Revitalizing Linseed in Paddy Fallow Area of Eastern Vidarbha for Sustainable Growth The Impact of Cluster Demonstrations and Value- Added Chain Development

An 8 lakh hectare paddy area remains fallow in Rabi sesason in eastern Vidarbha due to cultivation of long duration paddy varieties, poor fertility status of soil, water logging, excessive moisture in lowland area and lack of irrigation.The residual moisture left in soil after harvest of paddy is often suf icient to raise linseed.Linseed is a traditional oilseed crop that plays a major role in increasing the income of small and marginal farmers in the paddy fallow area of the eastern Vidarbha region of Maharashtra during the Rabi season.All India Coordinated Research Project on Linseed, College of Agriculture, Nagpur organized training programs, cluster demonstrations under irrigated and rainfed situations in paddy fallow area and ield days for 234 and 295 linseed growers during 2022-23 and 2023-24.The cluster demonstration of linseed with a varietal introduction along with the whole package of an improved package of practices like the adoption of high-yielding variety PKV NL-260, line sowing or sowing with zero till seed drill, improved seed rate @ 15 kg/ha, seed treatment with bio-mix consortium, irrigation at critical growth stages @ 40-45 DAS and 65-70 DAS, integrated nutrient and weed management practices, plant protection practices after undergoing the training.The farmers under medium and higher level of knowledge groups increased from 25 to 52% and from 15 to 33%, respectively.The adoption level in medium level and high level were increased from 16 to 60% and 10 to 18%, respectively.Further, farmers with low levels of adoption declined from 74 to 22%.The two-year data revealed the yield of linseed increased to 34.40% over the yield obtained under farmer's practices.The results also showed that due to enhanced knowledge and adoption of an improved package of practices, the yield of linseed variety increased by 6% during the second year (2023-24) as compared irst year (2022-23) over the yield obtained under farmers' practices.The linseed seed yields 31.10% and 37.57% higher yield over the local variety and improper management practices used by farmers during 2022-23 and 2023-24.The average extension gap (162 kg/ha), technology gap (263 kg/ha) and technology index (29.24%).The reduction technology gap and index were 92 kg/ha and 10.27% showing that the feasibility to the adoption of a demonstrated improved package of practices for linseed cultivation in paddy fallow area was found productive and economically viable as compared to existing farmer practices.The results clearly indicate that the intervention of an improved package of practices of linseed cultivation through cluster demonstration in the paddy area of eastern Vidarbha had a signi icant positive impact on the adoption of improved practices enhanced yield potential of linseed to greater extent and development of value addition chain helpful for the income level of the farming community which helps in uplifting the socio-economic level of farmers.This study suggests the need of conducting of cluster demonstrations, intensive trainings and intervention of improved technology to educate the linseed growers for achieving higher production of linseed and development of value additional chain in the approximately 8 lakh hectare paddy fallow area in eastern region of Vidarha during rabi season.