eChapters

Youth Engagement in Farming
Youth engagement in farming is critical for the future of agriculture, given the challenges of an aging farming population, rural-to-urban migration and the declining interest in agriculture among young people. Empowering youth to view agriculture as a viable and profitable career can ensure food security and foster rural development.
Importance of Youth Engagement in Farming
• Demographic Dividend: Harness the potential of the large youth population to rejuvenate the agricultural workforce.
• Innovation and Technology Adoption: Youth are more likely to adopt modern agricultural technologies, digital tools, and innovative practices.
• Sustainable Development: Involve youth in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource conservation through sustainable farming.
• Rural Livelihoods: Reduce rural unemployment and migration by making farming attractive and lucrative.
Strategies for Engaging Youth in Farming
1. Modernizing Agriculture • Promote Agri-Tech: Introduce youth to precision farming, drones, IoT, and AI-based tools.
• Mechanization: Provide access to modern machinery to reduce drudgery and increase productivity.
2. Entrepreneurship Opportunities
• Agri-Startups: Encourage youth to explore startups in organic farming, agribusiness, food processing, and agri-tourism.
• Value Addition: Train youth in post-harvest management and valueadded product creation.

While on one hand, more than 25 per cent of rural population in India is between 15 and 29 years of age, on the other, very little demographic dividend in agriculture is being derived. Unable to find decent employment, youth often look for employment in the urban informal sector, with poor working conditions and pay. But without training in skills suited to the urban labour market, these youth have few opportunities in the urban areas. Inadequately trained to compete successfully in urban labour market, they often suffer varying levels of poverty and marginalization in towns than in rural areas. In rural areas, if young farmers do not replace the ageing farmers, it will result in problems related to food security. For young people to take to agriculture, farming must be personally satisfying, mentally challenging, socially acceptable and economically rewarding. However, field reality is something different.

The World is a home to more than one billion young people aged between 15 and 24 years.  Many are unable to fulfil their potentional because of poverty, hunger, poor health and lack of education. As a result, they lack the skills needed to gain employment, with rural youth typically, but often fruitlessly migration in search of economic opportunities. However, given support and opportunities for gainful employment, young people have the potential to play a significant role in agriculture.

India has a big advantage as more than half of its population is below 30 years of age.  Indian agriculture will receive a big boost if the country takes advantage of its young population and encourage them into farm sector by making it lucrative.  It is necessary to launch a Youth for Agricultural Transformation Movement in rural India. Youth can provide demand driven services such as farm health monitoring and marketing of biological software essential for sustainable agriculture, climate-risk management, organization  of bio-parks, food parks, bio-village, bio-industrial watersheds and improved post-harvesting technology. Educated rural youth can establish Village Knowledge Centres (VKVs) to provide information at right time to farmers. Home Science graduates can establish nutrition clinics to help hidden hunger through appropriate local grains and vegetables (Swaminathan, M.S.). Why Youth in Agriculture?

ABSTRACT

India is a developing country and agriculture is at the core of this development. Youth participation in agriculture for its sustained contribution to a nation’s development is crucial but this is not ascertained. FAO has declared year 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF). Today’s youth are tomorrow’s family farmers, and maintaining interest in farming as a profession is vital to future food security. The number of young people of working age is increasing while the same group is typically rejecting careers in agriculture and food system. This scenario can be changed by cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders—not just as farmers but as food entrepreneurs, scientists, agronomists, extension agents, union and government leaders etc. Governments, particularly in developing countries, need to invest in policies and practices that provide access to land, credit and banking services, education and knowledge, and technical skills for young farmers. And these governments need to ensure that young people have access to markets, goods and service, employment opportunities, and leisure so that they prefer to stay on the farm.

Z scheme: Refer non-cyclic electron transport.

Z-DNA: A duplex DNA structure in which helical coiling of the two polynucleotide chains is left handed and phosphate backbone of the polynucleotides follows a zig-zag course.

Zeatin: Most abundant natural cytokinin present in plant.

Zeatin: Zeatin is a cytokinin C10 H13 N5 O first isolated from the endosperm of Indian corn.

Zeaxanthin: Zeaxanthin is an isomer of lutein occurring in fruits and vegetables (spinach and corn) (Plate 682, 683 and 684).

Zein: Zein is a protein from Indian corn that lacks lysine and tryptophan and is used in making textile fibers, plastics, printing inks, edible coatings, adhesives and sizes.

Zeolite: It is clay embedded in the plastic film to adsorb ethylene. It is used in Japan. Zeolite is anhydrous silicates that is analogous in composition to the feldspars and used in water softening, adsorbents and catalysts. Or Zeolite is one of various hydrous silicates that are analogous in composition to the feldspars, occur as secondary minerals in cavities of lavas, and can act as ion-exchangers. These are used especially in water softening and as adsorbents and catalysts (Plate 685).

Zero 2: It is Australian oxygen scavenging plastic packaging materials.

z-test: The z-test is based on the assumption of normality. The z-test is based on the normal probability distribution and is used for judging the significance of several statistical measures, particularly the men.

Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng. (syn. Calla aethiopica L.) (Araceae): Eng.- Arum Lily; Hindi – Iram sousan [NI]. A rhizomatous perennial, suitably planted in moist and shaddy situations and under green house conditions.

INTRODUCTION

Zantedeschia is commonly known as Calla lily. The other names are Arum lily, Aroid lily, Lily of the Nile and Pig lily. They are mainly grown for their attractive, large flower spathes, which are usually produced in the spring and summer and also for their variegated and spotted foliage. They are grown in large quantities by commercial growers because they are commonly used for decoration in Easter and throughout the spring and early summer months. It grows very well in open conditions in warm climate. Regular gardeners may have their bloom in winter, spring or early summer depending upon the temperature conditions maintained in the greenhouse.

Zantedeschia is an excellent cut flower and last a long time in water. There are various species, which produces different coloured flowers. The flower spathes of calla or arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) are white, the spathes of the yellow or golden callas (Z. elliottiana) are yellow, whereas the pink calla (Z. rehmannii) produces lavender red, rose red, violet red or pink spathes. The white arum (common calla) forms large colonies in marshy areas ranging from the coast to an altitude of 2250 m above mean sea level. Thus, they may exist in humid, salt laden air at the coast and freezing, misty mountain grassland at high altitudes and as a result, are very versatile in the garden. The leaves of the calla are very interesting in that they contain water stomata, which can discharge excess water by a process known as guttation. This prevents logging and enables calla lily to grow in wet conditions.

Zantedeschia commonly known as Calla lily, Richardia or Pig lily belongs to family Araceae. It is the only genus in the tribe Zantedeschiae which is the sub family philodendroideae. The name Zantedeschia was given as a tribute to Italian botanist “Giovanni Zantedeschi” (1773-1846) by the German botanist Kurt Sprengel (1766-1833). It is considered by many people in the Republic of Ireland to be a symbol of Irish Republicanism. The Romans valued them so much that they often decorated the edges of the bloom with filaments of gold. These spectacular flowers are beginning to rival the rose in popularity for bridal bouquets. In India there has been initiation in the production of tubers of Calla and few tissue culture labs have started production for New Zealand and Dutch Companies. It is used as potted plants, callas are very attractive. It is used for decoration throughout the spring and early summer months focal point for a spectacular arrangement or bouquet.

ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION

The Zantedeschia albomaculata are native to areas of South Central Africa which are subjected to periodic drought (Letty, 1973). Zantedeschia was originally placed in the Calla genus by Carl Linnaeus, Zantedeschia aethiopica was moved in 1818 by Carl (Charles) Sigismund Kunth to the Richardia genus, until it was finally classified as Zantedeschia. Although Zantedeschia did not remain in the Calla genus, even after all this time this wonderful bulb is still referred to by its common name of calla lily.

The name “aethiopica” probably denotes South Africa, the country of the origin. Formerly its name was Calla or Richardia. This plant was introduced in Europe very early, apparently before Van Riebeeck had established the refreshment station at Cape. It is also illustrated in an account of Royal Garden in Paris in 1664. It was sent as one of the interesting plant of Cape to Europe by Simon van der Stal sometime before 1697. The genus is restricted to African continent with seven recognized species Z. aethiopica, Z. albomaculata, Z. ellottiana, Z. jucunda, Z. odoratum, Z. petlandii, andZ. rehmannii.

The common calla (Z. aethiopica) is found from the western Cape through the eastern Cape, Kwa Zullu-Natal, Mpumalanga and in to the Northern Province. In Australia calla lily is naturalized in moist niches of the cooler parts of the New South Wales, southern and south western Victoria, moist valley in Adelaide hills and north west Tasmania. They are serious weeds of pastures and natural bush land in south west of western Australia.

The calla lily is used throughout the world as an ornamental for its flowers. It is mainly grown in temperate and sub tropical climates of the world. They also thrive well under tropical conditions. New Zealand is the topmost producer followed by The Netherland. The original summer flowering calla species were introduced in New Zealand in the early twentieth century. Finland and Scandinavia are also big producer of callas and exported to Sweden and Norway. New Zealand offers a favourable climate to grow callas outdoors and for exports it is grown under controlled conditions. In India it is a potential emerging crop and requires improvement programme for commercialization.

Zantedeschia commonly known as Calla lily, Richardia or Pig lily belongs to family Araceae. It is the only genus in the tribe Zantedeschiae which is the sub family philodendroideae. The name Zantedeschia was given as a tribute to Italian botanist “Giovanni Zantedeschi” (1773-1846) by the German botanist Kurt Sprengel (1766-1833). It is considered by many people in the Republic of Ireland to be a symbol of Irish Republicanism. The Romans valued them so much that they often decorated the edges of the bloom with filaments of gold. These spectacular flowers are beginning to rival the rose in popularity for bridal bouquets. In India there has been initiation in the production of tubers of Calla and few tissue culture labs have started production for New Zealand and Dutch Companies. It is used as potted plants, callas are very attractive. It is used for decoration throughout the spring and early summer months focal point for a spectacular arrangement or bouquet.

ABSTRACT

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is a plant species belonging to flowering family Rutaceae which has medicinal application in traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is characterized by trifoliolate leaves with leaf-stalk winged, branches with straight prickles, and fruits are small reddish brown. In India, tribal community used this species as carminative, dyspepsia, tooth curing, treating malaria fever, stomach pain and expelling roundworms. Chemistry indicates that Z. armatum is a repository of many chemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols and triterpenoids. Zanthonitrile, berberine, α-sitosterol, armatamide, limonene and linalool are major constituents. Leaves and young shoots yield essential oils which act as anti-bacterial, antifungal and anthelminthics, and has tremendous potential in development of value added products. Volatile oils are active constituentsof linalool, limonene and ligan. Z. armatum has been declared as an endangered species as per International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN) Red List category. Conservation practices needs to be adopted to conserve this valuable medicinal plant. There is a need to study on ecology, adaptive biology, chemistry and biotechnological intervention for future propagation and conservation of this medicinal plant species.

Introduction

Research in different fields of biological science requires test systems to observe the effects of chemicals or drugs. Testing new chemical entity (NCE) in drug discovery and development requires either in vitro or in vivo systems, including cell culture, tissue, organs and whole animal. Various advantages and disadvantages of each test system force scientists to find an alternative test system. The use of laboratory animals like rodents and non-rodents for evaluation of the effects of drugs or toxicity studies having ethical concerns. The cell-based and tissue-based test systems have various disadvantages including problem related prediction of the desirable and undesirable effects in animals. All such factors favor the use of laboratory animals like rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and primates in the pre-clinical phase of drug discovery. However, cost, manpower, and time-consuming efforts can be considered unfavorable for the use of such animals for testing every newly synthesized compound. Because of such difficulties in the field of new research with animal models, scientists made efforts to identify a newer animal model that can replace currently available animal species in research up to a certain extent. The animal model that is used in such drug discovery programs and toxicological testing must have homology to human beings or target species. The limitations or disadvantages of currently available animal models may be solved up to a certain level by using aquatic animal species like zebrafish.

1. Introduction

The increasing global population has intensified the challenges associated with land and freshwater scarcity (Dutta, 2019). The unpredictable supply of water bodies has prompted a significant shift among farmers towards the utilization of private tube wells, exerting increased pressure on groundwater resources (Ahmad et al., 2003; Ahmad et al., 2007). Due to inadequate water management practices and excessive extraction of groundwater, leading to a decline in water tables, irrigation is increasingly exerting a detrimental influence on the ecosystem (Pingali and Shah 2001; Qureshi et al., 2003). Therefore, agricultural technologies that contribute to water conservation, cost reduction, and increased productivity are gaining increasing importance (Gupta et al., 1997; Gupta et al., 2002).

Zero tillage fish farming, a groundbreaking approach in aquaculture, has emerged as a sustainable and efficient method for cultivating fish without disturbing the aquatic environment. Zero tillage fish farming is an innovative and sustainable aquaculture method that minimizes soil disturbance and preserves natural pond ecology (Hussan et al., 2019). In contrast to traditional practices involving pond bottom dredging, zero tillage maintains water quality, supports biodiversity, and enhances overall environmental sustainability (FAO AQUASTAT 2009). By avoiding disruptive practices, this approach promotes self-sustaining aquatic ecosystems, contributing to increased productivity, cost-effectiveness, and resilience in fish cultivation. Zero tillage fish farming represents a significant shift towards responsible and eco-friendly aquaculture, addressing challenges such as environmental degradation, food security, and the impact of climate change. This chapter explores the principles, benefits, and importance of zero-tillage fish farming, shedding light on its potential to transform the aquaculture industry.

20.1 Introduction

High levels of energy and materials consumption in industrial countries are the driving force behind the decline in virtually all major life support systems on Planet Earth. Over the last decade an increasing number of scientists and other thoughtful people have come to conclude that modern levels of materials and energy consumption are having a destabilizing influence on the world’s ecosystems.

Energy consumption contributes directly to climate change by adding carbon-based molecules to the atmosphere in excess of naturally occurring amounts. Carbon molecules, primarily carbon dioxide from burning petroleum products, trap radiant heat and keep it from escaping from the Earth’s atmosphere. The resulting warming of the air is changing our global climate.

Materials consumption contributes indirectly to climate change because it requires energy to mine, extract, harvest, process, and transport raw materials, and more energy to manufacture, transport and, after use, dispose of products.

All the materials used in products, only 1% is used in products ‘durable’ enough to still be in use six months later, according to industrial ecologist Robert Ayres. This wasteful consumption of materials wreaks havoc on our land, water resources and their ecosystems. What’s seldom appreciated is that it also wreaks havoc on our atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Waste prevention and recycling are critical to stopping climate change.

Zero-sum game : When the gains made by winners in an economic transaction equal the losses suffered by the losers.

Zerovalent (nZVI) Ionic Compounds

Although Ag⁺ contains a filled d¹⁰ shell, the structures of Ag compounds can in many instances be understood only if one assumes the existence of weak attractive Ag⁺ - Ag⁺ interactions. Similar attractive forces have been shown to be responsible for the formation of gold cluster compounds. In Ag⁺ solid state compounds the unoccupied 5s and 5p orbitals give rise to empty bands which may be partially occupied thus resulting in subvalent Ag compounds; examples are Ag₃O and Ag₂F. The compound Ag₅SiO₄ prepared from Ag and Si0₂ at 350 °C under a high pressure of oxygen, contains [Ag₆]⁴⁺ clusters (average oxidation state 2/3) and should be formulated at [Ag₆]⁴⁺ (Ag⁺)₄ (SiO₄ ^{4 -})₂.

Ag and Au forms numerous cluster compounds in which the metals are zero valent or subvalent. Examples are Ag₆ Fe₃ (CO)₁₂ {HC(PPh₂)₃} and paramagnetic cluster ions [Ag₁₃ Fe₈ (CO)₃ ²]^4-.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. The Agriculture Sector of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has a total area of 390 580 square kilometers of which one per cent is made up of rivers and lakes, 38 per cent is arable land and the rest is suited for livestock and wildlife production. The country is bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Mozambique. It is located between latitudes 15,30 and 22,30 degrees south of the Equator and between longitudes 25 and 33,10 degrees east of the Greenwich Meridian (CSO, 2006).

The Agriculture sector forms the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy and accounts for about 17 per cent of the GDP. Zimbabwe‘s agricultural sector comprises mostly smallholder farmers who include communal, resettlement and small-scale farmers. However, this sector is besieged by a plethora of issues, namely high stocking rates, sub-optimal climate, and deforestation and land degradation. The Land Reform and Resettlement Programme which commenced in 1980 resulted in hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans being resettled on former white commercial farms, in either Model A1(communally owned) or A2 schemes (large scale commercial farms). Thus the challenge to policy makers was now to ensure that future agricultural production is not compromised by current practices. The new farming sector largely comprises resource poor farmers, academics, corporate leaders, high-level policy makers and traditional farmers. Most of the new farmers lack requisite Agricultural skills and knowledge needed in modern Agricultural practice. Land reform measures led to the exodus of some white farmers in the beginning of the 21st century which crippled the economy depriving it of technological know-how and causing shortages of basic commodities.

The modernization of agriculture therefore, among other intervention strategies, through the use of ICTs can contribute directly to food security at national and household levels, beneficiation of agricultural produce, effective land management and an increase of national wealth.

1. Basic Information and Agrarian Status

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa covering 39,037,000 hectares. It is bordered by Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. It is situated between 15 and 22° south latitude and 26 and 34° east longitude. Climatic conditions are largely sub-tropical with one rainy season between November and March. In 1981, the country had 5 hectares per capita whilst it is estimated that the current population to land ratio has declined to 3.25 hectares per person and this is largely attributed to population increases that have taken place over the years. The national census conducted by the Central Statistics Office in 2002 showed that the country has a population of 1,20,00,000 people. About 80 per cent of the population resides in the rural areas, where they sustain their livelihoods through agriculture. When discussing agricultural production activities in the country, it is important to note that nearly all the soils (80 per cent) in the country are sandy from granite rocks or from schists.

Zinc is found in earth’s crust to the tune of 0.008%. However about 50% of Indian soils exhibit deficiency of zinc with a content much below the critical level of 1.5 ppm. Soil contains both available and unavailable form of zinc. Water soluble, exchangeable, organically complexed and armorphous iron oxide bound forms are considered available zinc and crystalline iron oxide bound and residual zinc are considered as unavailable. The available fraction constitutes around 8% of the total zinc which is too low for utilization by crops in zinc deficient soils.

Zinc is required by crops in microquantities for its growth. The use of high analysis fertilizer due to cultivation of high yielding varieties, enhanced cropping intensity and the decline in the use of organic manures result in the deficiency of trace elements particularly zinc. With the liberal application of nitrogen the demand for zinc increases producing deficiency symptoms. The critical limit of zinc in dry matter for different crops and levels less than 20 ppm suggests the probability of zinc deficiency and less than 15 ppm indicate sure deficiency.

Zinc is a limiting factor in crop production and application of ZnSO₄ is preferred because of its water soluble nature. The zinc sulphate, when applied soil, gets transformed into different forms like Zn (OH), zinc carbonate in calcium rich alkali soils ; zinc phosphate in near neutral to alkali soils of high phosphorus application; and zinc sulphide under reduced conditions.