321 Journal of Cereal Research Volume 14 (3): 321-326 Research Article Homepage: http://epubs.icar.org.in/ejournal/index.php/JWR Popularization of Pearlmillet Production Technology through Front Line Demonstrations in the Transitional Plain Zone of Luni Basin of Rajasthan Lokesh Kumar Jain*, Hanuman Prasad Parewa and Sawai Dan Ratnoo 1 *College of Agriculture, Sumerpur (Pali), Agriculture University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan-306902 1 Agriculture University, Jodhpur (Rajasthan) India Article history: Received: 19 Sept., 2022 Revised: 29 Oct., 2022 Accepted: 23 Nov., 2022 Citation: Jain L, HP Parewa and SD Ratnoo. 2022. Popularization of Pearlmillet Production Technology through Front Line Demonstrations in the Transitional plain Zone of Luni Basin of Rajasthan. Journal of Cereal Research 14 (3): 321-326. http://doi. org/10.25174/2582-2675/2022/127463 *Corresponding author: E-mail: jainlokesh74@gmail.com © Society for Advancement of Wheat and Barley Research Abstract Front line demonstrations on pearlmillet were carried out by College of Agriculture Sumerpur, Pali (Rajasthan) to study the yield gaps between improved packages of practices (IP) verses farmer’s practice (FP) during Kharif seasons 2019-20 to 2021-22 at Rohit block of Pali district of Rajasthan. The improved technologies consisted use of high yielding hybrids, application of micro nutrients, integrated weed, pest and disease management. Yield attributes of improved practice (IP) and farmers’ practice (FP) were recorded, and percent yield increase, technology gap, extension gap, technology index, and FLD economics were examined. The results revealed that the highest seed yield was obtained in demonstrated plot with an average of 1481 kg ha -1 as compared to 1119 kg ha -1 and recorded an increase in the tune of 32.4 per cent. Higher net return (` 18642 ha -1 ) in the demonstration plots compared to farmers’ practice plot (` 13719 ha -1 ) was also net worth with an extension and technology gaps of 362 kg ha -1 and 1319 kg ha -1 , respectively on mean basis. The demonstrations also recorded an additional return of ` 4922 ha -1 with additional investments of ` 2062 ha -1 . It was attributed to scientifc management and monitoring of demonstrations and use of low cost monitory inputs. The MSP of pearl millet during different years infuenced the economic returns resulted into an incremental beneft: cost ratio of 2.6 under demonstrations on an average basis besides fuctuating rates of various inputs. By conducting front line demonstration of proven technologies, yield potential of pearl millet crop could be enhanced to a great extent with increase in the income level of the farming community. Key words: Demonstration, Economics, Gap analysis, Pearlmillet Production Technology, Productivity, Proftability Pearl millet [(Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Emend Stuntz] is low value nutritious coarse grain millet grown as rainfed and is staple food for majority of peoples in dry tracts of country. It is drought and heat tolerant among rest of cereals and millets and has the higher water use effciency under moisture stress conditions. It is the only major crop that has high levels of tolerance to both acidic and saline soils (Kumar et al. 2010). The adaptive and nutritional 1. Introduction features combined with yield potential make pearl millet an important nutra-cereal crop. Its importance as dry fodder and green forage, the Rajasthan state is leading in area as well as in production of pearl millet in country. In Rajasthan it was grown on 4.4 m ha with average productivity of 818 kg ha -1 while in Pali district it was grown on 0.86 m ha with average productivity of 434 kg ha -1 (Anonymous 2021) (Table 1).