EVALUATION OF POTATO BASED CROPPING SEQUENCE THROUGH ON-FARM DEMONSTRATIONS IN BUXAR, BIHAR.

With changing climate, diversification can be an alternative option for farmers to fight climate change related problems. Rice-wheat being the major cropping system followed in Indo-Gangetic plains need to be diversified with other crops to get higher productivity and additional income. Potato is an important cash crop for farmers of eastern plains during rabi season. In this context, current study was conducted in Buxar district of Bihar to evaluate the inclusion of potato in the existing sequence and find the yield gap at farmers' fields using on-farm demonstrations. Data was recorded through timely observation and was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The yield gap in potato in study area was found to be 26.4 per cent which can be bridged by using high yielding variety like Kufri Mohan and following the recommended package of practices. The economic analysis showed that farmers can earn nearly 40 percent more net return by adopting new varieties and scientific cultivation practices. Among five crop sequences evaluated at farmers' field, rice-potato-moong gave highest system productivity of 234 quintal per hectare as well as maximum net returns. Thus, it is advocated to include potato in the current cropping system which will boost productivity and income of farmers by manifold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]