Evaluation of improved fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) varieties through frontline demonstrations: Yield performance, yield gap, economics, adoption and horizontal spread

Abstract

Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) were conducted to assess the impact of improved sorghum production technologies on productivity, yield gap, economics, and adoption behaviour of farmers in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) production during 2019–20 to 2023–24. A total of 150 demonstrations covering 20 hectares in 33 villages were implemented using improved varieties CSV 24 MF and UPMC 503 along with recommended agronomic practices. The average fodder yield under FLDs was 707.0 q ha⁻¹, registering a yield advantage of 25.14 per cent over farmers’ practice. Yield Gap I and Yield Gap II analyses indicated that while extension interventions substantially reduced adoption-related yield losses, a moderate gap between potential and realized yields persisted due to agro-climatic and management constraints. Economic analysis revealed that improved technologies increased net returns by ₹15,202.6 ha⁻¹ with a higher benefit–cost ratio (2.57) compared to farmers’ practice (2.09), despite a marginal increase in cost of cultivation. Adoption of recommended practices improved markedly after demonstrations, with an overall adoption impact of 248.41 per cent, particularly for seed treatment, fertilizer application, and use of improved varieties. FLDs also resulted in effective varietal replacement of local sorghum cultivars and substantial horizontal spread of improved varieties, with area expansion of 233.33 per cent for CSV 24 MF and 208.33 per cent for UPMC 503. The study concludes that FLDs are an effective extension tool for enhancing sorghum productivity, profitability, and technology adoption under farmers’ field conditions.