eChapters

In rural development, the sole aim is to transfer the technology for better living of people. The process by which the technology is transferred to users is called Transfer of Technology. Transfer of technology falls in the domain of adoption and diffusion. Therefore, it is necessary to understand adoption and its related issues. Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is relatively difficult as people do not find newness in it. The transfer of technology is explained in terms of technology movement from place of generation to the hands of the users.

Teaching, Research and Extension are interrelated and interwoven in development. It may be in any field, like agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry etc. Whenever we talk of extension, it implies the participation of clients in the program. Extension can never be defined without inclusion of participation of people. Extension approach means application of tools and methods by which we can reach people. The participation is the core value of extension but its use differs from situation to situation bringing out a degree of differences leading to variation in result. In extension the farmers are advised and the blue print prepared for them are recommended to be adopted. Such approach did not yield desirable result, as result regarding realization was under question the impact of extension on farming communities. The studies conducted on extension approaches tend to reveal poor result as the participants failed to own and shape the program designed for them.

World Trade Organisation

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) was the result of years of painstaking efforts on the part of governments and other bodies to establish a globally acceptable basis for a new economic order. It was established to correct the imbalances and disparities in international trade and bring about an evenly balanced world trade order that equally benefits the developed, developing and least developed nations. While there are several agreements under the WTO, the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) specifically represents the resolve of all member countries to use intellectual property as one of the means for achieving economic balance and diminishing the trade barriers.

Growth of horticulture is the cornerstone for augmenting employment opportunities in agriculture sector both directly and indirectly. Of late, there is a marked shift in the cropping pattern towards diversification into high value commercial crops in the country. To make horticulture viable and profitable, the thrust should be on improving the resource use efficiency, so that the relative profitability could be enhanced. Success in horticulture is more technology driven compared to other crops. The time bound removal of quantitative curbs on imports and other barriers to access domestic market under WTO, of which India is a signatory, will require Indian Horticultural produce / products to become competitive both in the domestic and international markets. This would call for use of Hi-tech horticulture technologies. The term Hi-Tech Horticulture was coined in recent years. There are no standard definitions for this. The Department of Agriculture and Co-operation,GOI in 1999 defined Hi-tech Horticulture as “any technology which is modern, less environment dependent, capital intensive and has the capacity to improve the productivity and quality of horticultural crops”.

In the backdrop of a predominantly agrarian economy, India has made tremendous advances in modern agriculture to meet both the food and nutritional security. In recent years, horticulture has assumed great importance mainly to augment nutritional security and secondarily as a highly cost-effective, remunerative and eco-friendly enterprise having vast export potential. To meet the challenges of research and development, tracer techniques have added the much needed fillip as they can be ingeniously applied to resolve issues which are not ordinarily possible using conventional techniques.

Horticultural crops are ideal and valuable assets of nature to mankind. They are popular among masses since time immemorial but their importance was realized only in the recent past due to their high nutritive value, good taste and pleasing quality. They provide essential nutrients and minerals for proper functioning of human body and aesthetic surroundings for peaceful living. India is an important centre of diversity and several horticultural crops  originated here.  The horticultural crops constitute 13.08% of total crop area and contribute about 28% to GDP. The sub-continent extends from 8° 04’ - 37° 06’ North latitude and 68° 07’- 97° 25’ East longitude and it has tropical, sub-tropical and temperate climates which favour successful growing of a large number of horticultural crops.  India has a wide variety of climate and soil on which a large number of horticultural crops like fruits, vegetables, potato and other tropical tuber crops, ornamentals, medicinal and aromatic plants, plantation crops, spices, cashew and cocoa are grown. Of late, major emphasis was laid on development of high yielding varieties and high production technologies and their adoption in areas of assured irrigation paved the way towards food security.

Vegetables are the most extensively utilized plants for  exploitation of heterosis for  development of hybrids. As the importance of heterosis breeding increased, male sterility proved an asset particularly in crops like onion and carrot which produce many but small sized flowers making hand emasculation tedious. Large scale hybrid seed production sometimes remains handicapped because of high labour cost, unavailability of trained labour at crucial times i.e. at blooming, bad weather conditions like continuous rains etc. The phenomenon of male sterility has always been of long term interest for  researchers of various disciplines of applied, strategic and basic sciences. It is of special interest for  plant breeders to produce more efficient and economic hybrid seed. Discovery of certain male sterile mutants which  eliminate more laborious operations of emasculation combined with various marker genes further facilitate identification of undesirable types even at seedling stage has widened the very basis of hybrid seed production. This technique has also reduced the total cost of hybrid seed production. Onion crop provides one of the rare examples of very early recognition of male sterility (Jones and Emsweller 1936), its inheritance and use in hybrid seed production (Jones and Clarke 1943). Since then male sterility is reported in fairly large number of crops including vegetables.

Polyembryony is the occurrence of more than one embryo in a seed. It includes all those instances in which there is a clear indication of the actual occurrence of two or more embryos in a developing ovule (Tisserat et al. 1979). The additional embryos in polyembryony result from the differentiation and development of various maternal and zygotic tissues associated with the ovule of seed. Earlier, polyembryony is said to have an abnormal feature but now it is considered as a desirable character in citrus, mango, jamun, almond, etc. to obtain true to type planting materials. The polyembryony is one of the apomictic processes which have been described to occur in the ovules of angiospermic species (Koltunow, 1993). Polyembryony in horticultural crops occurs as facultative apomixis wherein simultaneous growth of multiple embryos of somatic origin co-exist in the same seed containing sexual embryo resulting from either selfing or cross pollination.

Food irradiation involves exposure of food to short wave energy to achieve specific purposes like extension in shelf life, insect disinfestations and elimination of food-borne pathogens and parasites. Compared to heat or chemical treatment, irradiation is more effective and an appropriate technology to destroy food-borne pathogens without much loss to the quality of food. It offers a number of advantages to producers, processors, retailers and consumers. Irradiation is a cold process and can be used to pasteurize and sterilize foods without affecting freshness and texture of food. Unlike chemical fumigants, irradiation does not leave any harmful toxic residues in food and is more effective. It is efficient and can be used to treat prepacked commodities. The FAO estimates that about 25% of world’s total food production is lost due to insects, bacteria and rodents after harvesting. Use of radiation can play an important role in cutting these losses and reducing dependence on chemical pesticides. The food borne diseases claim millions of lives all over the world every year. Irradiation of food can reduce these incidences by destroying harmful microorganisms.

Plant diseases are mentioned in some of the oldest books available (Homer, C – 1000 B.C. mentioned about the therapeutic properties of sulphur and in Old testament – 750 B.C.) and were feared as much as human diseases and war.

The history of plant breeding is divided into 4 periods- knowledge of plant breeding before 1900, application of genetic principles (1900-1940), plant breeding research after 1940 and the recent developments in plant breeding. Emphasis is given on the land marks in genetic improvement of vegetable crops.

The major land marks  in genetics and breeding of crop plants are listed below.

India is a vast country with varied soil and agro-climatic conditions and therefore is able to grow a wide range of vegetables. In view of their productivity, diversification, nutrition, value addition and export, vegetables are an important component in Indian agriculture. Up to 1939, vegetable seeds were used to be imported from Australia, U.K., U.S.A., but after World War I and II, India started seed production of vegetables. In the recent past, the seed industry has made rapid strides over the past three decades and has contributed significantly to the quantum jump in agricultural production and India emerged as the second largest producer of vegetables, next to China in the world. During 2005-2006, India produced 113.5 million t of vegetables from 7.2 million ha with a productivity of 15.76 t/ha. The seed industry has increased certified and quality seed production and distribution by the organized sector to about 60 lakh quintal from 300q in 1964-65. India can be proud of having launched and managed both crop improvement and seed improvement as simultaneous and parallel programmes playing complimentary and synergistic roles.

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) are free-living bacteria  having beneficial effect on plants by root colonization. They stimulate plant’s growth. Intensive research work is carried out on use of various PGPR as plant growth promoters on various crops. There are reports which show that PGPR promoted growth and reproductive parameters of cereals, pulses, ornamentals, vegetable crops, plantation crops and even  tree species. The important PGPR used in vegetable crops are Azospirillum, Azotobactor, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB) and Bacillus subtilis.

The term DNA sequencing refers to methods for determining the order of the nucleotide bases, adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine, in a molecule of DNA. In molecular terms ,the definitive understanding of a DNA molecule comes from determining its nucleotide sequence.The function of a gene can be deduced from its nucleotide sequence,for example by comparing the sequences of genes with known functions.

The first DNA sequences were obtained by academic researchers, using laborious methods based on 2 – dimensional chromatography in the early 1970s.  Following the development of dye-based sequencing methods with automated analysis, DNA sequencing has become easier and orders of magnitude faster.  Knowledge of DNA sequences of genes and other parts of the genome of organisms have become indispensable for basic research studying biological processes, as well as in applied field like diagnostic or forensic research.  The advent of DNA sequencing has significantly accelerated biological research and discovery.

Use of morphological markers has continued till today for characterization of several crops including horticultural crops with the Mendel’s principles of inheritance by following visible traits in the progenies of sexual crosses. Genetic markers play an essential role  in the study of variability and diversity, in the construction of linkage maps, and in the diagnosis of individuals or lines carrying certain linked genes. Within this context, the limitations of morphological markers became quickly apparent. They tend to be restricted to relatively a few traits, display a low degree of polymorphism, are often environmentally variable in their manifestation, and can depend on the expression of several unlinked genes. Furthermore, some may affect plant viability or seed set, distorting gene frequencies in the progeny. Morphological markers were largely supplemented by biochemical markers, particularly isoenzymes that could be easily scored by electrophoresis (Ganapathy and Scandalios 1973; Tanksley 1983). The limitations of isoenzmyes as markers, in particular both the limited number of polymorphic enzymes that can be conveniently stained and the environmental effects on expression pattern, were apparent already twenty years ago (Tanksley 1983).

Ethylene is a primary plant hormone involved in the senescence of plant tissues including flowers and leaves. In carnation flowers, inhibition of the synthesis or action of ethylene delays the onset of senescence symptoms and lengthens the vase life of flowers. Leaves of cut chrysanthemum of some cultivars frequently become yellow, sometimes prior to the onset of flower senescence, in response to exogenous ethylene. Generation of transgenic plants with suppressed production or action of ethylene is an excellent way to lengthen the longevity of these ornamental plants. This paper reviews our studies on generation and characterization of carnations with reduced ethylene production and chrysanthemum with reduced sensitivity to ethylene.

Root and Tuber crops are the most important food crops of man after cereals. Tuber crops are efficient producers of carbohydrates especially under suboptimal conditions of rainfall, fertility and low input conditions encountered in tropics. The group contributes about 6 % of the world’s dietary calories. In fact, one out of 6 kg of human food comes from roots and tubers. Tuber crops find an important place in the dietary habits of small and marginal farmers especially contributing to food security of tribal populations. Tuber crops grown in India include Cassava, Sweet potato, Dioscorea, Colocasia, Amorphophallus and minor tuber crops like Chinese potato, Arrowroot, Canna, Yam bean etc. The biotechnology can contribute to the solution of the major problems and realize greater benefits for tuber crops.

California’s Napa Valley, situated at the northern end of the San Francisco Bay 30 miles (48 kilometers [km]) from the Pacific Ocean, is the most famous wine appellation in the United States. This small valley, 56 km long and 8 km wide at its broadest point, has produced some of North America’s finest wine grapes from the 1850s to the present. Today it contains approximately 18,616 hectares [ha] of vineyards along the valley floor, in the foothills and mountains flanking the main valley and in the smaller valleys in the eastern part of Napa County [45].

There streams of thought are presented in this paper:

One, that rural women are not only the warriors, creative actors in the agricultural scene, or rural areas, but also the urban poor, the  migrants , the homeless, the source of labour supply into the expanding urban spaces, including trafficking.
 
I would then argue [two] that this spread of the location of “rural women” is the phenomena that we should now look at, the connectivity between the old divisions of rural and urban, as it indicates the pressures that the current development paradigms operating in our countries, is putting on the RURAL … and therefore that we should look at the macroeconomic policies that are in place, globally and regionally and  nationally.

Abstract

In this investigation the low dose effects of pesticides were analyzed both in vitro and in vivo in peripheral blood samples from healthy donors and also in farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides. In vitro studies were conducted to assess the toxicity caused by commonly used pesticides like monocrotophos, profenofos, chlorpyriphos, endosulfan, acephate on lymphocytes from peripheral blood samples. In almost all experiments we could determine chromosomal aberrations and DNA damage at 1/10th of LC50 dosage of the pesticides. For analyzing the in vivo effects, epidemiological studies were conducted in pesticide exposed agricultural workers. The 200 exposed volunteers suffered from fever, nausea, headache and other abnormal symptoms and visited the hospital for general health check-up. These cases were taken up for more detailed studies. Five of them (2.5%) showed decrease in RBC, haemoglobin, and increase in WBC with a large number of immature cells. These volunteers were further diagnosed as Philadelphia negative Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) cases based on clinical and pathological examinations. In similar environs, about 3% of the exposed children showed signs of mental retardation and delayed milestones. It is therefore, concluded that clinical evaluations supported by occupational epidemiology could determine CML in exposed individuals (adults). At low doses we have traced the effect of pesticides at molecular level.

Abstract

The paper examines some important issues of gender inequity in Agriculture. The issues are women’s contribution to agricultural GDP and their access to agricultural resources such as land, water, credit and technology. The paper also examines gender discrimination in agricultural wages. The paper is in three parts. The first part examines the contribution of women to agriculture in terms of time spent by women on activities and number of women engaged in productive agricultural activities with the help of the data from time use surveys and the National Sample Survey Organization’s Reports and the 2001 census. The second part of the paper then analyses Women’s poor access to land, water, credit and technology that reduces their productivity. The second part also elaborates how the women’s work is undervalued in the economy resulting in a huge amount of unpaid work in family agricultural enterprises and low wages in paid work. The third part explicitly elaborates the adverse consequences of such imbalance in terms of misallocation of resources to unsustainable agricultural production as against sustainable production.

Abstract

Several methods of composting are in practice in India such as the anaerobic pit composting, Indore method, NADEP method, bio dung method and vermicomposting. Wastes at the domestic, community and industrial level, can be converted to compost as a viable solution in solid waste management, as well as compost production as a viable micro-enterprise functioning as income generation program. Agricultural waste and residues are an excellent resource for composting at rural centres. Beneficial use of this compost in organic farming as well as in soil bioremediation has been well proven.

Abstract

Nutrition is basic to sustainable development being concerned with ensuring food at all times in terms of quality and quantity. As a bridge between food and health it interlinks several variables such as environment and protection from illness and disease, which helps to lead to an optimal quality life. Despite the substantial progress made in India’s food production, serious nutritional challenges continue to threaten her development in human resource development more so rural women are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. Poor nutritional status of women during adolescence and their resultant vulnerability to anaemia during pregnancy contributes to a higher level of low birth weight children and if it happens to be girl child then the vicious cycle continues. Although food is available through markets at the district and village level, food security at the house hold level becomes a challenge because of lack of purchasing power. Women contribute significantly to agriculture production; on an average their contribution will be around 55-65 per cent. Hence, conscious effort is needed to develop an intervention strategy. One such strategy would be empowerment of women through transfer of technology, which will help in income generation especially during lean agriculture seasons. Priority areas in the field of nutrition for technology transfer would be processing, preservation and value addition of agro based crops. However, training is required for skill upgrading and capacity building of women.

Abstract

Peri-urban horticulture is fast catching on as a viable business proposition. Participation of women is envisaged as a significant input in such an enterprise. Tissue culture propagation or ‘’Micro propagation’ is a good candidate in this context among several biotechnologies available today. Micro propagation as a means of rapidly multiplying plants in a relatively small space irrespective of the season of the year has steadily gained popularity. Planting material in horticultural crops like banana and several other vegetatively propagated crops like ornamentals is in perpetual demand and can be met economically if women launched micro propagation as a peri-urban cottage industry. As against low rates of multiplication with conventional technologies, it is possible to raise thousands of propagules from a single starter-culture in a year’s time using newer technologies. Details of setting up the industry on a home-scale and participation of women in peri-urban areas in this enterprise are discussed in this plenary talk.

Abstract

Bio-intensive pest management modules have been developed by the Project Directorate of Biological Control (PDBC) for management of pests on cotton, sugarcane, rice, citrus and several other crops. These modules lay emphasis on release of bio-control agents like parasitoids, predators and pathogens and reducing chemical pesticide applications to the possible extent. The pre-requisite of any bio-control programme is to have a large-scale supply of beneficial agents. It is at this juncture that women can play a major role. If the biocontrol strategy has to become popular, there should be reliable sources, which can assure timely and adequate supply of quality bio-agents for large-scale field releases. It would be most appropriate to educate farm-women on the importance of natural enemies and to provide them with incentives to start bioagent production units. Again, if the concept of biological control with the involvement of women has to succeed, massive educational programmes should be initiated. Women can become active participants at the village level mass production units, which could cater to the needs of farmers of different regions of our country. This could solve the problems encountered in long distance shipment of bio-agents. Besides creating awareness among women, these insectaries/production units can provide job opportunities for the rural and urban women.

Abstract

Scarcity of resources, economic deprivation, gender bias in wages, prevention from decision making and using income generated by farm activities has made life miserable and unjustifiably hard for rural women. The plight of rural women can be improved by dissemination of latest technologies in agriculture, creating small entrepreneurial outlets for agri-based products, networking of support services for women, development of new and adoption of drudgery reducing technologies, improvement in rural infrastructure to improve the life style and to promote entrepreneurial opportunities, better access to resources, organizing women’s co-operative movement, larger role in decision making, mandatory involvement of women in all agencies and organizations involved in rural development, feedback and follow up of women’s programmes and recognizing the success of rural women by government and its highlighting by media.

Abstract

Although women were not recognized as essential components of Agriculture for a long time, of late due recognition has been given to the role of women in agricultural production and steps have been taken to bring more and more women farmers into main stream, through Shree Shakthi Sanghas and Self Help Groups for women. Special projects aided by outside agencies and voluntary organizations such as WYTEP, IRDP, TRYSEM, DWCRA etc. provide training to farm women.These operations include selection and treatment of seed, protection of the seed or plant material, land preparation, application of manures and fertilizers, sowing or planting, nursery raising, irrigation, weeding, earthing up, pinching or thinning, training and pruning top dressing, plant protection, harvesting, transport and post-harvest operations such as threshing, winnowing, sieving, cleaning, drying, grading, packing and storage, joining hands with men etc. They also do marketing and disposal of the produce. For household use they take care in hulling, flowering, pounding etc.

Abstract

Women become major players in creating sustainable livelihood in rural areas. Though they are the major work force compared to men in agriculture and allied areas, they are considered as invisible entity. Their contribution in total labour force itself is about 55 to 60 per cent. They play multiple roles both in and outside the home by ensuring food security and substantiating nutritional security to the family as a whole. Empowering these women with knowledge and skill to take up vocational income generating activities is prime need of the hour. Further, building their capacities on managerial skills, decision making, and technical competency is also equally important area of concern.

Abstract

One of the major distinctive agriculture extension concepts is the Intensive Agricultural Development Village concept or Village Adoption System, where in the Extension Guides who are working at taluk level select a suitable village and disseminate the need based and innovative technologies released by the University. In this connection Extension Education Unit of University of Agricultural Sciences at Mangalore has adopted Irvathur and Renjala villages of Karkala taluk in Udupi district and several educational activities like Field Trials, Result Demonstration, FLD, Block Demonstration and Integrated Farming System Demonstrations were carried out. Training programmes were conducted on Vermiculture, Dairy farming, Paddy cultivation, Cashew demonstration, IPM on Areca nut, Coconut etc., Besides establishing Milk Producer’s Co-operative Societies in the villages, the key programme observed in the village was Vermiculture. To start with, Vermiculture was tried with one farm woman with 100 worms.

Abstract

Jasmine production in coastal Karnataka was confined to only few farmers with some specified pockets of coasted belt. Only a hand full of farm women in Belman, Manchakal areas were cultivating jasmine successively. The scientists of Extension Education Unit (EEU), Mangalore Campus of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore visited the area and conducted a Survey during September 2001 and gathered information about farmers practicing jasmine production in the area and came out with some success stories from the jasmine growing belt. The jasmine market was studied especially the demand for jasmine flowers (Udupi Mallige). It was observed that there was huge demand for Udupi Mallige. The extension specialists conducted training programmes in different locations in the coastal belt of Karnataka which are not traditional jasmine cultivated areas. As a result the technology has spread to the entire coastal belt. At present farm women are supporting themselves soley by cultivating jasmine in an area of 3-5 cents with a minimum of 20 bushes. Further, the KVK’s which are working in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts are also working in this direction through On Farm Testing, Frontline Demonstration, Off campus and On campus training.  Since it involves only women labourers, it is one of the most important and viable subsidiary as well as main occupation of the women folk in the district

INTRODUCTION

In the history of human development, woman has been as important as man. In fact, the status, employment and work performed by women in society is the indicator of a nation’s overall progress. Without the participation of women in national activities, the social, economical or political progress of a country will stagnate. Empowerment is a multi-dimensional process, which should enable women to realize their full identity and power in all spheres of life. It consists of greater access to knowledge and resources, greater autonomy in decision making to enable them to have greater ability to plan their lives, or to have greater control over the circumstances that influence their lives and free from shocks imposed on them by customs, beliefs and practices. Generally development with justice is expected to generate the forces that lead to empowerment of various sections of women and to raise their status.

Abstract

Various studies put the percent of rural women engaged in agriculture and related activities in India around 65-70%. A majority of them are from economically and socially deprived category and qualify as “poor” or below poverty line. In rural India women play the role of agricultural labourer, fuel gatherer, food provider and home maker. Both central and state governments have framed and implemented various programmes to improve the living conditions of rural people. Measures have also been taken to provide employment and alleviate poverty. Generally these programmes fall into the category of wage employment, self-employment, housing and habitat development, and watershed development programmes. The last mentioned focuses on various water supply schemes to the rural poor and socially deprived. These programmes are evaluated in this paper. Although they are intended to benefit all the poor and jobless in rural Karnataka, the benefits reach women too because of their role as homemakers and food providers. Be it wage earned or drinking water or shelter, these programmes, if implemented sincerely, make the life of farm women less laborious and more comfortable.

Abstract

Rural Indian women are extensively involved in agricultural activities and play a major role in agrarian scenario. Majority of the rural farm women are actively involved in various operations related to mixed farming system existing in India. Women and men participate in agricultural and animal husbandry practices as a family unit on the farms. Men perform major share of work quantitatively on agriculture side, where as on the animal husbandry side most of the management operations are being carried out by women in addition to their household activities. Dairy production is less influenced by rain failure compared to crops and is invaluable in sustaining family income during drought. Dairy development is now considered as an important tool for rural development or poverty alleviation. In fact, dairy farming occupies a special place in rural society with its linkage with religion and culture apart from providing sustained income. Most of the cattle and buffaloes are commonly kept in every farm household primarily for socio-economic reasons and more importantly for gaining drought power and as a secondary source of nutrition subsistence in the form milk and milk products for the whole family. In this context, a study was conducted in Karkala taluk of Udupi district with the major objective of studying the form and extent of participation of farm women in various operations of animal husbandry. The attempt made in this regard has revealed that rural women are fully involved in majority of the operations either as manual workers or as supervisors. Hence, it is suggested that for massive empowerment of rural women, animal husbandry programmes need to be launched as they are inherently profitable.

Abstract

Entrepreneurial training was offered to village women in the field of agriculture especially for women members of Self Help Groups. These women were trained in the production, utilization and marketing of Bio dung compost and vermicompost from agricultural wastes. They were also trained in the production, utilization and marketing of vermiwash (a liquid foliar spray), Panchagavya, biopesticides and herbal pest repellents using locally available plant materials. An attempt was also made to educate the people on the importance of food and nutrition through diet counselling and the importance of nutrient (kitchen) gardens. They were trained about Circular (Ring) Gardens and Double Digging gardens. The women were given these trainings as part of converting them from dependence on chemicals in agriculture to organic farming. There was overwhelming response, and the women now use these agricultural products in their own fields.

Abstract

Formulation  of  any  action  plan for women needs understanding of their  access  to  and  control over the resources. To have deep  insight into  this  aspect, a study  was  undertaken with 240  small  and  marginal  farm  women  randomly  selected  from  eight  villages  of  four districts  in  Andhra Pradesh  in  consultation  with  officials of agriculture department. Using an interview schedule, impediments  for development  of  farm  women  (social, economic, psychological, extension and technical)  were  collected  and  prioritized  through  matrix ranking.
To  overcome  social  and  economic  constraints, gender  mainstreaming  and  budgeting  are  now recognized as the most important strategies  for  women’s empowerment at all stages of any developmental  programmes. Such an approach necessarily aims at achievement  of  gender equality. Organizing capacity building programmes in managerial, entrepreneurial, negotiating and leadership skills improves risk taking  ability (psychological) and enhances active participation of farm women in developmental activities.

Abstract

Major occupation of women in Bijapur area is agriculture with an average land holding of 1-2 ha. Most of them are unaware of advantages of vermicompost. In recent times, dependence on agriculture is becoming very difficult for them. Majority of the women population in these areas are below poverty line (BPL), because of increased cost of production, and fluctuations in market prices of major crops grown by them. Erratic and ill distributed rain fall pattern makes life hard for them. The ill effects of chemical fertilizers have lead to interest in organic farming through vermiculturing using farm and urban wastes in order to produce risk free crop at reduced cost of cultivation.

Abstract

Empowerment strategy is today emerging as a unique Indian response to the challenge of equality and development. As per the population census, women constitute more than 50 percent of total population, but rural farm women are the most deprived in today’s world.  Farm women are poorest among poor. Even though they work the longest hours on farm and have achieved more with lesser resources, they are not recognized and appreciated for their contribution. In India 78 percent of all economically active women are engaged in agriculture. Almost 50 percent of rural female workers are agricultural labourers and 37 percent are cultivators. The rural poor also demand development through creating income generating activities for women in rural areas. Women empowerment gained momentum after independence through different governmental programmes such as education, creating income, self help groups, subsidy programs to women etc. Women can derive income from subsidiary enterprises such as dairy, duckry, poultry, etc., and preparation of vermi-compost, vegetable cultivation, preparation of jam, jellies, papads, pickles, embroidery, tailoring, honey bee keeping, kitchen garden, value addition and food processing etc.

Abstract

Women emancipation, women liberation, women awareness, women upliftment, women empowerment, gender equity etc. are the buzz words our media cashes on. But the question remains: What has made us all to talk about her in 21st century? Unfortunate, but true that women, constituting one half of the total world population, have been treated as second class citizens and denied even the basic rights. Men have dominated her by neglecting her talent, capabilities and potential. Many measures were undertaken by the Government for the betterment of the women such as the creation of National Commission for Women, Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women, Gender Budgeting besides creating many disciplines in various institutions/Universities for women studies and passing several   pro women laws to protect her rights. But this is not enough. What is needed is the freedom from disability of any kind lying in the minds of various sections of the society. A woman need not be pitied but given the due she deserves.

Abstract

The Stree Shakthi Groups (SHGs) were launched in Karnataka during 2000-01 aimed at improving the overall development of rural women in Karnataka. A review of the progress achieved by these illeterate or less educated, hither to continued to be economically dependent with no voice in decision making, is nothing short of a miracle. With an enrollment of one and a half million in 5000 villages, their savings and borrowings run into hundreds of crores and employment opportunities are provided to lakhs of farm women. Apart from agriculture related activities, some of them have also involved in some unconventional, income generating activites. Economic empowerment has emboldened these beneficiaries to not only fight against social evils but also win their battles. Overall, SHGs have transformed the life of rural women treatmendously in a positive direction.

INTRODUCTION

Women constitute half of the humanity, contributing to two-thirds of world’s work hours. She earns only one-third of the total income and owns less than one-tenth of the world’s resources. This shows that the economic status of women is in a pathetic condition and this is more so in a country like India. Rural women in India share abundant responsibility and perform a wide spectrum of duties in running the family, maintaining the house, involving in activities like rearing, feeding livestock, attending to farm labour, and the likes. Still they suffer economically and are socially invisible. Training of rural women is important so as to increase their involvement in developmental process, enhance their skill and make them equal partners in national development.

Abstract

Rural woman plays dominant role in dairy husbandry activities. Capacity building of rural women in this enterprise is the need of the hour to sustain 4% growth rate in dairy sector as the future demand for dairy products is bound to increase.  Specific objectives of the study are to understand the socio-economic and dairy husbandry scenario of households; knowledge level about different aspects of dairy husbandry; impact of training on knowledge and; policy implications for their capacity building for this enterprise in the state of Haryana. The data towards this end was collected from a survey conducted on 180 women trainees where pre and post models were used. The background socio-economic variables of women trainees were: 26-45 years age group, literacy of 76.12% and the main occupation was agriculture and household management. Milch buffalo (84.45%) was the main dairy animal. Milk production of more than 5 litres was found in 55.54 percent households and selling of milk more than this quantity was seen in 14.14 percent households. About 60 percent of woman trainees themselves looked after the animals. Pre-training knowledge reveals that majority of women knew the right milking method (70.6%) and breed of buffalo (62.2%).

Abstract

We are working with Soliga farmers and introducing simple ‘organic’ technologies to increase yields, diversify the farms, and conserve soil and water.  Introducing these technologies depends on a strategy of using on-farm trials for low-risk interventions and field-station trials for high-risk interventions. Low-risk interventions include the use of contour row-sowing rather than broadcast sowing, improved access to traditional varieties of seeds, and composting practices. The relatively high-risk interventions are to incorporate locally grafted high-yielding amla and related fruit trees, and selecting high-yielding local crop varieties, and crop rotation. All interventions were aimed to strengthen on-farm capacities, improve sustainable traditional technologies and enhancement of livelihood security.

Abstract

The green revolution concentrated only on a single enterprise, the crop.  Later on, developments in other enterprises like dairy, poultry, piggery, fishery, etc took place, however in an isolated manner.  Now it is essential to diversify the economic activities in an interdependent and integrated manner at micro level within the available resources. The system thus developed will be termed as integrated farming system approach.  This helps in generating sustained, stable farm income and higher employment. To achieve these objectives, several extension programmers were designed and conducted in integrated farming system demonstration undertaken by the Extension Education Unit of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in close association with other subject matter specialists. The programmes were implemented in selected taluks of Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka. One such case study is presented here.

Abstract

The study was conducted in Tumkur district which is considered as a very progressive district with 7230 SHG’s. It has 11 taluks out of which Tumkur taluk was selected for the study. Within this taluk, a cluster of 7 SHG’s were considered for the study. The results show that more than three fourths of Stree Shakthi group members came to know about the Stree Shakthi Programme through anganawadi workers (92.5%) followed by news papers (7.5%). It is also interesting to note that 87.5% reported that to a great extent their attitude changed about bringing up their children without discrimination, sending their daughter to school compulsorily and growing vegetables in their backyard. Further results reveal that SSP is changing the attitude of rural setting. Family problems, cast and religion, lack of encouragement in the family, political problem were the major constraints in SHG as perceived by the members.  Still SSG has made some qualitative changes in the lives of the rural people.

Abstract

In India, women’s economic productivity is rather critical to 60 million households whose family members live below the poverty line. Therefore, the empowerment of poor women is vital for bringing down rural poverty.  The operation of the DWCRA project during the VIII plan of government of India (GOI) had inadequate impact and therefore, failed in organizing cohesion within and among the groups to identify the activities that could generate sustained income.  Considering the importance of women and lacunae in the Rural development programmes, Swarnajayanti Grama Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) was evolved and was launched on 1st April, 1999. With this, the erstwhile programmes viz. IRDP, DWCRA, TRYSEM, SITRA, GKY and MWs ceased operation.  SGSY aims at establishing a large number of micro enterprises in the rural areas. The ‘beneficiary’ families (known as Swarozgaris) may be individuals or groups (Self Help Groups).

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to analyse factors contributing to participation of rural women in Self Help Groups (SHGs), constraints faced by them and to elicit their opinion to strengthen the role of SHGs. The finding has revealed that, majority of the respondents has suggested that they should be provided with loans and the rate of interest on loans should be less.  Further, they also suggested that instead of existing loan structure from the bank and saving amount within the group must be increased which can be invested on other activities. It was also reasoned that the provision of low interest loan from the banks and purchase of raw materials at cheaper rate can improve the financial status of farm women.

Abstract

The participation level of farm women in economic activities of self-help groups to know the socio-economic factors contributing to their participation in such groups and the constraints faced by them was studied during 2004-05 at Kadur taluk of Chikkamagalore district of Karnataka. Apart from these findings on the factors affecting their involvement in SHGs and the problems faced by them, the study also revealed that majority of farm women had medium level of family income, mass media participation and, low level of communication status.

Abstract

Women play a pivotal role in agriculture, in addition to the traditional role of nourishing progeny as mother and attending to the day to day needs of the home as housewife. Women also add to the family income as wage earners. While comprising half of humanity, contributing to two thirds of the world’s work hours, a woman earns only one third of the total income and owns less than one tenth of the world’s resources.  In a country like India which is the home  for over 400 million women, the economic status of women is in pathetic condition and they have always been discriminated against men in human resource development with  utter disregard to their actual and potential contribution to the national progress in general and agricultural progress in particular. The largest sector of India’s economy, agriculture, contributes to 37 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) and accounts for 60 percent of the employment.

Abstract

Women constitute almost half of the population of modern India. Eighty percent of the women population in India live in the rural areas and most of them are engaged in agriculture and allied activities and play a significant role in domestic and socio economic life of the society. Women play a vital role in ensuring proper development and growth of children. They also contribute significantly towards income generation, food preparation and health of the family members. However it is this women segment which is most neglected and suffers from poor health. Health and Nutritional status of this important and substantial segment of the society is very important. The present study investigates the nutritional profile and morbidity status of women in villages around Bangalore city.

Abstract

A survey was conducted in five different villages of Kangra district (HP) namely Padhiarkhar, Lachoon, Avery, Saliana and Patti. Thirty families from each village were selected. A sample of 650 subjects of different age groups was surveyed to assess their food and nutrient intake. It was observed that the food and nutrient intake was less as compared with the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA). To meet the RDA of the vulnerable section of the society some of the energy rich recipes were prepared under All India Coordinated Research Project in Home Science. The recipes prepared were weaning mix (salty), Weaning mix (sweet), Papad, Shakerpare, Mathri, Pinni, Amaranth ladoo, Methi ladoo and Panjiri. These products were organoleplically acceptable. No fat content was found in the papad but it contained good amount of the vitamin C i.e. 70mg/100g. Maximum fat content was found in the panjiri (39.3g/100g). Protein content ranged between 0.78-5.64g/100g, minimum in panjiri and maximum in weaning mix (salty).