Vol. 12, Special Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Subhashree Dihingia, Prodip Handique, Manoranjan Neog and Prasanna Kr. Pathak

Abstract:
Pumpkin is one of the important rabi season crop in Sivasagar district. The climatic conditions of the region are very much suitable for its growth and development. The practices of using hybrid varieties are rising at an alarming rate among the farmers in the district which is bringing a great market linkage to the community of farmers. Front Line Demonstration (FLD) is a mandated activity of Krishi Vigyan Kendra with an objective to establish Production Potential of technologies in Farmers filed under the supervision of KVK Scientist. Under such circumstances, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sivasagar conducted frontline demonstration programme on high yielding pumpkin var. Arjuna F1 for 3 consecutive year i,e. 2018-19 (1.0 ha area), 2019-20 (1.0 ha area) and 2020-21 (1.0 ha area) which gives a higher production of 182q/ha, 187 q/ha and 189q/ha against the yield of farmers practices i.e.130q/ha, 142 q/ha and 137q/ha, respectively. The average weight of the pumkin was 3.75 kg, 4.50 kg and 4.0 kg against weight of farmers practices 2.50kg, 2.60kg and 2.45 kg, respectively for the mentioned period. From this study , it may be inferred that cultivation of Pumpkin Arjuna F1 fetch more net return due to higher yield as well as high market price of the crop. The horizontal spread of this technology was much higher within few years it goes upto 26 villages and 170 farm families and converted area into 15 ha in the assessment year 2020-21. Finally, from the study it was concluded that the farmers of Sivasagar district can go for the cultivation of hybrid pumkin Arjuna F1 in place of their existing practice to obtain higher yields and returns in terms of money.