieties on the performance of crops as compared to local
varieties usually followed by the farmers in the locality in order
to increase the production of millet crops.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The present study was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra,
Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand in kharif season from
2010 to 2014. Front Line Demonstrations were conducted on
High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) which was developed at
Department of Genetic and Plant Breeding, College of Forestry
in different Villages. The number of farmers and area for finger
millet, barnyard millet and amaranth were 143 (12 ha), 233(18
ha) and 108(11.5 ha), respectively. The demonstrations were
conducted in different villages of Tehri Garhwal district. The
grain yield of demonstration crop was recorded & analyzed.
Different parameters as suggested by Yadav et al.19 were used
for calculating gap analysis, costs and returns. The detail of
different parameters is as follows:
Net return = Gross return- Gross cost
B:C ratio = Gross return/Gross cost
Technology gap = Potential yield- Demonstration yield
Extension gap = Demonstration yield-Farmers yield
Technology index (%) =Technology gap/Potential yield X 100
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Yield: The observations (Table-1-6) clearly elucidated that it
will be appropriate to use these HYVs for boosting the
productivity of finger millet, barnyard millet and amaranth. As
it is evident from data given in Table-1,3 & 5 that farmers were
pleased with the productivity level which was excelled in the
tune of 10.5 to 13 q/ha, 9.2 to 13.0 q/ha and 12 to 13.3q/ha for
finger millet, barnyard millet and amaranth respectively.
During the period under study (2010 to 2014) it was observed
that yield of demonstrations was significantly higher (10.5 to
13q/ha) than local check plots (8.5 to 9.0 q/ha) for Finger
millet, 9.2 to 13.0 q/ha than local check (7.5 to 11.0 q/ha) for
barnyard millet and 12 to 13q/ha than local check (9 to 11.5 q/
ha) for amaranth respectively as shown in Table-1, 3 & 5.
However, the year wise fluctuation in yield was observed mainly
on account of variation in rainfall and mixed season dry spells.
Economics: Various economic indicators like gross costs,
gross returns, net returns and Benefit: Cost ratios of frontline
demonstrations for finger millet, barnyard millet and amaranth
are also presented in Table-2,4 and 6, respectively for the period
under study (2010-2014). It showed that the B:C ratio of
 FRONT LINE DEMONSTRATION OF MILLET CROPS
demonstration plots are significantly higher than the local check of years to come. The continuous efforts are being done by
plots. In case of finger millet B:C ratio ranged from 1.24 to KVK Scientists.
1.37 for demonstration plots when as compared to local plots
of finger millet the B:C ratio ranged from 1.14 to 1.29. Similarly
in case of barnyard millet and amaranth B:C ratio of 1.
demonstration plots ranged from 1.26 to 1.38 and 1.53 to 2.22,
respectively and when compared to B:C ratio of local checks
for barnyard millet and amaranth ranged from 1.06 to 2.05 and
2.
1.38 to 1.75 respectively.
CONSTRAINTS AND PERSPECTIVES 3.
• Crop production in this rainfed area depends on "Mercy of
God" in the form of onset of monsoon rainfall, its distribution. 4.
The crops vary often suffer from aberrant climatic conditions
like delayed of set of monsoon, some time heavy monsoon
and some time long dry spells. 5.
• Small holding: The adoption of well proven technology is
constrained due to small size of holding and poor farm
6.
resources. Small and marginal farmers have less capability to
take risk and do not dare to invest in the costly input due to 7.
high risk and the poor purchase capacity of small farmer.
8.
• Farm Implements and Tools: Traditional implements and
tools are still in practice due to small holding which have poor
9.
working efficiency. The lack of simple modern tools for small 10.
holding also hinders the adoption of improved technology.
11.
• Crops are much and more destroyed by wild animals like
12.
monkeys and wild boar. Due to this farmers are getting least
interest in farming.
13.
• Millet production in such rainfed areas can be increased by
the introduction of short duration, disease resistance 14.
genotypes. These varieties were characterized by high yielding
potential, blast disease resistance. It also responses to fertilizer
15.
application.
16.
• Farmers can do seed multiplication of these varieties and 17.
may be used it year after year. KVK is also providing truthfully
leveled seed to the farmer of the area. 18.
• Farmers can develop seed bank in their villages by multiplying 19.
these seeds.
• Since last 7-8 years the variety has replaced almost 60% of
the local seed and is expected to cover 90% area in a couple
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