eChapters

Introduction

The health and wellness continue to drive growth in the global food industry as the consumers are constantly looking for the foods, beverages and other dietary solutions that will help them more aggressively to meet their own unique nutrition and personal health goals. Worldwide countries are going through a nutritional transition and are now affected by double burden of problems like nutritional and food security. The common alarming problems are under nutrition and specific nutrient deficiencies simultaneously coupled with imbalanced diets and chronic diseases. The problem of chronic diseases, non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancer etc.) and malnutrition is more serious in the developing countries. The lack of access to health services, sufficient income, healthy and nutritious foods characterize majority of poor people in developing countries. So, food is not only the solution but also viewed as a product to enhance health and wellbeing, and it encourages the producers by supplying new goods that meet these needs. From the past decade, there has been growing consumer awareness regarding health, nutrition and the food safety which are often triggered by specific food incidents, especially in the developed countries and high-income groups in such countries. In the food industry there have been two broad trends which are hazards in the food chain and nutritional profile of the food. There has been recognition that hazards and contaminants can enter the food chain and can cause sickness, death and diseases, and so governments, often to deal with consumer and industry concerns, establish regulations and standards on food hazards including standards on pesticides, antibiotics, microbiological hazards and other chemical and physical contaminants. On the other hand, there is also a growing awareness of the health-enhancing properties for prevention and treatment of health concerns beyond the basic nutritional component of many foods.

3.1 Introduction

The Mango (Mangifera indica L.) belonging to the family Anacardiaceae in order Sapindales, is amongst the most important tropical fruits of the world. In India, it is also known as the ‘king of fruits’ owing to the delicious quality of the fruit rich in vitamins and minerals. Its long period of domestication is evident from its mention in the ancient Indian scriptures. In India, mango has been valued not only for religious consideration but also for its importance in the economic and cultural life of the society. Mango is rich in Vitamin A and C, flavonoids, carotenes, glucosides, sterols, terpenes, aromatic acids, essential oils, fatty acids and phenolics. It is a powerful nutritive fruit, containing most of the essential substances needed by the human body. The most important single factor limiting the production of mango fruit at the present time is the erratic fruiting habits of this species. Some cultivars produce a good crop in most years and a poor crop in other years, while still other cultivars produce only a few fruits each year. For many years new cultivars have been selected and grown on the basis of size, appearance, and dessert quality with very little attention given to their production capabilities. The improvement of mango needs to explore new recombinants primarily by means of exploiting the breeding methodologies. Diversity or heterogeneity is the main character desired for breeding either natural or manmade. It is required to have vast genetic pool to get new combinations of desired nature and developing new hybrids. It has been mentioned earlier that the development of mango in India is the result of selection from the amateur gardeners. Now, the scientists have developed certain hybrids of mango.

• Food science deals with the physical, chemical, and biological properties of foods as they relate to stability, cost, quality, processing, safety, nutritive value, wholesomeness, and convenience.
• Food science is a branch of biological science and an interdisciplinary subject involving primarily microbiology, chemistry, biology, and engineering.
• Food chemistry, a major aspect of food science, deals with the composition and properties of food and the chemical changes it undergoes during handling, processing, and storage.
• Food chemistry is intimately related to chemistry, biochemistry, physiological chemistry, botany, zoology, and molecular biology.
• Nonenzymic browning involves reaction of carbonyl compounds, which can arise from existing reducing sugars or from diverse reactions, such as oxidation of ascorbic acid, hydrolysis of starch, or oxidation of lipids.

Some chemical and biochemical reactions that can lead to alteration of food quality or safety

The extension professionals are interested to disseminate technology to the users. The users are rural people. The users of technology are to read and understand technology designed for them. Rural readers have different interests like, crop production, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry etc.

1 Which of the following diseases is also known as Equine Distemper?

a) Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis

b) Western Equine Encephalomyelitis

c) Strangles

d) Glanders

Natural resources are the resources present naturally in the environment. These resources are used by human being for their survival. Minerals, building stones, forests, and various energy resources are known as natural resources. Natural resources have been extracted and utilized since ancient times but as the population increased, the demand of natural resources are increasing day by day.

Integrating the function f (x) = 1 + e−x sin (4x) over the interval [0, 1]

using Simpson’s 1/3rd rule gives

(A) 1.021         (B) 0.091

(C) 1.321         (D) 2.642

Q.1 Factorial experiment is not a design.

Q.2 In factorial experiment, all possible combinations of two or more than two factors are not considered

The concept of indigenous knowledge or indigenous knowledge system (IKS) delineates a cognitive structure in which theories and perceptions of nature and culture are conceptualized. Thus, it includes definitions, classifications and concepts of the physical, natural, social land economic environments. The dynamics of IKS takes places on two different levels, the cognitive and empirical. On the empirical levels, IKS is visible in institutions, artifacts and technologies.

In whole of the world, about 6 to 7 m ha of agricultural land is becoming unproductive every year due to one or the other reasons (Gupta, 2018a). This is, however, more so in case of developing countries (Gupta, 2003). Productive lands are utmost important to meet the countryís growing needs for food, fodder, fuel wood, medicinal herbs and timber.

16.1 OOP in python

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming language model which organized object and data.

16.1.1 What is Encapsulation

If same variable is reapet in two different palce then which problem is solved using encapsulation it means one variable is making private otherwise program generate error.

16.1.2 Abstraction

Abstraction in Python is the process of hiding the real implementation of an application from the user and emphasizing only on usage of it. For example, consider you have bought a new electronic gadget. Along with the gadget, you get a user guide, instructing how to use the application, but this user guide has no info regarding the internal working of the gadget.

Another example is, when you use TV remote, you do not know how pressing a key in the remote changes the channel internally on the TV. You just know that pressing + volume key will increase the volume.

Introduction

The concept of feeding system of different aquatic components of the aquaculture is not simple like that of domestic animals where feed, feeding and the animals can be observed closely and manipulated at once. In case of aquaculture both biotic and abiotic factors play an important role in feeding as well as the growth of the animal. Factors like water temperature, dissolved oxygen, light intensity, etc. regulate the intake of feeding, its digestion and assimilation. Conditioning factor, feed conversion rate, survival rate, percent weight gain, daily weight gain, specific growth rate are some of the parameters used routinely to monitor the effects of feeding on growth performance of the fish.

In aquaculture, supplementary feed is provided in conjunction with the available natural food such as plankton, periphyton, benthic organisms, aquatic plants etc. Aquaculture is a feed-based industry, with artificial feed accounting for major expenditure exceeding 60% of total operational cost. In India, freshwater aquaculture is mainly carp-based, which accounts for about 89% of total aquaculture production (Ayyappan and Jena, 1998). Successful and sustainable aquaculture depends upon the provision of nutritionally adequate, eco-friendly and economically viable artificial feeds. Effective utilization of feed depends upon many factors such as acceptability of the feed, its digestion, assimilation etc. apart from other rearing management protocols.

Conservation agriculture is an approach to managing agroecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) defines conservation agriculture as a farming system that promotes maintenance of a permanent soil cover, minimum soil disturbance (i.e., no tillage), and diversification of plant species.

Water is a critical input for agricultural production and plays an important role in sustainable agriculture and food security. Agriculture is the principal user of water, accounting for around 70% of total withdrawals. Producing each calorie of food requires approximately one litre of water.

Organic farming is one of the several approaches found to meet the objectives of sustainable agriculture. It is often associated and sometimes confused with
‘sustainable farming’. However, policy and ethics-wise ‘organic farming’ is different from ‘sustainable farming’. Organic farming is based on various laws
and certification programmes whereas sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology.

A ‘system’ is a set of interrelated, interacting and interdependent elements operating together for a common purpose and capable of reacting as a whole to external forces. It is unaffected directly by its own output and it has a specified external boundary based on the inclusion of all significant feedbacks. A ‘farm’ is a system because several activities are closely related to each other by the common use of the farm labour, land and capital, by risk distribution and by the joint use of the farmer’s management capacity.

The Green Revolution started in the early 1960s that led to the attainment of self-sufficiency in food grain production. This has been considered as the greatest agricultural transformation in the history of humankind. The Green Revolution contributed to widespread poverty reduction, averted hunger for millions of people, and avoided the conversion of thousands of hectares of land into agricultural cultivation.

Over the period of time, the dairy sector has added distinct significance to growing Indian economy. India contributes nearly 19.54% to the global annual milk production with an impressive upliftment of 3.6% in yearly production rate as per the latest available data from FAO International.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful and versatile analytical technique through which mass of an atom, or a molecule is assessed. It helps for identification and structure elucidation of various complex compounds. The instrument used is known as Mass Spectrometer. It serves the purpose of qualitative identification, confirmation as well as the quantification of an atom or a molecule. MS identification is conclusive because the mass spectrum of each substance is unique. In general, MS instruments are composed of a sample inlet, an ionization source, a molecule accelerator, a detector, an amplifier, and a recorder (Figure 7.1)

Millets, represents groups of small seeded cereals and grasses cultivated in Asian countries from ancient time and used for domestic purpose as feed and food. Being capable to grow under adverse environmental conditions (high temperature, dry land with limited rain) millets are the main food commodity of low income groups in various developing countries around the world.

The word mulch was coined by Wagganor in 1960. It is derived from the German word ‘molsch’ means “easy to decay,” and mulches have widely been used for vegetable production since ancient times (Lightfoot 1994). Therefore the term mulching refers to the practice of covering the soil surface with different organic and inorganic materials, known as mulch materials to reduce moisture loss, balance wide variations in diurnal soil temperatures especially in the root zone, control weeds, insect-pests and diseases and finally enhance crop yield (Nalayini 2007; Kader et al. 2019).

The metabolic rate of reptiles is lower than for mammals and birds, and consequently the k constant in determining energy expenditure, nutritional requirements and even calculating allometric drug doses are related to the equation: Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) = K(Wkg0.75) = Kcal/day, where K is the energy constant = 10 in reptiles and Wkg is the animalís weight in kilograms.

History of food safety starts with knowledge about food hazards. The term “safe food” can be defined from different angles since the end users are highly heterogeneous. However, the accumulating data and day by day emerging information aboutfood borne diseaseslead to a boom in public awareness about food safety. Food safety can be defined as “The strategies and activities aimed to protect foods from biological, chemical, physical, and allergenic hazards that may occur during all stages of production, distribution, and consumption” (Paperella, 2020). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe food,which contains hazardousmicroorganisms or chemicals, causesmore than 200 ailments, ranging from diarrhoea to malignancies among which diarrhoea is common. 

Urbanization, industrialization, and economic growth in India have all led to an increase in the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) by a number of urban local bodies (ULBs). In cities with high population densities, SWM is a significant difficulty. Being a diverse country with a wide range of religious communities, customs, and traditions like India makes it more challenging to accomplish sustainable development in a country that is rapidly industrialising and improving its standard of living. Although there have been substantial changes in the social, economic, and environmental spheres, India’s SWM systems have mostly remained the same. Currently, 90% of residual waste is thrown in the informal sector rather than properly disposed of. To make SWM more sustainable, new management practises and disposal sites are needed. The inefficiency of the current waste management systems has a detrimental effect on the economy, the environment, and public health. The Ministry of Environment and Forests of India introduced regulations for garbage treatment, although there is irregular and insufficient compliance.

Climate-smart Agriculture Practices and Indicators

Considering the three pillars of climate-smart agriculture such as productivity, adaptation and mitigation, different technologies and practices have been evolved.

The CSA practices are grouped under soil and land management, water management, crop management, livestock management, forestry, fishery & aquaculture and energy management. The World Bank Group (2016) has suggested broad indicators of CSA practices (Table 7.1; Chapter 7)

Linear models have been extensively used in animal breeding. This chapter explains the basics of linear models including description; fixed, random and mixed models; model diagnostics and covariates. The concept of linear models in animal breeding is explained with representation and actual examples of use in different types of livestock.

Introduction to Linear Models

A model can be defined as a physical, mathematical or otherwise logical representation of a system, entity, phenomenon, or process. Linear models are a way of describing response variables in terms of a linear combination of the predictor variable. They provide a framework for a large set of models whose common goal is to explain or predict a quantitative dependent variable by a set of independent variables that can be categorical or quantitative.

This chapter covers farm management economic principles such as factor-factor, factor-product, product-product, Equi-Marginal law, and comparative advantage law. Farm management is the application of agricultural sciences and economic principles to the organization and operation of a farm enterprise. The manager uses economic concepts to formulate goals and develop plans based on optimal resource allocation, resource substitution, and enterprise combination.

Basically, farm management is the application of agricultural sciences and economic principles to the organization and operation of a farm business. The economic principles guide the manager in setting the goals and preparing plans on the basis of optimum resource allocation, resource substitution and enterprise combination.

The various economic principles applied to farm management are discussed below:

1. Factor-Product Relationship
2. Factor- Factor Relationship
3. Product- Product Relationship
4. Law of Equi-Marginal/or Principles of Opportunity Cost
5. Law of Comparative Advantage

Abstract

Fermentation technology holds immense promise in diverse fields. It offers opportunities for sustainable biofuel production, allowing us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and promote a greener energy sector. In the pharmaceutical industry, fermentation plays a vital role in manufacturing antibiotics, enzymes, vaccines, and therapeutic proteins, paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective production processes. Furthermore, fermentation can be harnessed for waste management and environmental remediation, enabling the transformation of organic waste into valuable biogas. With ongoing advancements, fermentation technology continues to open new avenues for innovation and contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. The present chapter compares types of fermentation process as well as gives an insight into various industrial prospects of fermentation technology.

Abstract

Wheat rusts, caused by Puccinia spp., are one of the major constraints for sustained wheat production. Significant progress has been achieved in the management of wheat rusts and understanding of wheat-Puccinia host-pathogen systems. The key research frontiers of wheat rusts research comprised disease epidemiology, the discovery of novel sources of resistance and their transfer into superior cultivars, pathogen surveillance for monitoring the virulence profiles of variants of rust pathogens, and the application of genomic technologies in cereal rust research. This chapter gives an overview of the research and development outcomes achieved to minimize the yield losses caused by wheat rusts during the last 90 years in the Indian subcontinent. Wheat rusts have been mainly controlled via genetic means; however, an integrated approach by combing the fungicides was carefully considered when needed. All efforts of managing wheat rusts in the future must cover the identification and transfer of genetically diverse rust-resistance sources with a reputation of durability into agronomically superior genotypes. The understanding of wheat rusts epidemiology globally and the region-specific virulence pattern of Puccinia spp. should be considered for gene deployment. The next-generation tools such as CRISPR-cas9 and other genome editing approaches are likely to be part of wheat rust management within a few decades.

Introduction

Reproduction is the biological process that results in the formation of new progeny or individual organisms. Male and female gametes unite to form a zygote, which develops or produces offspring.

Scheduling irrigation is the process of determining when to irrigate and how much to irrigate. Selecting the appropriate time span in between two irrigation and applying the required volume of water in each irrigation, ensures saving of water, minimize energy use, higher crop yield and lower production costs. Irrigation applied earlier than due date causes loss of water through evaporation or deep percolation and later causes water stress to plants and thereby affects the growth and yield of the plants.

Scheduling of irrigation may be required in two field conditions: (i) when available of water is adequate, (ii) when availability of water is limited.

In the places where water is adequate scheduling of irrigation follows full   irrigation with time sequence of minimum number of irrigation to ensure maximum yield and high water use efficiency. When water is limited its use is rationalized by using at the sensitive stage

There are many distribution networks which an organization may use depending upon the nature and usage of the product. Generally, there are two types of distribution networks which are being widely used the first is direct selling to the customer and the second is to have intermediaries in between which ensures that the product is available to the final consumer. In this indirect method the company is not in direct touch with the customer and this gap is filled by the middleman. The middleman not only provides the product to the customer but he also provides continuous feedback to the organization about the product and market demands. 

Soil is made up of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids and micro-organisms in different proportions. It provides anchorage to plants. It is important for life as it provides the medium for the growth of a plant, habitat for several insects and other organisms. Soil is a store house of nutrients, micro-organisms, air and water. It is the source of four essential ‘living’ factors including food, clothes, shelter, and medicines.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is one of the most effective methods for determining the functional groups and potential molecular interactions between membrane chemical molecules. Understanding of (infrared) IR absorption band placements in the spectrum as wave numbers can be used to identify the various chemical constituents (such as aromatic amides) that may not be visible by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Wind stress at the sea surface not only causes horizontal movement of water (Ekman Net transport), but also leads to vertical motion (Ekman Pumping). This horizontal movement of water leads to the occurrence of upwelling and down welling throughout the oceans both at coastal boundaries as well as in the open ocean. As divergence of surface water causes rising, convergence of the surface water causes sinking. This rising and sinking of water are called upwelling and down welling.

The proximate system of analysis consists of the analytical determinations of water (moisture), ash, crude fat (ether extract), crude protein and crude fibre. Nitrogen-free extract (NFE), more or less representing sugars and starches, is calculated by difference rather than measured by analysis.

Water

1. Water constitutes about 70 percent of an adult’s body weight and water (moisture) is the predominant constituent in many foods.
2. All foods contain varying amounts of water in the range of 20 to 90%.
3. The hypothalamus is a brain center that controls activities such as maintenance of water balance, regulation of body temperature, and control of appetite.
4. Moisture content of some foods

1. Introduction

Extrusion of foods is an emerging technology for the food industries to process and market a large number of products of varying size, shape, texture and taste. Extrusion cooking of cereals is becoming more adaptive due to its various advantages over the traditional food processing techniques (White, 1994). Nowadays the extrusion of food is of major importance in the food-processing sector and it is the only process, which covers a wide range of food products such as ready to eat (RTE) breakfast cereals, snack foods, baby foods etc. Elaborate scientific research, technological development and engineering design, which have been done in this field so far, have led to large-scale industrial production. 

A successful and sustainable farmer producer organization (FPO) is an entity that is owned and managed by farmers, and is focused on improving their livelihoods through sustainable and profitable agricultural practices. Such an organization operates with a long-term vision, and is able to adapt to changing circumstances in the agricultural sector. Viability, stability and sustainability are the three degrees of permanency in business. Analysis of these three is very important for any business and entrepreneurs.

5.1. Viability

viability of a business indicates that it is (or has the chance to be) successful. A viable firm is profitable, which indicates that it generates more income than it spends on operating expenses. It is tough to resurrect a failing firm. The company would need to either boost income or lower expenditures. 

4.1 Introduction

The wind is caused by the motion of air. In different regions, there are pressure differences that cause winds. There is a tremendous amount of energy carried by them. The use of wind energy can be profitable in regions with strong winds for a significant part of the year. The wind is a form of solar energy. The wind is caused by uneven heating of air and land by the sun. The earth’s rotation and geological irregularities also play a role. Heating causes air to rise, and cooling causes cooler air to fall to fill the space. As a result, the air mass moves. On a global basis, the poles exert a primary forcing function that allows the equator to receive surface winds from the poles. 

5.1 Introduction

Biomass energy is the energy obtained from biomass or living things. Biomass is renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals. Plants generally produced through the process of photosynthesis as shown in Figure 5.1. Biomass is organic, meaning it is made of material that comes from living things, such as plants and animals. Wood, plants, and waste are the most common biomass energy sources. These are called biomass feedstocks. A plant absorbs the sun’s energy through photosynthesis and converts carbon dioxide and water into nutrients (carbohydrates). The energy from these materials can be transformed into usable energy through direct and indirect means. Biomass can be burned to create heat (direct), converted into electricity (direct), or processed into biofuel (indirect).

1.1 Introduction

Climate change is evident from the observation of increase in global average air and ocean temperatures, precipitation and extreme rainfall, widespread melting of ice, storms / storm surges flooding and rising global mean sea level, as recorded in the Fourth Assessment Report of IPCC. Eleven of the last twelve years (1995-2006) rank among the twelve warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature (since 1850). 

Introduction

Multiplication of plants is termed as propagation. Nowadays, propagation practice has been totally modernized. Propagation practices have advanced from field to in-vitro. Starting from scion stick of 15 to 20 cm length, the plants are multiplied even using cell, tissue and embryo. In modern horticulture trade, plant propagation is a soaring business. It is highly profitable, employment generative, recreative and creative business.

Several improvements have been noticed over the period of time in the basic techniques of plant propagation, using either conventional or tissue culture approaches. The propagation under protected environment by creating artificial conditions such as light, temperature and humidity under controlled irrigation through drip irrigation and fertigation has enhanced the potential of plant propagation and has made it possible to propagate the plants around the year.

Introduction

Management is the process of successfully accomplishing tasks with and through others. It is all about having more control and getting better results as a result of having more control. Many parts of nursery administration are unrelated to horticulture in any way. Nurseries, both wholesale and retail, are frequently managed by persons who have worked in a range of sectors. Nutrient management, disease control, irrigation management, insect pest management, and marketing management are just a few of the nursery management techniques that are necessary for a successful nursery output. A nursery manager and employees who spend a lot of time for potting plants, weeding plants, or conversing with clients may discover that they do not spend enough time for managing the nursery, resulting in a loss of control. Many activities are carried out during management, such as planning - need for planting material, provision of mother blocks, land area requirements, water supply, working equipment, growth structures, and input availability. Implementation - land treatment, biotic interference and soil erosion prevention, correct layout, input supply, and so forth. However, in a small nursery where several jobs are required, the manager must strike a delicate balance between the numerous responsibilities. Managers who are well informed can provide good management; thus, the first duty of every manager is to become knowledgeable about the company for which they are responsible.

Tropical tuber crops are an important group of subsistence crops in tropical and subtropical zones. Carbohydrates synthesised and stored in the form of starch in underground tubers are used as food by millions in under-developed countries. It is also used as raw material by many industries. Cassava, sweet potato, Chinese potato, edible aroids like elephant foot yam, taro, tannia and yams like greater yam, lesser yam and white yam are major tuber crops grown in India.

Tuber crops are mainly grown as rainfed with minimum cost of production. All are propagated through vegetative means and require fertile and well drained loose soil for proper root development. All roots crops require high dose of potassium for high productivity.Cassava is the most important starchy root crop grown in the tropics and is mainly cultivated in southern peninsular India. Introduced during seventeenth century by Portuguese, the crop played a significant role to overcome food shortage among the low income group of people in Kerala. Underground tuber is rich in starch and mainly consumed after cooking. Processed products like chips, sago and vermicelli made of tapioca are also popular in the country. Being easily digestible, it forms an important ingredient in poultry and cattle- feeds. It is also widely used for production of industrial alcohol, starch and glucose.

4.1. Coconut

• Coconut water is a refreshing drinks which also hygienic and nutritive.

• White flesh is a calorie rich extensively used for cookery in South India.

• From grated wet coconut kernel, good quality oil as well as protein and carbohydrate can be extracted to prepare coconut honey.

• Undesirable flavour changes in desiccated coconut are due to oxidative rancidity of the oil.

• Residual cake after the oil extraction is used as cattle food.

• Dried coconut meat is known as copra and is the source of coconut oil, which is used in enormous quantities for making fats for baking and confectionery.

• An important product used in the chocolate and confectionery industry is desiccated coconut.

• Nut is removed from hard shell and thin brown rind pared off.

Dryland agriculture refers to cultivation of crops entirely under natural rainfall without irrigation. It is a form of subsistence farming in the regions where deficit of the soil moisture retards the growth of water consuming crops like rice (Oryza sativa), sugarcane etc. Dryland areas are characterized by low and erratic rainfall and no assured irrigation facilities. Dryland agriculture is important for the economy as most of the coarse grain crops, pulses, oilseeds, and raw cotton are grown on these lands. Dryland areas receive annual rainfall between 500 and 1200 mm.

Types of Dryland Agriculture

Depending on the amount of rainfall received, dryland agriculture has been grouped into three categories:

Dry farming: It is production of crops without irrigation in areas where annual rainfall is less than 750 mm. Crop failures are more frequent under dry farming condition owing to prolonged dry spells during crop period. The growing season is less than 200 days. It is generally practiced in arid regions of the country

Banana is the eighth most important food crop in the world. It is widely cultivated in over 130 countries in the tropics and sub tropics of Asia, Africa and the United States. Plantains and bananas are next important to major cereals, forming a key component in food security and agricultural sustainability in the developing economics (Patel and Shukla, 2009, Shukla, 2010; Deepah and Paranjothi, 2010). Banana ranks fifth in the global market of agricultural commodities and is one of the largest traded fruit crops. It is popularly known as “Apple of the Paradise ”. The per capita starch output of banana from unit cultivated area is almost near cassava and sweet potatoes (Choudhary, 2015).

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L., Family: Anacardiaceae) is a very important crop in India for earning foreign exchange. Portuguese travelers introduced this plant into India from Brazil during sixteenth century and the purpose was to check soil erosion on the coastal area. Though initially this crop is considered as a remedy for soil conservation, wasteland development and afforestation, but it gradually became a commercial important crop. Cashew is now widely grown in tropical regions and well adapted to the climatic condition of India. Now India becomes the largest producer, consumer, processor and exporter of cashew in the world. In India, cashew is mainly cultivated in Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka along the West coast and Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Pondicherry and West Bengal along the East coast. To a limited extent it is also grown in some nontraditional areas like Kolar region of Karnataka and Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

Introduction

The eastern states of India comprising of Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam and eastern Uttar Pradesh occupy about 21.85% geographical area and supports 34% human and 31% livestock population of the country. Agriculture is the mainstay of economy in these states, since 83% population living in rural areas depends on it for their sustenance. The region has about 2.73 M ha of total area under reservoirs, ponds, tanks, lakes, brackish water, etc. besides 15046 km length of rivers and canals constituting about 18 percent of country’s utilizable water resources. The average rainfall in eastern region varies from 1091 to 2477 mm with a regional average of 1526 mm, which is sufficient and substantial for growing a variety of crops. However, the irrigated area in the region is 39% as against 45%, the national average.