eChapters

Introduction 
There is a significant transformation undergoing in the health insurance sector, driven by technological advancements, shift in the regulatory frameworks and uplifting the consumer expectations towards the sector. There is a rise in the healthcare costs in recent times and as a result the insurers are increasingly Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration, Girijananda Chowdhury University, Assam challenged to provide sustainable and equitable coverage to ensure the quality of treatments of the patients. This evolving landscape health insurance claims a comprehensive understanding of the upcoming patterns and trends to shape the future of health insurance. The digital health technologies have evolved recent developments in the form of telemedicine, artificial intelligence and blockchain etc are continuously contributing as how insurance providers assess risk, deliver services, and engage with policyholders. These innovations not only enhance operational effectiveness but also empower consumers to play a more vital role in their healthcare decision making. Thereafter, the importance of the value-based care becomes more remarkable and the insurers are exploring new models that focus upon patient outcomes over volume, aligning incentives between providers and payers. Additionally, the technological advancements along with the demographic shifts that includes aging population and the increasing rate of chronic diseases are changing the direction of health insurance. The service providers must transform their plans and policies to meet the diversified needs of a changing population that significantly prioritizes personalized and accessible care solutions. Since the emergence of alternative insurance models such as on-demand coverage, direct primary care, and self-insured employer plans etc., the industry navigates these changes and results a shift away from traditional insurance practices. Health insurance significantly plays a vital role achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), aiming to secure healthcare and encourage well-being along with poverty reduction and economic growth of the country. By providing financial safeguard against high-cost medical treatments, health insurance minimises the risk of destructive health expenditures which may lead to positioned the individuals and their families into the line of poverty. As the people in India is having access to better healthcare services, the disparities in healthcare services can be reduced and the equality of healthcare services among all the sections in the society can be attained. It boosts the awareness to access the essential healthcare services that includes maternal health, precautionary care and treatment for non-communicable diseases. However, health insurance stimulates sustainable financing for healthcare with an assurance of pooling the funds equitably to cover the needs of various class of people to enhance the attainment of SDG 3 targets and overall sustainability of global health.

Introduction

Over decades, improvement of domestic animal species has been done by selecting superior animals, mainly based on individual performance and their subsequent breeding to get progenies with higher production potential. Within the 20th century, understanding of inheritance of economic traits, factors influencing genetic potential and their interactions provided better criteria for selection and this has resulted into faster genetic gains. Several selection criteria which were composite ones based on the individuals as well as its relative performances were being used.

Introduction

Soil organic matter is an important component of soil quality and productivity; however, its measurement alone does not adequately reflect changes in soil quality and nutrient status. Instead, measurements of biologically active fractions of organic matter, such as microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and potential C and N mineralization, could better reflect changes in soil quality and productivity that alter nutrient dynamics. Therefore, measuring microbial biomass is a valuable tool for understanding and predicting long-term effects on changes in land use and associated soil conditions.

In most countries, extension systems have now been operating for some time and problems within them will often require a refinement of the existing system rather than design of a new system from scratch.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide extension managers with a simple approach in analysing common extension problems. In most cases, suggestions are given for possible actions to consider in investigating the causes of the problem further and ultimately in overcoming it. However the primary purpose of the chapter is not ‘to give solutions to all known problems’ but to assist the extension manager in analysing problems to find their root cause (or causes). The chapter is designed to be simple and easy to use, and thus cannot do justice to the complexity of all the problems and situations faced by extension personnel.

Many different approaches might be used to organise this process and information. The chapter has tried in all cases to begin with noticeable problems and by analysing these through an hierarchy or problem tree, help users to analyse and reach their own conclusions as to the best solution.

Crop diversification has been well recognized as an effective strategy for achieving the objectives of food and nutritional security, income growth, poverty alleviation, employment generation, judicious use of land, water and other natural resources, sustaining agricultural development and environmental improvement. Vegetable crops being rich sources of various health building substances, especially vitamins and minerals, offer unique advantage for food and nutritional security, tackle malnutrition and dietary deficiency diseases. Besides, their high yield potential per unit area and time, diverse varietal wealth, labour intensiveness, high market price and prospects of processing, value addition and export, they play an important role in employment generation, and livelihood improvement. Since India is endowed with diverse agro-climatic conditions, almost all kinds of vegetable crops are grown in one or other corner of our country. More than 200 different vegetables are grown in India, of which, about 70 types are cultivated commercially. Vegetable production scenario in India has made a remarkable progress since independence from a meagre production of 17.5 million tonnes to 146 million tones, with a productivity of 17.3 t/ha. India is the second largest vegetable producer in the world after China. However, it needs to be doubled by 2020 in order to meet the nutritional requirement of burgeoning population in the country. With increasing purchasing power of people, the demand for vegetables has increased enormously, as a result the prices of vegetables have increased and it has been the dominant factor for high inflationary pressure in Indian economy during recent years. Inclusion of different vegetable crops with shorter maturity period in the prevailing cropping system will enhance the total system productivity, which may go a long way in improving the economic as well as physical health of small and marginal farmers.

Introduction

Banana (Musa sp; family: Musaceae) is the second most important fruit crop in India next to mango. Its year round availability, affordability, varietal range, taste, nutritive and medicinal value makes it the favorite fruit among all classes of people. It has also good export potential. Banana evolved in the humid tropical regions of South East Asia with India as one of its center of origin. Modern edible varieties have evolved from the two species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana and their natural hybrids, originally found in the rain forests of S.E. Asia. During the seventh century AD its cultivation spread to Egypt and Africa. Banana and plantains are grown in about 120 countries. Total annual world production is estimated at 86 million tonnes of fruits. India leads the world in banana production with an annual output of about 14.2 million tonnes. Other leading producers are Brazil, Eucador, China, Phillipines, Indonesia, Costarica, Mexico, Thailand and Colombia. In India banana ranks first in production and third in area among fruit crops. It accounts for 13% of the total area and 33% of the production of fruits. Production is highest in Maharashtra (3924.1 thousand tones) followed by Tamil Nadu (3543.8 thousand tonnes). Within India, Maharashtra has the highest productivity of 65.70 metric tones /ha. against national average of 30.5 tonnes/ha. The other major banana producing states are Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Assam.

Objectives

• Better understand the various types of gene interaction.

Introduction

Gene interaction is the phenomenon of two or more genes that affect each other’s expression in different ways in the development of a single character of an organism. It is the modification of normal phenotypic expression of gene due to interaction between alleles or non-alleles. In such situation, two or more than two genes may interact to give rise to a particular phenotype

Irrigation is one facet of the inputs which need to be carefully managed so that profits are maximized. Irrigation plays a major role in any agriculture crop production. One should be aware of different types of irrigation adapted in orchards or crop cultivation to become a successful grower. Irrigation is very important component of crop cultivation as sufficient moisture must be maintained in the soil for obtaining the optimum growth and good quality yield. The aim of irrigating a plant should be to wet the entire root zone without allowing any wastage of water beyond the root zone. The irrigation systems have to be properly devised so that the water requirements of the trees are met at the minimum expenditure without any wastage of water. Irrigation practices can be improved if a range of important factors like crop type, crop water requirements, climatic conditions, soil type, water quality, method of irrigation are taken into account.

Crop type

The type of horticultural crops grown influences irrigation practices. Annual vegetable and melon crops have high water requirement, hence irrigation management is extremely critical to their productivity during their relatively short life span (10-20 weeks). Perennial fruit crops tend to require less water and management, although critical, is not generally as critical as for annual crops.

10.1. Acts, Policies and Schemes that Benefit Farmers
10.1.1. PM-KUSUM

As part of its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), India agreed to increase the installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil fuel sources to 40% by 2030. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Scheme aims to ensure energy security for Indian farmers while also upholding this commitment. The PM-KUSUM Scheme was launched in 2019 with 3 components:

Introduction

Over the past two decades, seafood consumption and popularity have gradually increased. However, creating high-quality items necessitates paying close attention to the product's quality and safety as well as creating new products employing modern technologies. Through a variety of modern biotechnology advancements such as biomagnetism, biosensors, biomarkers, and bioassay methods are used to analyze and assess the quality of various seafood by f inding concentrations of compounds including allergens, nutritional and non-nutritional components, antioxidants, and the presence of microbial contaminants, biotoxins, and other contaminants significantly effective in food safety evaluation.

Clinical Symptoms

• Anchor worms can be seen with the naked eye

• Frequent rubbing or “flashing”

• Localised redness

• Inflammation on the body of the fish

• Tiny white-green or red worms in wounds

• Breathing difficulties

The method known as integrated water management (IWM) in agricultural crops is an all-encompassing strategy that aims to maximize the effectiveness of water use, enhance crop output, and guarantee the management of water resources in a sustainable manner. This method incorporates a number of different water management strategies, such as the timing of irrigation, the use of water-saving devices, the monitoring of soil moisture, and conservation measures. Combining these methods allows IWM to achieve its goal of limiting water losses caused by evaporation, runoff, and deep percolation while simultaneously ensuring that crop water demand is met by the available water supply. Mulching, cover cropping, and crop rotation are examples of cultural techniques that assist improve soil moisture conservation and decrease water loss via evaporation. The application of water may be made more exact and targeted by the use of mechanical technologies like as precision irrigation systems, drip irrigation, and soil moisture sensors. This helps to maximize the efficiency with which crops utilize water. Improvements in water retention and plant resistance to water stress may be achieved via the use of biological controls. These controls include the selection of drought resistant crop cultivars and the enhancement of the organic matter content of the soil. Chemical controls, such as the use of soil conditioners and wetting agents, have the potential to improve soil structure and infiltration, hence permitting improved water distribution and absorption by crops. In general, integrated water management (IWM) plays a significant part in reducing the issues associated with water shortages, fortifying agricultural systems against the effects of climate change, and fostering sustainable water use practices in agricultural systems.

1. Introduction

Cattle are one of the important livestock species of the country which forms an integral part of Indian agriculture since ages. Human progress depends on the utilisation of animals and natural resources in a balanced way. Cow, in particular, is considered as a part of the family in India. Cattle have been of the utmost importance for the sustenance of agriculture, nutrition supply and religious practices in India. Frequent references on cattle farming are found in Indian mythological books and historical writings regarding their utilization in agriculture as draught power, milk production and source of manure. Approximately 200 million Indians are involved in livestock farming, including around 100 million dairy farmers. Roughly 80% of bovines in the country are low on productivity and are reared by small and marginal farmers. Most of the local cows are managed on a low input and low output system for production of milk for the household nutritional requirement and sale surplus milk to dairy co-operatives or local milk sellers. Poor genetic makeup of Indian livestock is the main reason for their lower productivity as compared to the recorded potential of animals in temperate climate. With the change in food consumption pattern due to urbanization, increase in health awareness, reduced requirement of draught animal power due to mechanisation, etc., the demand for milk and milk products have increased many folds.

Introduction

The population pressure, economic expansion, and dietary changes have all led to the rise in demand for foods with animal origin. On the other hand, the fishing industry has a lot of opportunity to close the supply and demand imbalance. The average global per capita consumption has climbed to 20.3 kg, with Asia accounting for about 91.6% of the world's supply of aquaculture fish. Most of this fish is consumed domestically (FAO, 2022). India produced 14.16 million tonnes of fish in 2019-20. Across the region, per capita consumption varies significantly ranging from 63 kg/year in the case of Japan (Delgado et al. 2003) to only 5-6 kg/year in India where only one-third of the population are f ish-eaters (Dey et al. 2005). As you know fish consumption rate is increasing day by day because it contains high protein, Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids {Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)} which is expected to have huge health benefits. Although the supply and demand for different species vary, the Indian major carp (IMC) predominates in satisfying the nation's demand for fish. With a diverse population of around 1.3 billion to feed, knowledge of demand and supply is necessary especially in fisheries sector. Since, fish is a perishable commodity its supplying is a tough task to accomplish. Before studying the demand and supply firstly we have to focus on what is ‘Need’ and ‘Want’.

The therapeutic potential of plants and its parts has been explored since ancient times and has been used for the well being of humans as well as animals. In the era of emergence of multi drug resistant bacteria modern research aims to find out alternative therapeutic approaches preferably from herbal source to combat the infection. Medicinal plants owing to their antibacterial, antioxidant, anti inflammatory capabilities have been used against many bacterial infections in livestock and companion animals. Ethnoveterinary practices have been documented against bacterial diseases in animals like mastitis, colibacillosis, Salmonellosis, pyoderma, otitis externa, gastrointestinal infection, pneumonia and many others, some of which are enlisted below.
Bovine mastitis, predominantly a bacterial disease continues to threaten the dairy sector as it inflicts great economic losses to the dairy farmers. The disease caused by more than 200 species of bacteria is characterized by inflammation of the mammary gland with physical and chemical changes in the milk and pathological changes in the glandular tissue. There is a significant reduction in the milk yield and many times it’s accompanied with abnormalities in the udder, milk and the cow. In addition to this, milk from affected animals may harbor the organisms which are potentially pathogenic to humans. Use of antibiotics is a common practice to cure mastitis.

In an era defined by increasing climate variability and the urgent need for sustainable food production, the science of Agricultural Meteorology has risen to unprecedented importance. This final chapter, “Agricultural Meteorology: A Science for Global and National Food Security (in the context of climate change),” synthesizes the principles and applications we have explored, highlighting their critical role in ensuring food security at both global and national levels, particularly within the challenging framework of a changing climate.
We have seen how weather and climate intricately influence every aspect of agriculture, from planting to harvest, and how extreme events can decimate livelihoods and threaten food supplies.1 Now, we will focus on how the interdisciplinary field of agricultural meteorology – the study of the interactions between meteorological and hydrological factors and agriculture in the widest sense – provides the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate these challenges.
This chapter will underscore how understanding and applying agrometeorological principles, including crop-weather relationships, climate risk assessment, and the use of decision support systems, are essential for developing climate-resilient agricultural practices. We will explore how this science aids in optimizing resource management, predicting and mitigating the impacts of weather-related hazards, and ultimately, in building sustainable and secure food systems for the future, both globally and specifically within the Indian context.

Mulching

The technique of covering the soil with plastic films or natural crop left over (residues) for soil and water conservations is called mulching.

This technique was practiced by farmers using dry leaves straw, trash, stones etc to conserve water. Presently plastic film have come into use for the purpose of mulching due to inherent advantages.

The world is changing rapidly and education is facing new challenges as we move into the 21st century. For Extensionist, this means new approaches to teaching and learning are needed. Futurist John Naisbitt (1994) predicts that as structured employment opportunities decline, entrepreneurial skills will become necessary for the rural youth to compete. Additionally, acquiring skills and attitudes necessary for the youth can be achieved through youth entrepreneurship programs (Cox, 1998)

There is a challenge to convert ideas into policy and then into action to put in programmes aimed at helping the future farmers of the world.  According to UN report , Youth as a target group is not a major policy priority of most governments in developing countries. This review illustrates that youth are only occasionally visible in policy related documents.  Hazelman  (2008) emphasized based on lessons from case studies made by FAO in Asia and the Pacific,  highlighted  the importance of having a clear national policy relating to rural youth; building and utilizing youth networks and partnerships at the national, regional and international levels; organizing youth into youth-led organizations that are active and have strong leadership together with competent and committed advisors, with projects and activities that address youth and community needs; and giving priority and attention to education and training opportunities for continued learning and human-capacity building.

Abstract

Dietary fibers mostly include non-starch polysaccharides such as celluloses, hemicelluloses, gums and pectins, lignin, resistant dextrins and resistant starches. Based on their water solubility, dietary fibers may be divided into two forms insoluble dietary fiber which includes celluloses, some hemicelluloses and lignins which is fermented to a limited extent in the colon and soluble dietary fiber which includes f-glucans, pectins, gums, mucilages and hemicelluloses that are fermented in the colon. Resistant starch generally considered to be represented by the total amount ofstarch and the product of starch degradation that are not digested in the small intestine andpass into large intestine, and regarded as a component ofdietary fiber. Herbal nutraceutical is used as a powerful instrument in maintaining health and to act against nutritionally induced acute and chronic diseases, thereby promoting optimal health, and quality of life. Dietary spices in their minute quantities has an immense influence on the human health by their antioxidative, chemopreventive, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, immune modulatory effects on cells and a wide range of beneficial effects on human health. Nutraceutical is the hybrid of ‘nutrition’ and ‘pharmaceutical’. Nutraceuticals, in broad, are food or part of food playing a significant role in modifying and maintaining normal physiological function that maintains healthy human beings. Functional foods are including whole foods and fortified, enriched, or enhanced foods or dietary components that may reduce the risk of chronic disease and provide a health and physiological benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains.

Greenhouse refers to a structure which provide relatively better environment for plant growth. The goal is to create congenial temperature and relative humidity in desired range. The greenhouse covered with polythene sheet, also called as polyhouse, has polythene sheet (UV stabilized 200 micron LDPE sheet) as covering over a relatively rigid frame (made of GI pipes, angle iron, boomboo or wooden) which entraps the solar energy to increase the temperature and provide light for plant propagation. A normal greenhouse has four basic components: 1) frame made from rigid material like GI pipes, wood or bamboo; 2) glazing material, which is transparent to provide enough light for plant propagation; 3) climate control system, which may be natural ventilation or forced ventilation using fans with or without cooling pads, shading nets, pigment painting, etc. and 4) plant growing medium (soil or artificial media like cocopeats) with needful arrangement for supplying inputs (water, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.). The design of greenhouse involves structural design of frame with enough climate control mechanism. It mainly depends on shape, size, material of frame, local climatic conditions, wind pressure, and desired height from crop production point of view. Fabrication of greenhouse should be such that it provides enough structural stability with wind pressure and other factors, perfect joints, anchoring of polythene, and minimum hindrances in crop production practices.