IMPACT STUDY OF ELEPHANT FOOT YAM (AMORPHOPHALLUS PAEONIIFOLIUS) CV. GAJENDRA PRODUCTION IN DISTRICT BAHRAICH UTTAR PRADESH INDIA

Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) is a traditional crop with a long history of cultivation in Asia and the Pacific. Yam is one of the important tuber crops widely cultivated in the subtropical regions for its underground food reserves. The tubers serve as a cheap source of energy especially for the weaker sections of the society. Due to its high photosynthetic efficiency and high dry matter production capability per unit area, substantial yields may be obtained under poor and marginal soils under harsh climatic conditions. The present study was carried out under FLD programme in adopted village by K.V.K. Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh during kharif 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023- 24. Varietal replacement under Frontline demonstration was conducted on elephant foot yam by the active participation of the farmers with the objective of improved technologies of elephant foot yam yield production. The improved technologies consist improved variety (Gajendra), balanced fertilizers (Soil test based) application and integrated pest and disease management, etc. Result of the present study revealed the higher average yield in the varietal replacement demonstration was recorded (370.6 q/ha) as compared to farmers practice (250.5 q/ha) traditional adopted by the farmers. The percentage increase in the yield over farmer’s 120.17 was recorded. The technology gap and extension gap were computed 129.33 and 120.17 q/ha respectively, along with 255.80 percent of technology index. The varietal replacement demonstration field gave higher average net return Rs. 1726083.30 and B: C ratio is 5.51 and FP 3.46.