Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Yield Gap and Economic Analysis through Front Line Demonstrations under Rainfed Conditions in Tikamgarh District of Bundelkhan Zone of MP

Til, also called sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), is one of the oldest and most important oilseed crops of India. It is cultivated on 15.23 lakh hectares of land in semi-arid tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate regions. In 2023, it yielded 8.02 lakh tons with an average yield of 527 kg/ha (Anonymous, 2023). The frontline demonstrations are one of the most common and efficient ways to introduce farmers to the latest improved crop husbandry production technologies. During the kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023, the AICRP on Sesame, Tikamgarh organized 70 protests in the Tikamgarh block in the villages of Kari, Madumar, Bilgany, and Khiriya. The mean Extension Gap over years of poor adaptation by farmers towards novel technology was shown as 314 kg/ha, which happens to be more than double the yield collected under FP. As such, it is only at this stage that coordinating initiatives should bring in and shift the focus of the farmer regarding better technology is necessary. At an average technical index of 13.70%, it went beyond the levels wanted. The average net return under Improved Technology was 32069, while for Farmers Practice it was about ~12229. Also the average B:C ratio under Improved Technology was 3.06, while for Farmers Practice it was 2.80.