Integrated Crop Management Practices in Ridge Gourd Hybrid COH 1 for Increasing Yield and Income under Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu, India

Front line demonstration on integrated crop management practice in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula Roxb.) hybrid COH – 1was conducted at Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu during 2021-2022 to increase the yield and income of the farming community. Totally ten progressive farmers were selected at Vridhachalam, Kammapuram and Panruti blocks of Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu with an acreage of one acre per farmer. Bottlenecks of ridge gourd cultivation were identified through participatory approach preferential ranking techniques. The selected farmers were trained through skill development programme and the beneficiaries were taught with improved scientific production techniques of ridge gourd hybrid COH -1, seed treatment, plant growth regulators, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest and disease management. Results of the present study revealed that demonstrated plot recorded higher number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight, yield per plant and yield per hectare as compared to farmers practice. The demonstrated plot also recorded high gross income, net income and benefit cost ratio than farmers practice. Low technology gap and technology index observed in the present study revealed the effectiveness of technical interventions.