~ 213 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2020; 9(5): 213-215 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 www.phytojournal.com JPP 2020; 9(5): 213-215 Received: 04-07-2020 Accepted: 06-08-2020 Shyamrao Kulkarni Assistant Professor of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Bheemarayangudi, Karnataka, India Aravind Rathod SMS (Horticulture), College of Agriculture, Bheemarayangudi, Karnataka, India Corresponding Author: Shyamrao Kulkarni Assistant Professor of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Bheemarayangudi, Karnataka India Performance of papaya ( Carica papaya L.) under integrated crop management practices Shyamrao Kulkarni and Aravind Rathod Abstract The technological gap between existing and recommended technologies of papaya crop was studied during 2015-16 and 2016-17. The study in total 10 integrated crop management (ICM) demonstrations was conducted on farmers’ fields. The findings of the study revealed that Integrated Crop Management (ICM) practices recorded a mean yield of 64.85 t/ha which was 22.20 per cent higher than obtained with farmers’ practice (53.85 t/ha). The study exhibited mean extension gap of 11 t/ha, technology gap of 10.2 t/ha with mean technology index of 13.53 per cent. An additional investment coupled with recommended nutrient, water management, plant protection measures, scientific monitory and non-monetary factors resulted in additional mean returns of Rs.93450/ha. Higher mean net income of Rs. 349800/ha with a BC ratio of 3.54 was obtained with improved technologies in comparison to farmers’ practices (Rs. 256350/ha). The ICM demonstrations conducted on papaya at the farmers’ field revealed that the adoption of improved technologies significantly increased the fruit yield and also the net returns to the farmers. Keywords: Papaya, ICM, technology, production Introduction Cultivation of fruits played a pivotal role in diversification of agriculture along with food and nutritional security of ever growing population. Papaya (Carica papaya) is a tropical fruit having commercial importance because of its high nutritive and medicinal value. India leads the world in papaya production with an annual output of about 3.6 million tonnes (Anon., 2013) [1] . Raichur is among the top districts in papaya cultivation in Karnataka. Presently, papaya is an important fruit crop of the district and cultivated in 1200 ha. It is used as ripened fruit and vegetable and easy to digest. Papain prepared from dried latex of its raw fruits is used in meat tendering, manufacturing chewing gum, and cosmetics, for degumming silk and to give shrink resistance to wool. In addition, it is also used in pharmaceutical, textile and garment industries, cleaning paper and adhesive manufacturing, sewage disposal and so on. Papaya fruit is a rich source of vitamin A and C with different minerals. It has a high nutritive and medicinal value, so provide nutritional security to the rural and tribal families (Mohanty, 2012 and Nayak et al. 2012) [10, 11] . The average yield of papaya is 550 q /ha, but the farmers were facing some problems in papaya cultivation like availability of quality seed and seedling, pollination problems due to single sex plant, lower shelf-life of fruit, fruit marketing, lack of advance knowledge about papaya production, resulting in poor plantation and lowered economic return. So, AEEC, Lingsugur has provided technical guidance and conducted demonstration in farmers fields. The Taiwan Red-Lady variety of papaya fruit has brought smile on the faces of several papaya farmers in Raichur district. The imported variety of the fruit has brought wonders owing to its great quality, long shelf life, hermaphrodite nature, fruit taste and, of course, profitability. The extent of adoption of improved agricultural technologies is a crucial aspect under innovation diffusion process and the most important for enhancing agricultural production at a faster rate. Large number of technologies evolved in the field of agriculture is not being accepted and adopted to its fullest extent by the farmers. The gap between recommendations made by the scientists and actual use by farmers is frequently encountered. Looking into the situation AEEC, Lingsugur has conducted integrated crop management (ICM) practices through large scale demonstrations. Materials and Methods The ICM demonstrations were conducted at AEEC, Lingsugur in Raichur district in Karnataka state in farmer’s fields during 2015-16 and 2016-17 with objective to popularize improved