eChapters

Introduction

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) commonly called as Poor man’s cashew, is the 6^th most important oil seed crop in the world. It contains 48-50% oil, 26-28% protein and 11-27% carbohydrates. Groundnut is grown on 26.4 million hectare worldwide, with a total production of 37.1 million metric tons and an average productivity of 1.4 metric tons/ha. Developing countries constitute 97% of the global area and 94% of the global production of this crop (FAO, 2011). The production of groundnut is concentrated in Asia and Africa, where the crop is grown mostly by smallholder farmers under rain-fed conditions with limited inputs. Groundnuts (peanuts) are popularly used as seed oil in India. Since, they are obtained from the ground, they are called as groundnuts and also known as ‘Mungfali’ in Hindi, ‘Palleelu or Veru sanaga’ in Telugu, ‘Kadalai’ in Tamil, ‘Nilakkadala’ in Malayalam, ‘Kadale kaayi’ in Kannada, ‘Singdana’ in Gujarati and ‘Shengdaane’ in Marathi. Groundnuts are easily available round the year and almost everywhere in India. Groundnuts are also taken as snacks in many households especially in India. In reality, groundnuts are actually legumes. Since, they have all the properties of nuts like almonds, cashew nuts, etc., these are also included in the family of nuts.

Groundnut is the major oil seed of India. It accounts for 25% of total oil produced in India. Annual production of groundnut is around 9690 thousand tones. As the crop is grown in rainfed conditions, production and productivity are highly vulnerable to rainfall and exhibit huge fluctuation between the years. In India, groundnuts are produced both during Kharif (75%) and Rabi seasons (25%). Major production catchments of groundnut are located in Gujarat holding a share of 50.77% of total groundnut production, Andhra Pradesh holding a second place (12.69%) followed by Tamil Nadu (9.91%). Following are the top groundnut producing states of India (Table 1).

Introduction

India is the largest consumer and second largest producer of sugar in the world next to Brazil. Among the sugar yielding crops like sugarcane, sugar beet, palms and sorghum, sugarcane is the second most important agro-industrial crop of the country. It is the only raw material for nearly 538 sugar mills (2014-15), producing about 28 million mt of sugar annually from a sugarcane production of 366 million tons in an area of 5.307 mh. Apart from this, it is the predominant source of potable alcohol, industrial alcohol and fuel-ethanol. In India, 35 million farmers are engaged in sugarcane cultivation and another 50 million depend on employment generated by these 538 sugar factories and other related industries using sugar. Sugarcane occupies a very prominent position in the agricultural crops of India covering large areas in UP, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar (sub tropical) and Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu (tropical). On an average, white sugar production accounts for 74% of total cane produced, 14-15% is utilized for jaggery and khandsari production and the rest is utilized for other purposes including seed.

Jaggery and khandsari, the traditional Indian sweeteners are the natural mixture of sugar and molasses. If pure clarified sugarcane juice is boiled, what is left as solid is jaggery, which contains 65-85% sucrose. Khandsari sugar is a finely granulated and crystallized which contains 94 to 98% sucrose. In the early 1930’s, nearly 2/3rd of sugarcane production was utilized to manufacture these two alternate sweeteners. With the introduction of sugar mills and their multiple growth and better standard of living and higher per capita income, the demand for sweetener has shifted to white sugar which contains purely sucrose (99.7%).

Introduction

Consumption of milk is deeply rooted in our traditions, and it is an inevitable part of the Indian diet and even has ritualistic and medicinal uses. Milk is the first and one among the most nutritious foods that every mammal consumes on earth. It supplies all the nutrients needed to ensure proper growth and development in the postnatal period. Dairy foods in general are commonly considered balanced and nutritive, being frequently included as important components of a healthy diet (Pereira, 2014). Four components of milk are dominant in quantitative terms: water, fat, protein and lactose; while the minor components are minerals, enzymes, vitamins, and dissolved gases (Guetouache et al., 2014). On an average, bovine milk is composed of 87% water, 4 to 5% lactose, 3% protein, 3 to 4% fat, 0.8% minerals, and 0.1% vitamins. Milk and milk products contribute not only nourishment to the consumers, but also livelihood opportunities to farmers, processors, shopkeepers and other stakeholders in the dairy value chain.

Introduction

Fish is a source of valuable animal protein and is considered a health food. This has resulted in increased consumer demand. Fish is now more expensive than meat and other animal foods. Being a highly perishable commodity, fish require immediate processing and various options are available for the value addition of fish. Fish processing, particularly seafood processing and marketing have become highly complex and competitive and exporters are trying to process more value added products to increase their profitability. Value can be added to fish and fishery products according to the requirements of different markets. These products range from live fish and shellfish to ready to serve convenience products. In general, value added food products are raw or pre-processed commodities whose value has been increased through the addition of ingredients or processes that make them more attractive to the buyer and/or more readily usable by the consumer.

Introduction

Meat is a highly nutritious animal product relished by majority of the population in India. India produced around 6.2 million MT of meat in 2013 (FAOSTAT, 2013), standing at fifth position in world meat production and accounts for only 3 per cent of total meat production in the world (APEDA, 2017). Contribution of livestock sector to national economy in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) was 4.1 per cent in 2012-13 (Islam et al., 2016). The percentage of meat subjected to processing in India is only 1-2 per cent compared to 70 per cent in developed countries (Sen et al., 2013). Relatively higher proportion of poultry (7-8%) is converted into further processed poultry products. Major proportion of the meat produced in the country is derived from old and unproductive animals. Availability of spent birds is also on the rise due to the rapid growth in poultry industry. Meat from such animals and poultry has less desirable palatability attributes, especially tenderness, which makes it more suitable for processing into value added products. This will provide consumers with more acceptable, convenient, healthy and versatile products while simultaneously increasing the economic returns to the processor. The profitability of meat industry is critically dependent in deriving extra value from lower-value meat cuts. To achieve this, value must be added in the eyes of the consumer across the wide chain of value added products.

Introduction

Successful marketing is important to every business. Marketing is a critical tool for establishing awareness, attracting new customers and building lasting relationships. It is the process of planning and executing conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of your ideas, goods or services to satisfy the needs of individual consumers or organisations. It is as important to put adequate efforts on marketing your product or service, no matter whatever time you have dedicated to development of part of it.

We live in an electronic era, where the globe has shriveled into our fingertips. Customers are having lot of options to choose from. Information of what you need is reaching you within a click, that your decisions are often being guided by such information. Marketing uses communication and advertising tactics to persuade customers that your brand, including your products and services are exactly what they need. Marketing is thus crucial to your business which can have a bearing on the success rate and requires research, planning and appropriate budget allocations.

One of the important concepts in marketing is that of marketing mix. The elements of this mix are: product, pricing, physical distribution and promotion. Marketing management is that which optimizes the elements in the marketing mix, so that organisation is able to achieve its objectives while gaining customer utility. This chapter throws light on various aspects of marketing mix that an entrepreneur needs to focus upon to ensure success.

Once you have embarked upon the idea of doing (any) business, your concentration should be focused on doing things that should be relevant to maximizing returns and minimizing risks. Looking upon why businesses fail, one can find that it is usually because entrepreneurs are ill equipped to identify real business opportunities and take advantage of them, or they don’t anticipate and adapt critical changes or they fail to recognize or minimize real threats to business. Successful entrepreneurs are found to intensively pursue the path of planning by preparing business plans, for having foresight of critical incidents that would affect business and possible ways of action.

Executive summary

The enclosed project report envisages the setting up of a modern rice mill complex with attached parboiling facilities having an average processing capacity of 16 MT of paddy per day. The initial investment of the project is estimated to be Rs 480.17 lakhs. Sales Realization is assumed as constant for all the 7 years; amounted Rs 1129.2 lakhs. Pay Back Period for the project is estimated as somewhat more than 3 years. Internal Rate of Return for the project is 31%. Net Present Value is Rs.367.92 lakhs which is a positive value. It indicates that present value of cash inflows is greater than present value of cash outflows. Projected working results of the project throws light on its viability.

Introduction

Low and erratic precipitation, diurnal fluctuations in temperature and low humidity are the typical characteristics of deserts and their margins. Further, strong winds, sunny and very bright days and unpredictable periods of drought and famines are regular features. These lands are poor in fertility. Uninterrupted increase in human and animal pressures is violating carrying capacity of the natural resources, thus resultant is desertification.

Arid zones are described as a part of the drylands, and have the most severe edapho-climatic conditions. The major distinguishing feature for defining and for planning for the arid zone is the low rainfall (below 500 mm or Aridity Index <0.20) with more than 50% inter-annual variability. This makes a great difference in terms of the nature of the ecosystem, the socio-economic environment and the challenges for sustainability. High wind and solar regimes further increase the effect of rainfall variability and the whole complex makes a fragile ecosystem in which small disturbances may cause great loss to the sustainability, which are sometimes irreversible (Hou’erou, 1996). The hot arid zones of the world are economically and environmentally disadvantaged, with unique problems. The ecosystems of these zones are highly fragile with large risks that cause severe impediments to development programs. Of the total land area in the world, arid zones cover 18.8% and the hyper-arid zones account for 22.3% of the total arid zones (FAO, 1989).

Introduction

Desertification, which is considered a major threat in the drylands of the world, is not about advancing boundaries of the existing deserts, but about land degradation in the arid, semi-arid and the dry sub-humid regions, which together form the drylands (Anon., 1995). Secular variation in climate that has resulted in periodic expansion and contraction of the desert boundaries and regional-scale changes in vegetation condition (Tucker et al., 1991; Nemani et al., 2003; Hickler et al., 2005) is one of the drivers of desertification. Human activities constitute the other major driver. According to Geist and Lambin (2004) the prominent core variables that drive degradation are climatic, economic, institutional, national policies, population growth and remote influences.

Introduction

Desertification is now accepted as a major environmental issue because of the fact that 69.5 percent area of the world’s dry lands and more than 1.2 billion people in over 110 countries living in this habitat are affected by various land degradation processes. During last 20 years, researchers have focused their discussion either on a condition or a cause or a set of processes to assess different paradigms of desertification. Several studies carried out in arid western part of Rajasthan (Singh et al., 1992, Kar, A. 1993b, Kar, 1995, Dregne, H.E. 2000, Kar et al.2007) show that wind erosion is still a major problem. Though, there are many instances of location specific problems like water erosion, salinity/ alkalinity and water logging, about 75% area in arid western Rajasthan is affected by wind erosion hazard of different intensities (SAC, 2007, Kar et al. 2009). Decreasing rainfall gradient from east to west and increasing wind strength in that direction are responsible for the spatial variability in sand reactivation pattern. Water erosion in the form of sheet, rill and gully erosion is a major problem in areas, where average annual rainfall exceeds 350 mm, the rainfall intensity is high and the topographic and soil characteristics favour high run-off. Destruction of vegetation cover and excessive ploughing of shallow soils, especially on the sloping lands, accelerate the problem.

Introduction

Drylands account for over 40% of the global land surface, or approximately 5.2 billion hectares (de Sherbinin, 2002). They provide home for more than 2 billion people or nearly 40% of the population of the world (White and Nackoney, 2003). Asia alone accounts for about 32% of the World’s drylands. Broadly defined by their modest water supply drylands have many regional names, such as semideserts, grasslands, savannas, steppes, and pampas. Dryland ecosystems are a vital part of the earth’s human and physical environments and play a major role in global biophysical processes. They provide much of the world’s grain and livestock, forming the habitat that supports many vegetable species, fruit trees and micro-organisms. With an exception of Australia and the United States, almost all drylands are situated in developing countries with populations living in extreme poverty. Populations of drylands are frequently some of the poorest in the world. Food security and water availability of these areas has always been unstable due to high variability in both rainfall amounts and intensities and the occurrence of prolonged periods of drought. The increasing pressures caused by the global climate change and massive land-use changes further increase human vulnerability in dry regions. The impacts of climate change in drylands are likely to lead to still larger populations being affected by water scarcity and the risk of declining food security and increase the risk of environmental migrations and violent conflicts caused by the decline of resources, which are important to sustain livelihoods (Barnett and Adger, 2007).

Abstract

This paper is the synthesis of researches of quaternary on the Chad lake basin, our field investigations, our previous palaeogeographic research underlined by the sédimentological analyses, ¹⁴C radiocarbon and thermoluninescence dating. The objective is to show that after the effects of geological fluctuation, paleoclimatic oscillations, the Chad lake basin experiences since historical times an increasingly drying up due to the combination of geographic factors such as its close position in the Sahara desert, centre of the climate dynamics and human activities. This situation frequently generates recurrent live conditions to which man has to face.

Abstract

Increased human activities such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing have resulted in rapid increase of green house gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Atmospheric accumulation of the GHGs results into global warming and climate variability or change. Climate change due to enhanced greenhouse effect arising as a result of human activity is considered a major global environmental threat to mankind today. Perhaps nowhere in the globe are people more vulnerable to climate change than in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Most livelihoods in SSA are climate-sensitive due to over dependency on land and other natural resources and are thus perched on the brink of disaster due to climate change.

Climate change is now undoubtedly affecting millions of people across Africa and it actually threatens to wipe-out the past and current global efforts made to tackle poverty unless urgent and robust decisions and actions are taken. This is also a wake-up call for the world to adopt alternative development models that would ensure massive cuts in GHG emissions to avoid a potentially irreversible change. Scientists have warned that unless the global community, especially the developed countries, take genuine steps now to reduce their emissions; many more millions of people in the developing world will be negatively impacted by climate change.

We let you know that the type of people in a given region is closely linked to the kind of resources found in the concerned region; and which are necessary for human beings to survive.

In fact, more than 100 countries possess arid lands, where more than 40% of the global population lives. The soils of these regions present too much fragility and they are too degraded that they can’t allow people to survive.

Let’s emphasize that in Africa, two third of the total area are arid zones. Thus, for Africans, the type of their struggle for adaptation to the context of their land, illustrates their ingenious capacity to model their hostile surroundings and to leave marks of their cultures all over prehistory and history.

Social organizations in those arid areas are closely linked to modes of exploitation and valuation of resources (water and land). However, human productions in those areas are doubly menaced; on one side by the action of humans who exploit resources for their immediate needs, and on the other side, by climate adverse effects during long periods of drought. It means that climate change and violent meteorological phenomenon worsen circumstances. That leads to environmental degradation and biodiversity reduction; alarming deterioration of vital conditions; and intensification of poverty, both in rural and urban areas; particularly among women and young. Consequently, there are non durable (viable) agricultural practices, overexploitation, overgrazing, excessive and illegal forestry exploitation; destruction of forests and bushes by non-controlled fires, pillages and conflicts with weapons; reduction of vegetation, due to the scarcity of rain; of water in general and menaces of heaps of sands.

Abstract

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa with a dry tropical climate characterised by a short rainy season and a long dry season. The annual rainfall varied between 300mm in the northern part of the country to 1200mm in the meridian part. Since many years, the degradation of climatic conditions is observed. Therefore, the annual rainfalls of the 1971-1981 period were inferior to those of the precedent periods, and also the deterioration of the climatic conditions led the limits of some ishoteques “isohyète” to move southward, more than 50km farther. Furthermore, the decennial rainfalls since 1920 were subjected to a latitudinal displacement to the south. For example the ishoteque “isohyète” 500mm which were located at the North of the 15°N outside Burkina Faso during the years 1950-1960 moved gradually year by year and reached the 14°N during the years 1970-1980 inside Burkina Faso.

Abstract

The arid Kachchh district, located at the western most part of the Gujarat State in India, is known for its large extent of area under wetland habitat, which is represented by numerous seasonal water bodies and coastal habitats. Vast stretch of grasslands also available in the northern border of the district, the Banni (23⁰ 19’ to 23⁰ 52’ N; 68⁰ 56’ to 70⁰ 32’ E), which encompasses an area of 2,617 km². There are many depressions in Banni, locally known as Dhandh (shallow lakes). During monsoon, rainwater gets collected in these depressions and form shallow lakes. About 34 smaller and bigger size Dhandhs are present in the Banni. Banni communities are highly dependent on the Dhandhs for various purposes. Due to the erratic rainfall in arid Kachchh, Maldharis is highly unstable for livestock in search of fodder and water during drought years. During the normal rainfall years, livestock from neighboring talukas of Kachhh and even from other districts depends on this grassland and Dhandhs. During last decade, the Banni grasslands have seen serious environmental changes due to the invasion of an exotic plant Prosopis juliflora and increasing the salinity are the major issues of Dhandh degradation. Thus, the Banni is gradually losing its capacity to sustain human and livestock population.

Main objectives of the present paper is to examine the local perceptions of wetland and grassland change, socio-economic status, and factors that cause degradation of the wetland and vegetation resources in the Banni grassland.

Abstract

The balance between resources and population constitute the solid base for drawing the future map of sustainable development in the study area in all developmental sectors such as agriculture, industry, tourism, and commercial sectors. Geoenvironmental hazards such as erosion, sea level changes, sand dune encroachment, siltation of the navigation channel of the Damietta harbor, salinization of the soils, the negative effects of the protective structures and bad management of the coastal areas must be studied in details before making the future planning for any area. The main geomorphologic units in this area are: beaches, sand dunes, wetlands, urban areas, reclamation lands and lagoons.

The rate of erosion from 1984 to 2000 in the Rosetta beach is -117.6 m/yr, while it is -17.6 m/yr in the Damietta beach. On the other hand, the rate of erosion in the period from 1984 to 2005 is -104.6 m/yr and -11.4 m/yr in Rosetta and Damietta beaches, respectively. Since, Nile Delta is a typical wave dominated delta (Coleman et al., 1981) and Tide is a semi-diurnal microtidal regime with a maximum tidal range of 50 cm (UNESCO/UNDP, 1978), the erosion and accretion are very dangerous hazard in the area.

Due to the reclamation of vast areas of the coastal dunes, the lagoons and wetlands, the new reclaimed lands are added to the agricultural deltaic land. Thus, the coastal sand dunes, lagoons and wetlands are decreased. The main urban centers have expanded, and new urban centers (Damietta harbor, the New Damietta city and Mansoura city in near future) have been constructed at the expense of vast areas of lagoons, coastal dunes, and backshore flats. The siltation of the navigation canal of the Damietta harbor, salting of the soil (new and old) and sand dune encroachment are very important hazards in the study area. All the previous geoenvironmental hazards and others threaten the sustainable development in the study area.

Abstract

The area of study extends about 65 km from Gamasa City to Burg El-Burullus. The coastal sand dunes are very near to the shoreline in Baltim and El-Burg and far from the shoreline in Gamasa. It is narrow with relatively steep slope northward near Burg El-Burullus and Baltim, while it increases in width eastward to become wide with gentle slope near Gamasa. The coastal sand dunes are very mobile and move toward the agricultural lands, roads (international coastal road), resorts, and other developmental activities. The sand dunes in the study area are classified into two categories, the old fixed dunes and recent mobile dunes. The main directions of wind blow are N, W, and NW directions. It causes the movement of mobile dunes (Barchan and longitudinal). Several methods have been used for dune fixation like the tar spraying, wind fences and stones. Wind fences are not costly and nonpolluting if compared with stonewall and tar spraying, which prevent the land utilization for agricultural purposes.

Introduction

Thar Desert is unique both from floristic and climatic parameters. Biodiversity in this region survives on a very/ fragile ecosysytem under a highly hostile environment. Major area consists of dry undulating mass of loose sand, thus, leading to shifting sand dunes. The sandy plain is full of sand-hills with serve as low depressions where salt and soda are deposited after drying. The whole area is inhospitable and sterile. Trees are rather a few and far between (Bhandari, 2005).

The Thar Desert of western India is known for its rich and ancient culture system and traditions. The communities have long been part of the Thar Desert ecosystem and have evolved specific strategies to live in harmony with its hostile environment. Orans have remained mainstay in balancing this arid ecosystem. Man of this region has never been greedy as he is today. Orans were repositories of ancient system of gene pool conservation. But, there are unregulated encroachment on the marginal lands and over-exploitation of groundwater resources. Orans has been part and parcel of the lifestyle of the Thar Desert inhabitants. Orans are used to provide vital grazing land for livestock, water, minor forest produce, medicinal plants and green cover for the villages. They were worshipped as devbhumi. Orans preserve the endemic, endangered or threatened species, medicinal plants and wild variety of cultivars found.

Abstract

This chapter highlights the significance of irrigated desert agriculture as a prime cause of the settlement and welfare of nomads and the consequent reduction of conflicts over limited land resources. Um Jawaseer Desert Farm Project is located in Bayouda Desert, the Northern State about 200 km north of the capital Khartoum. The planning and management approaches of such irrigated projects were discussed with special emphasis on the participatory approach. In this respect the roles of the donor (NGO), traditional tribal institutions and the project beneficiaries were illustrated. The project beneficiaries were organized into the farmers, well and women committees. The environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the project were evaluated. The project maintained food security, improved nutritional status, hygiene, housing environment and assisted in the provision of primary education and basic health facilities. Cost/benefit analysis showed the high profitability of the project. Other positive impacts include conservation of the fragile environment and biodiversity and improvement of animal productivity. Consequently, the area which witnessed an out-migration, during the seventies and the eighties, due to drought and desertification is now experiencing incoming migration.

However, adaptation to the sedentary mode of life was a real challenge. The most striking benefits of the project was that of women training for the, involvement in the decision-making process and empowerment, since 20% of the land is allocated for women. In addition to that, problems like build up of salinity, sand encroachment, low organic matter content and increased susceptibility to some water-related diseases due to irrigation were tackled successfully.

Abstract

Indigenous water saving technologies in arid and semi-arid environment is a local traditional practice for effective use of the limited water supply. These technologies can be used as a base for future development that can be made on these technologies through incorporating the current industry tools. The importance of studying the indigenous knowledge and practices is that it can help to develop enhanced versions of these technologies, and to understand the ability of local communities to adopt the newly developed technology. In Sudan, several indigenous water saving approaches has been used by local societies at various scales. An insight for these technologies, their strength and weaknesses are given here. On “Haffir” (water ponds), Wadi control, and water diversion methods were used for a long time of history for water collection and conservation. At farm scale, terraces, mulching, intercropping, low tillage, fallow, low-water consumption crops and fast maturing crops are common indigenous water saving technologies. Traditional water storage in trees such as Baobab and water-melon is an indigenous proactive along the history in western Sudan to store rain water for long dry season.

Why Water Budget?

The reliability of water supply in desert regions is at risk due to a multitude of issues including low rainfall, low snow runoff, court-ordered water transfer restrictions and hence higher price of wholesale water. Agencies in desert regions understand the importance of improving water supply reliability, facilitating better water storage, adapting to changing climate patterns and reduced precipitation, improving Environment and Water Quality.

The Desert regions have always fought back the perpetual water scarcity with infrastructure designed around saving water and utilizing alternative water resources. Off late, not only new construction but also new policies and programs have added to their water conservation activities.

One such program attends to the fair distribution of water by tending to consumers who are price sensitive and hence use water without wasting it and by extra-charging those who do not know where to put a stop to their wasteful water use.

Introduction

Definition of ‘urban’ areas varies from country to country. Consequently, it is difficult to provide a universally acceptable meaning of the term. The difficulty has been summarised by UN (1998) as follows: “because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries” (UN, 1998). In many cases the divide between a rural and an urban area is based on the minimum population, but the number varies widely between the countries, e.g., 200 in Iceland, 2000 in some countries of West Asia, 5000 in India, and 10000 in Italy! Despite this challenge, most towns and cities are historical phenomena and have their defined administrative boundaries for services and other purposes, including municipalities. These places straight away qualify as the urban centres.

In India, the word has been defined by the Census of India (2001) as: “(a) All statutory places with a municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified town area committee, etc.; (b) A place satisfying the following three criteria simultaneously: (i) a minimum population of 5,000; (ii) at least 75 per cent of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits; and (iii) a density of population of at least 400 per sq. km (1,000 per sq. mile).” This definition was adopted for the 2011 Census.

Abstract

The UAE Space Reconnaissance Center (SRC) is accounted as a major national and regional source of up-to-date geospatial data, with direct reception of IKONOS, IRS and KOMPSAT satellite imagery as well as access to some other satellite and aerial imagery resources; an activity which covers the whole Middle East region. The main concern in monitoring the environment of UAE and surrounding countries is the desertification process, the monitoring of which requires careful watching of the sand movement and some other relevant features.

This paper throws light on the role of various types of satellite images in monitoring desertification, by utilization of IKONOS, IRS Pan and Landsat TM images covering part of Liwa and Alain areas, representing the two main dune regimes; Liwa and Manadir, which constitutes the northeastern edge of the Empty Quarter sand sea.

The availability of high resolution images makes it possible to detect the yearly or even seasonal sand movements, being controlled by the prevailing wind conditions and distance from the main sand source. The results clarify that movements of up to 25m was encountered at some small sand dunes and about 10m for larger sand dunes, towards the SSE and SSW in Liwa area. In Rimah area a movement of up to 30m was noticed at a small sand dune towards the ENE and about 12m shift in the hinge of a larger sand dune towards the NW. Temporary or permanent ? movement of thin sand sheets can reach 100’s of meters, was easily detected on Landsat images; ~ 25km NE of Alain city. The 5m panchromatic images, on the other hand, helped in tracing sand movements measured in few 10’s of meters, and interpretability of such images was enhanced by merging them with Landsat imagery.

Abstract

The Western Desert covers approximately 700,000 km², which is more than two-thirds of the total area of Egypt. This immense desert, to the west of the Nile, spans the area from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sudanese border. The Great Sand Sea lies within the desert’s plain and extends from Siwa Oasis to Jilf al Kabir plateau. Scarps and deep depressions exist in several parts of the Western Desert. Limited agricultural production, the presence of some natural resources, and permanent settlements are found in the western desert oases (Siwa, Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga), all of which have fresh groundwater. Siwa Oasis, close to the Libyan border, is isolated from the rest of Egypt but has sustained life since ancient times. The Siwa’s cliff-hung Temple of Amun was renowned for its oracles for more than 1,000 years. Herodotus and Alexander the Great visited the temple in the pre-Christian era. The Oasis is a natural depression about 23 meters below sea level. It covers an area of about 1050 km² (2,50,000 acres); of which only 87.95 km² (20,940 acres) are currently cultivated. The total numbers of inhabitants in Siwa were 21,482 in 2006. The main activity in Siwa oasis is agriculture which depends on the groundwater that outflows from about 1199 wells and springs giving a total annual discharge of about 255 million cubic meters from which, about 222 million cubic meters are lost due to evaporation and evapotranspiration, while the remainder goes to the natural lakes of Siwa Oasis. This has led to a continuous rise in the water table level and soil salinity.

Present research paper on land degradation processes relates to the improper management of water and land resources in Siwa Oasis, Egypt.

Abstract

Three seepage tests were carried out for an earth canal at Rawakeeb Research Station (RRS)-west of Omdurman and an average seepage rate of 3.4 m/day was obtained. This value suggests that irrigation canal at RRS should be lined. In addition to that preliminary economic evaluation showed that canal lining is imperative in RRS. A concrete slab form was well designed for lining of RRS canal. Precasting technique and construction technique provided the required water tightness. Economic evaluation was done for RRS canal to investigate the extent of occurrence of supposed advantages, and to estimate costs and benefits and rate of return to lining. The capital expenditure (C), net present worth (NPW) and benefit/cost ratio were found to be 2600.4, 1961.9 and 1.3 respectively which offers a good indicator to adopt the technique.

Abstract

Before 1960’s, UAE was a poor developing country and almost there were no real signs of civilization. During the 1970’s two important things happened: H. H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the president of UAE, and the other Emirates rulers united together and established the United Arab Emirates and considerable oil findings were discovered. The UAE Leadership has proved to have deep future vision; in three decades the country jumped from a relatively backward scattered emirates to a well developed and civilized country.

Development is very obvious : from tents and sandy tracks to tower buildings and highways, from desert to green belts of palm trees and vegetables in all parts of the country, and most important, education, healthcare and all other services became the best in the region. Urban development was so sharp; someone who left the place 10 years ago can hardly know his location and services in all sectors became the best at the international level. The oil money was properly invested in development.

UAE Air Force Space Reconnaissance, used satellite and aerial images for the past 20 years and successfully utilized images from various sources including aerial photographs, Russian satellites images, SPOT and Landsat

Abstract

The desert environment is one of the most challenging environments for human habitation. Inhabitants have to deal with climatic factors such as high temperature, sandstorms, flash floods and lack of water due to low rainfall. The people of Saudi Arabian desert had developed various traditional adaptation approaches such as living in tents, wearing head dresses, settling close to source of water, using camel for transportation, irrigation farming and traditional land management (hema). In recent times, modern technologies for air conditioning, transportation and housing have replaced the traditional adaptation methods especially in the cities. The modern technologies have reduced the challenges faced by the traditional society but has thrown up new challenges to sustainability. The new issues include urban flooding, depletion of underground water, high energy demand and consumption and loss of natural habitat to urbanization. This chapter reviews the traditional and the modern adaptation techniques in Saudi Arabia especially in the urban areas. It examines the implication of the changes for urban sustainability and explores different approaches for reducing the negative impacts. The chapter also dwells on the role of geospatial techniques in adapting to the desert environment.

Introduction

Environmental Assessment is taken up in this exercise as a rapid assessment technique for determining the current status of the environment and identifying impact of critical activities on environmental parameters. EIA is a relatively new planning and decision-making tool first enshrined in the United States in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It is a formal study process used to predict the environmental consequences of any development project. EIA thus ensures that the potential problems are foreseen and addressed at an early stage in project planning and design. Creation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system is vital to conform socio-economic development projects to environmental safety and thereby ensure sustainable economic development. In view of the fact that development is an ever-growing process, its impact on the environment is also ever increasing, leading to rapid deterioration in environmental conditions. As such Environmental Assessment provides a rational approach to sustainable development.

It also enables us in carrying out Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis of projects at an initial stage. It is thus a precursor to detailed analysis of environmental impacts, which are taken up only if a need for the same is established.

Introduction

In the last two decades global climate change has perceptible and marked impact on the monsoon pattern in India. Delayed and inadequate monsoon has become a recurrent feature and the country is in the grip of drought-flood cycles. Right from the beginning of large scale irrigation that brought green revolution and food self sufficiency to the country, there is a strong feeling that full potential of rivers of the country is not tapped (Table 1).

Metals are toxic and non biodegradable pollutants released into the environment through effluents from agriculture waste, mining, metal processing industries, pharmaceutical industries as well as domestic and natural activities. Metallic pollutants tend to persist indefinitely and eventually get accumulated in the ecosystem. Metals especially arsenic, copper, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium and silver etc. possess a risk to living systems. Conventional processes applied to remediation of metallic pollutants are often restricted due to technical and economical constraints. Particularly when the metal contamination is at very low concentration the conventional methods become inefficient. In this situation application of bioremediation techniques is a technology of choice for environmental protection and clean up.

The Tuppa area, which is located 10-12 km away from Nanded city, and covers an area of about 66 km² was blessed with good , quality of water before industrialisation in this area. With the advent of industries more and more people from this region started complaining about the bad taste & quality of drinking water from dug and bore wells. From 1997 to1999 there was continuous increase in the lateral extent of pollution, with deeper bore wells more contaminated than the dug wells (Kaplay, et al. 2004).

Introduction

Impact Assessment can be broadly defined as the prediction or estimation of the consequences of a current or proposed action (project, policy, technology). Emergence of EIA can be related to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 in the USA. This act is now considered as model legislation for implementation all over the world. Today we have more than 100 countries that have adopted EIA legislation. EIA requirements of aid agencies and funding agencies are typically based on the principles included in the NEPA. In any project planning, along with the traditional technical (engineering) and economic considerations the NEPA requires environmental impact considerations. Environmental impact statements (EISs) are prepared as action forcing mechanism in NEPA that describe the environmental consequences of major actions which significantly affect the quality of human environment. Thus, the primary purpose of EIA is to encourage the environmental considerations in planning and decision making process. Finally, it is expected to arrive at actions which are more environmentally compatible.

Introduction

The town Paithan is famous by it’s name Dakshin Kashi. Godavari river has pristine glory and great significance for Hindus.

Nath temple is situated on the bank of Godavari river. It is a holy place and that’s why it becomes a place of public gathering on Ekadashi, Aashadi Ekadashi, Poornima, Deepawali, Dasera etc. Every year during Chaitra lakhs of people gather.

But at the time of Sheshti, which occurs once in a year is a special event. Hence many fold increase of congregation compared to other melas. The particular small stretch of river near temple was highly polluted, due to mass bathing and other polluting activities. The warm weather shall alter the photosynthesis rates, biodegradation and affect BOD, DO, pH etc. Recent Nath Sheshti at Paithan during 20^th March to 22^nd March 2006, drew about one lakh of pilgrims and had a few special aspects of interests from an environmental point of view.

Considering all the above aspects, it was decided to assess the changes in quality of river Godavari during Nath Sheshti.

Introduction

A society constitutes of several social system and institution such as family, school, religion etc. Every activity of these social systems and institution affect our environment in some way of other. There are various factor bring changes in the society. They are biology, environment, psychology, culture, demography and technology. All these factors collectively contribute to the changes in our society.

Auguste Gomte the father of sociology - defined sociology as the science of society. Sociologist believes that one can study society and understand the laws of society by applying the tools of natural sciences. We need to understand the nature as environment, its nature of work and our interaction with it, to understand and improve the efficiency of working with the nature. The Global deterioration the humanity is facing today is unprecedented in the annals of human history. We are already facing grave, water crisis disasters of all kinds, food, energy and ethical crisis etc. The solution is not visible and may not be visible in near future too. Environmental pollution means contamination in water, air, and land due to the various human activities. Man exploits natural resources to earn more and more profits. Forest is being cut down, the land is spoiled, and the air is becoming fuel and water being polluted. So nature has lost its balance such a situation has leaded us to what can be called as Environmental crisis. The changing lifestyle of our society is one of the main reasons for this crisis.

But unplanned execution of work and excessive industrialization and many other human activities has brought us to an alarming stage. In the face to live a luxurious life style we have been destroying the natural ecological balance.

Introduction

Present work report the study on Jakekur dam situated 4 km. from Omerga

The degradation of dam has occurred not only due to influents inflow but also by sanitation, domestic sewage, agricultural waste, and other activities around the dam like washing cloths, cattle, vehicles, and dumping of solid waste. Apart from it a large number of heavy metals is contributed by corrosion of metal pipe, runoff water from surrounding area during rainy season discharge of decorative paints in water bodies.

Geographical and morphological features of Jakekur dam.

Catchments area : 2110 hector

Gross storage : 10.17 TM C

Full reservoir level : 10 meter.

Length of the dam : 21.25 km.

Height of the dam : 14.80 meter.

Introduction

Environmental problems have come to the forefront as one of the most important issues in transport policy. For a number of pollutants the road transport sector is one of the most significant contributors to environmental pollution. Vehicular emissions have been identified as one of the major contributors in deteriorating air quality in the urban centers. The problem has further been compounded by the concentration of large number of vehicles and comparatively high motor vehicle/population ratios in these cities. Substantial SPM, RSPM CO₂ and No_x are emitted. The problem of air pollution has assumed serious proportion in some of the major metropolitan cities of India. Therefore, CPCB has 296 monitoring stations all over India covering major cities.

The air pollution situation in most of the cities is still far from satisfactory. In India the major air pollution reason is automotive smoke and smoke from industries. New channels are also publishing pollution levels in selected metropolitan cities. The most polluted city in Asia is Pune. The SPM and RSPM levels are displayed at various squares to create awareness among the masses.

Smaller cities like Nanded, Parbhani and Yavatmal are not covered under National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) scheme of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The National Ambient Air Quality Standards for suspended particulate matters (SPM) are based on gravimetric measurement. Standards for Respirable suspended particulate matters (RSPM) are also based on gravimetric measurement. The development in terms of number of vehicles and building construction has also reached at the doors of these cities and towns. Nanded city having population of 5.5 lakhs has total number of Auto rickshaws more than 5,000. In the present study, Nanded city has been selected to check particulate matters and gaseous pollutants. Since, the city is one of the important Pilgrimage and commercial centre.

Introduction

Water is among the most precious gifts of nature to mankind. Most of the ancient towns of the world grew on the banks of the river, and some of the ancient civilizations are known by the names of rivers. Rivers have always been important sources of drinking water and the means of sustaining human, animal and plant life. Whenever one is dealing with water resources development and utilization, it has to be kept in mind that not only quantity of water but also quality of water is very important. The well being and development of our society is dependent on the availability of water. An increase in groundwater development and utilization for industries and urban water supply has created improper disposal of liquid waste. Defective well constructions, sewage and waste disposal in man made lakes with in the city, open quarries with water and failure to seal the abandoned wells in city area have provided possible openings for downward movement of polluted water into subsurface formations without undergoing the process of natural filtration.

Introduction

Water is one of the most complex natural resources demanding a comprehensive understanding of its inherent features in occurrence and distribution for an integrated planning aimed at optimum development for agriculture, health, industry, power, etc. The well being and development of our society is dependent on the availability of water. An increase in groundwater development and utilization for industries and urban water supply has created improper disposal of liquid waste. Defective well constructions, sewage and waste disposal in man made lakes within city, open quarries with water and failure to seal the abandoned wells in city area have provided possible openings for downward movement of polluted water into subsurface formations without undergoing the process of natural filtration.

Introduction

India is having very rich sources of inland water bodies in the form of river, lakes and reservoirs. The reservoirs are constructed by impounding the river system. The reservoirs are constructed for effective utilisation of water for irrigation, power generation and flood control. Reservoir fishery in India is also important from socio-economic point of view as it has the potential of providing employment to about two million people, Kaushal and Sharma (2001). Total area under the reservoirs in India is 3:1 million ha and it is expected to double by 2020. This includes 19,000 small reservoirs with a total water surface area of 14,85,557 ha and about 180 medium and 56 large reservoirs of 5,27,541 and 11,40, 268 ha area respectively.

The Maharashtra is endowed with an area of 1,79,430 ha under reservoir and the Maharashtra produces 516 tonnes of fish through reservoirs. The state fisheries corporation was operating in 6,272 ha of reservoirs and marketing the catches.

Introduction

In India there are about 200 distillery having installed capacity 1555.5 million liters per annum out of which 50% are of 30 KL/ per day capacity about 50% of remaining distillery are of 45 to 60 KL/ per day capacity there are few distilleries which having go 120 KL/ per day capacity. Distillery waste is one of the major industrial waste having high organic and inorganic constituents in the recent past the treatment and disposal of distillery waste has become a subject of debate of each and every forum.

Introduction

In addition to role of iron oxidation in commercial point of view there are certain implication of iron oxidation on environment. Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) is one of the example of environmental pollution. Coal and various metal ores are enclosed in geological formation of reduced nature. Coal, is often associated with pyrite (FeS₂).When mining activities expose this material to atmospheric oxygen, a combination of auto oxidation and microbial iron and sulfur oxidation produces large amounts of acids. The iron-rich acidic mine drainage kills aquatic life and renders the contaminated stream unsuitable as a water supply or for recreational use.

Introduction

It has been observed that the surface waters are getting polluted due to improper disposal of domestic and industrial wastewaters. Most of the River basins which are major supply of water for human activities are polluted. Even the groundwater in not spared because of the incessant growth of the population in India. In Maharashtra the number of bore wells has been increased to 5 Lakhs from 1 Lakhs from few decades only. Out of total area of Maharashtra, 82% is covered by the basaltic rocks made up of lava. That’s why the quantity of the groundwater is comparatively less than the Indo-gangetic plane.

Groundwater in the north region of the Tapi River is found to be hard, unfit for the human consumption. The residences of district like Buldhana, Jalgaon and Dhule have to use hard water for consumption. Rampant extraction of the groundwater for agriculture might have caused alternation in chemical qualities of the groundwater. It has been also well documented that in Marathwada region, groundwater content higher concentration of fluoride and total Hardness.

Fluorine the most electro-negative element is of great interest and importance to human health because of its curative and harmful effects. Fluorides are released by various natural sources and anthropogenic activities into the aquatic environment (that is surface as well as groundwater). Fluoride can enter the human body through drinking water, food, toothpaste, mouth rinses and other dental products, drugs and fluoride containing salts and hydrofluoric acid. It may cause Fluorosis – a crippling and painful disease such as dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis and non-skeletal fluorosis.

Introduction

Lonar Lake, near Lonar town in the Buldhana District, India is not just the source of excitement for the visitors but also for the scientist community. Lonar is the third largest natural salt-water lake in the world, with a diameter of 1800 meter. Fredrickson, et al (1973) found that, about 50000 year back a massive meteor entered into the Earth’s gravitational forces ranging 60 meter long and weighing 2 million ton. It was racing at a speed of 25 kms per second towards the planet earth. When it struck the earth the energy released was equivalent to that released by six-megaton atom bombs. The impact was so severe that rocks from all sides came on the surface and reached the height of 20 meters. This impact left a massive crater 170 meters deep and with 1800 meter in diameter. Today it is natural salt-water lake.

Introduction

Reservoirs constitute the prime inland fishery resource in the country by virtue of their numerous production potential. These man-made ecosystems offer enough scope for stock manipulation through ecological maneuvering, paving the way for production hikes at a relatively low-capital investment. Unlike the aquaculture systems, where the development is capital intensive, a reservoir fishery development is labour productive and ensures employment for some of the weakest sections of our society.

Introduction

The tropical evergreen forests of the Sahyadris or the Malnad region of Karnataka is one of the richest plant areas (“hot spots”) on earth and crucial to the oxygen supply of the world. More than 30,000 varieties of wildlife and plants and over 8,000 said to unique are reported to lie here. Unless reckless deforestation is halted soon, some scientists fear that within the next 100 years this virgin forest could become an arid wilderness.

Agriculture is one of the major age-old occupations of human beings providing food to the people and also supplies raw materials to a number of agro based industries. However the expansion of agricultural fields in the dense woody forest areas has brought about many environmental problems and thereby degraded the quality of environment in ecologically most sensitive areas like Uttar Kannada District. In India, agricultural practices are primarily based on the traditional system of intensive subsistence forming. It is also observed that more and more available area (forest) has been brought under cultivations to feed the population which has been growing at an alarming rate. The agricultural expansion and population growth, in forest areas of Uttar Kannada Districts have degraded the quality of environment.

Industrial revolution took place in England during the period of 1760-1830. Accordingly, the production prior to demand was introduced. Many countries all over the world adopted industrial policies favouring industrial sector to achieve the fast development of the nation. Government of India also contributed its efforts in the same direction and issued the industrial policy of 1948, 1956, 1977 and so on making several financial and non financial facilities available to have substantial growth and development of industries in particular and nation in general.

Under the name of globalization and making the economy internationally competent, India took a revolutionary decision to follow new industrial policy 1991 opening the doors for investment from foreign countries and private sector even. In addition to this economic reforms have been adopted and advocated for the sake of national development. Three ‘D’ programme consisting of devaluation, decontrol and disinvestment, were also put on the national agenda, to achieve the set targets.

Since the last decade discussion regarding ecology is being heard. A campaign with a great planning has launched by holding seminar conferences and meets. The ecological problem became a matter of tremendous panic and anxiety. Not only in India but also in entire world this problem is being discussed through all school, colleges and universities on international scale all over world, since it became universal issue now a days. The word ecology was not known to the people 20 years ago, never the less it became familiar even among the villages today. The people in villages are making thorough study of the subject. The experts of ecology from all over the world have been surprised to learn the exhaustive study of the same done by the Indian scholars. We have instituted a separate ministry to look after the environmental problems. The activities injurious to environment are prohibited. An act is there to restrict antienvironmental deeds what made scientists all over the world to take this matter so seriously. Does it mean that the very existence of mankind has been jeopardized by it Let us see what our ancient literature say about the ecology and pollution.

Introduction

The natural hazards like floods, cyclones, droughts, landslides and earthquakes are not rare or unusual phenomenon. India is among the world’s most disaster prone areas and a large part of the country is exposed to such natural hazards, which often turn into disasters causing significant disruption of socio-economic life of communities leading to loss of life and property. It would not be considered as a disaster unless it resulted in actual damage to human life or property. According to data accumulated over past 25 years, natural disasters in Asia accounts for about 40% of the world’s total disasters while the death toll ratio is about 50% and the number of people affected is about 90%. The latter figure is about 2.2 times the ratio of number of occurrences in Asia. The figures vary widely over the decades, a result that can be attributed to a few particularly terrible disasters. Such as the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake in China, which killed about 250,000, and a series of severe cyclones that hit Bangladesh in 1970 with a death toll of about 500,000. The death toll resulting from wind and flood disasters jumped by an order of magnitude in the 1990s. But this sudden increase affected Asia’s ratio to the world total by about 15 percentage points because there was a worldwide surge in this type of disaster. Clearly, there is an extreme concentration of victims of such disasters in Asia, Another substantial increase is clear in the value of damage caused by typhoons and cyclones; it is now running at 10 times the level of the 1980s. Again, however, the ratio has remained almost unchanged, at about 40%, because hurricanes in Central and North America account for more than 50% of the world total (51.2%, 58.5%, and 54.4% in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s,respectively). It is sadly worth noting that there has been conspicuous growth in the absolute value of damage in both Asia and the Americas.