Zero Tillage Technology in Jute Cultivation: A Successful Venture in West Bengal

Farmers" participatory demonstrations on jute cultivation using zero tillage (ZT) technology were conducted in West Bengal through standardized conservation agriculture (CA)-jute protocols developed jointly by Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT).The results of demonstration indicated a significant yield increase under ZT over conventional practices.On an average, an yield increase of 25.83-27.83%under zero tillage technology reflected the positive effect of demonstration over the existing practices.It was attributed to maintenance of higher plant population with increased plant height and basal diameter under ZT.There was a considerable saving in total man-days requirement (41-42 mandays over one hectare) for the crop due to herbicidal management of weeds.The higher returns with reduced cost of cultivation under ZT technology helped to register a higher profit in terms of B:C ratio ).The successive decreased value of technology index (20.52-17.10 %) reflected the feasibility of the technology.It can be concluded that ZT technology can be considered as a successful technology in jute in terms of productivity as well as profitability for further adoption of technology.