eChapters

Introduction

Entrepreneurship has become a major driver of economic development in recent years. It involves starting new businesses or revitalizing existing ones, often through recognizing and seizing new opportunities. Entrepreneurs are individuals who organize, manage, and take on the risks of a business venture with the aim of making a profit. They identify market opportunities and introduce new technologies and organizational improvements. Entrepreneurs constantly innovate and create value from these opportunities. According to Hisrich (1990), entrepreneurs are proactive and creative individuals who can organize resources and manage risks and failures to succeed.

To grow as an entrepreneur, it is essential to develop and refine key entrepreneurial traits. These traits shape an entrepreneur’s skills and abilities, aligning with their motivations and guiding them to drive their business forward. Entrepreneurial characteristics are a mix of personal, social, and environmental factors that influence a business ecosystem. These traits play a key role in shaping a company’s goals and strategies, ultimately affecting its performance.

Peri-parturient Health Care Periparturient period is defined as a period immediately around calving. It is the most critical time when high yielding cows are prone to nutritional deficits due to great metabolic alterations from dry to milking. Reduced feed intake and depressed immune system at this time make cows vulnerable to periparturient diseases affecting milk yield adversely and increasing mortality risk. Health care during this critical period aims at minimising deficits particularly in relation to dry matter intakes (DMI’s) and energy and mineral balance. •     Milk fever is the most common and important periparturient disease affecting high yielders. Due to the sudden onset of lactation, there is a huge demand for calcium resulting in dramatic decrease in blood calcium level during calving causing milk fever.

This chapter introduces Alstroemeria as a high-value cut flower commonly known as Peruvian lily. It discusses its origin, distribution, genetics, botanical characteristics, commercial varieties and protected cultivation requirements. Temperature, humidity, light, carbon dioxide, irrigation, nutrition, crop management, harvesting and postharvest handling are addressed. The chapter also considers grading standards, vase-life enhancement and important pests and diseases. Particular attention is given to modern hybrids and greenhouse production for high-quality stems.

ABSTRACT

This study critically examined the access of women farmers to Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) as against their male counterparts. The study was conducted Kapasiaupazila of Gazipur district. A total of 120 respondentswere selected using proportionate random sampling technique and interviewed through structured questionnaires. Data collected were subjected to descriptivestatistics, Chi-square and rank test. The results indicated that the women folk, despite their dominancein agricultural activities, were dominated in terms of access to and full participation in the use of ICTs. In terms of access to agricultural information through ICTs, it was evident that, people in the study area capture the advantages of increased number of ICTs to access information related to their farming business. Most of respondents valued ICTs as easy, fast and convenient way of communicating agricultural information and also allow more contacts among the farmers for family farming along with increase income of the family people in the community. Chi-square analysis on the relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondentswith their access to ICTs showed that age, education and innovativeness have significant relationship with therespondents’ access to ICTs. Kruskal Wallis rank test showed that there was a significant difference inthe gender access to and the uses of ICTs (P d” 0.005) with the male dominating the female gender. Chi-squareanalysis revealed that age and educational background and innovativeness of the respondents had significantrelationships with their access to ICTs (P d” 0.005). On the other hand religious/cultural barriers, language barriers and cost of possessing and accessing ICTs were the main reasons for gender disparity in gaining access to ICTs.

The degree of excellence in regard to the physical and genetical characterstics of seeds is called as Seed quality. Seed lots having high genetic purity and high germination percentage and minimum inert, weed and other crop seed and are free from diseases and pest attack, it is said to be a high quality seeds. If it is lacking in any of these qualities, it is said to be low quality seed lots. Only good quality seeds expected to respond well for fertilizers and other inputs used.
 
Viability: It is the ability of embryo to live, grow and develop into a seedling under favorable conditions. The seeds attained maximum viability at physiological maturity stage. Later on seeds start to loss viability.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology” or “gene technology”, sometimes also “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species. Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified animals and marines. Genetically modified animals and marines are those in which specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering using a process of either Cisgenesis or Transgenesis. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis where animals and marines are exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which food animals can be modified are selective breeding and somaclonal variation. By this means desired quality of meat, egg and other animal products can be produced. But it is a common thinking that foods derived from genetically modified animals and marines are far from safe. They are likely to be contaminated by potent vaccines, immune regulators and growth hormones, as well as nucleic acids, viruses and bacteria that have the potential to create pathogens and to trigger cancer.

1.1 Introduction

Fruit breeding is an ancient technology with dynamic current technology and an exciting future (Janick and Moore 1975, 1996). In its broadest sense, fruit breeding refers to the purposeful genetic improvement of fruit crops through various techniques including selection, hybridization, mutation induction and molecular techniques. Its origins trace to the domestication process in prehistory and antiquity, where useful species were chosen and cultivated, and improved by continuous selection (Janick 2005, 2011). Through the millennia genetic improvement of these species have been achieved by grower selection, first from natural seedling populations and then from grower field that continued unique genotypes fixed by vegetative propagation. Spontaneous hybridization between wild plants and cultivated clones was critical to the early domestication of fruits.

In the rabbit production industry, providing a healthy diet and adequate amount of food every day is crucial for success. Rabbits can only survive and thrive on a diet of forage, so it is important to carefully consider their nutritional needs when planning their feeding regimen.

Some rabbit producers choose to provide basic grains in addition to forages in order to increase the potential productivity of their herd. These grains can be sourced from one's own farm or purchased commercially as concentrated feeds. The type of feed given to rabbits will greatly impact the management of the herd, such as how frequently they need to be rebred.

Introduction

Novel Corona Virus 2019 (COVID 19) has impacted the human race very badly than any other disease in twenty first century. Almost every country on this planet was affected by this virus. The condition is more severe in developed countries.

So when it All Started?

There were reports that the medical professionals of Wuhan in China informed the government that there is some mysterious pneumonia like disease which is spreading very fast and affected the doctors and other paramedical staff who are attending the patients. When the situation became serious it was declared as outbreak of epidemic and first case of COVID 19 was declared in Wuhan China on 31st December 2019. Wuhan is one of the main business centres of china and there was regular movement of domestic and international visitors to that place. Till the problem was identified and communicated to other agencies, the spread of virus was already there in other parts of china and world specially Europe and USA.

World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID 19 as pandemic on 11 February 2020. Countries like USA criticized WHO for delay in identifying the disease and declaring it a pandemic.The damage was already done due to its spread in other countries. In India first reported case of COVID 19 was on 30th January at Kerala. However, considering the possible danger of this disease, Indian Government took primitive measure to contain the spread of Virus and announced Nationwide Lockdown 1.0 on 23rdMarch 2020. Similarly, Lockdown 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 were announced on 14 April, 3rd May and 17th may respectively.

History of poultry production

Domestication of birds has a long history, with evidence of their existence and use dating back thousands of years. Here are some key points:

• Chickens: Archaeological evidence suggests domesticated chickens existed in China 8,000 years ago and later spread to Western Europe, possibly via Russia. The cockfighting in India 3,000 years ago indicates their cultural significance. Modern domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus) evolved from the wild red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), native to India and Southeast Asia.

• Pigeons: The domestic pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica) is considered the world’s oldest domesticated bird.

• Geese: Domestic geese (Anseranserdomesticus in Africa, Europe, and West Asia; Ansercygnoides in East Asia) were domesticated in Egypt over 4,000 years ago and have significance in Roman mythology.

This chapter introduces Anthurium as an important tropical ornamental crop cultivated for cut flowers, potted plants and landscaping. It examines its origin, distribution, genetics, botanical characteristics and commercial varieties. The chapter discusses greenhouse conditions including temperature, humidity, light, shade, irrigation, nutrition and propagation. It also covers pests, diseases, harvesting, grading, storage and packing. The importance of improved cultivars and controlled environmental conditions in maintaining high-quality flowers is emphasized.

Saline Water Agriculture has been drawing interest as one of the solutions for limitation of world fresh water supply, farmland availability, salinity ingression and the pressing future need of food supply. The cultivation of salt-tolerant crops on saline soil and with saline waters has significant social and economic potential.

It is often argued that fresh water agriculture near rivers and ponds was invented because of the need to sustain people and communities. Saline water agriculture is going to be needed for sustaining our future generations and civilization.

1. The normal gestation period of buffalo is

   a) 280 days

   b) 290 days

   c) 300 days

   d) 310 days

2. The best crop of silage making is

   a) Maize

   b) Jowar

   c) Bajra

   d) Lucerne

Soil is a mass of large variability and thus its sampling is the most challenging problem for any soil analyst. Practically, soil sampling is a two step process which includes (i) collection of soil from homogeneous unit and (ii) processing which in turn includes drying, grinding, sieving, mixing, partitioning and storing.

1.1. Sources of Error in Soil Chemical Analysis

Different sources of error involved starting from soil sampling to chemical analysis of a sample can be divided into three main groups:

1. Sampling error : This error results from variability among the different samples drawn from same soil unit with respect to the objective of sampling.
2. Sub-sampling error : This error is due to variability introduced among sub samples of the same soil sample.
3. Analytical error : This error introduced due to variability from one chemical determination to another on same sub sample.

Abstract

Women make up almost half of the agricultural labour force in developing countries (43 per cent according to UN Women data). Empowerment of women is central to achieving the objective of inclusive, equitable and sustainable development. Between the period 2007-08 and 2009-10, the share of person-days in casual employment in MANREGS to the total person-days in all economic activities has also increased. The increase was marginal for male workers but significant for female workers. This again confirms that female workers have been the largest beneficiaries of MANREGS projects. The share of female participation in these public works is more than the share of their male counterparts. The survey shows that women comprise only 13.76% of the total entrepreneurs, i.e., 8.05 million out of the 58.5 million entrepreneurs. Among the states, the largest share in number of establishments under women entrepreneurship is of Tamil Nadu (13.51%) followed by Kerala (11.35%), Andhra Pradesh (10.56%), West Bengal (10.33%) and Maharashtra (8.25%). Average employment per establishment for women owned establishments is 1.67. The main challenges that women face in business are educational and work background, balancing their time share between work and family, problems of raising start-up capital, difficulty in borrowing fund, thought-cut completions endangered existence of small companies, problems of availing raw- materials access to export market without intermediaries, as well as an overall psychological barrier on the part of banks, suppliers, and clients alike. Govt of India and different bodies such as NGOs, voluntary organizations, self-help groups, institutions and individual enterprises from rural and urban areas are active to help the women entrepreneurs in their ventures.

Abstract

Keeping in view the increasing demand of off-season and high value vegetables in several big cities of the country, there is an urgent need for diversification from the traditional agriculture by production of high value vegetable crops under different protected conditions for increasing their productivity and quality not only for getting high returns but in a Horti-Business / Veggie-business model. Nursery raising under protected cultivation is highly suitable for such Horti-business model or can be adopted as an agri entrepreneur business in major vegetable growing areas of the country by unemployed youths who are graduates in agriculture or post graduates in horticulture. Low cost protected technologies like plastic low tunnels or walk in tunnels, shade net houses can be used for off season vegetable cultivation for getting high returns. Similarly, insect proof net houses can be used on a large scale for safe vegetable cultivation by way of minimizing the use of pesticides in vegetable cultivation and virus free quality seed production in large number of vegetables in a horti-business model. Some of the technologies like low pressure drip irrigation and low cost nursery raising technology can also be replicated in other parts of the country even among the resource poor and tribal farmers.

2.1 Introduction

The different breeding strategies (methods) that can be employed for improvement of fruit crops include introduction, open pollinated selection, clonal selection, hybrid breeding, polyploidy breeding, mutation breeding, molecular breeding, in vitro breeding and transgenic breeding. Combining traditional approaches with biotechnological approaches will speed up the rate of genetic improvement. Thus, what is required is to adopt a coordinated approach involving breeders, biotechnologists, horticulturists, pathologists, entomologists and statistician for making the cultivation of fruit crops more scientific and more profitable and thereby contributing more to improving the health of the people in a sustainable manner.

Introduction

India is bestowed with a lot of potentials to produce a variety of organic products due to its diversified agro-climatic regions and this is very true in case of Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. It offers a variety of geographic locations suitable for cultivating various food crops such as: fruits, vegetables, food grains etc. Globally, organic farming is cultivated in an area of 57.80 million ha. However, India accounts for just 2.59% of the area. The organic farming is followed in India in almost all the regions with three states Madhya Pradesh (34.34%), Maharashtra (13.19%) and Rajasthan (11.67%) accounting for about 59% of the total organic area of the country. The cultivated land under certification has substantially increased from 1.74 lakh ha in the year 2005-06 to 1.78 million ha in the year 2017-188 (https://www.researchgate. net/publication/338209816_Impact_of_farmer_producer_organization_on_ organic_chilli_production_in_Telangana_India) Agriculture and its allied sectors are the largest source of livelihoods in India. However, India still has many growing concerns. As the Indian economy has diversified and grown, agriculture’s contribution to GDP has steadily declined from 1951 to 2011. (Source: http://www.fao.org/india/fao-in-india/india-at-a-glance/). One of the main reasons is due to the lack of competence in Indian farmers for selling the crop in remunerative prices in the market. Some of the critical constraints and bottlenecks are lack of infrastructure for storage, transportation, quality control, packaging, price risk management, cool chains, market led extension, and framework for promotion of contract farming (Gohain, 2018). Realizing these issues Government of India under the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation identified Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) as the most appropriate institutional form to mobilize farmers and build their capacity to collectively leverage their production and marketing strength(Ministry of Agriculture, 2013).For analyzing the potential, importance and contribution of FPO in the agriculture sector, the present study aims to discuss the role of FPO in uplifting small and marginal farmers and its impact on the basis of the project undertaken by Silgur Bizat SwayattSahkarita FPO in Dehradun district of Uttarakhand.

Introduction

• At present, horticulture is recognized as a potential sector to enhance agricultural production, improve house hold nutritional security and income generation through diversification and employment, value addition and export.

• Inspite of the enormous success achieved in horticulture sector, several constraints still exist.

• Besides new emerging challenges, poor productivity per unit area continues to be a concern in most of the horticultural crops with climate change impacting the productivity further.

3.1 Role of root stock in fruit crops

• The role of rootstocks and its use in different fruit crops has significant impact on fruit crop production by influencing canopy architecture, nutritional uptake, flowering, yield and fruit quality.

• Besides, it can also confront biotic and abiotic stresses such as soil pathogens, thermal stress, salinity and nutritional stress.

• Due to limited availability of arable land and high market demand for fruit crops, they are frequently cultivated under unfavorable soil and environmental conditions like thermal stress, drought, flooding, salinity and contamination of organic pollutants.

• One way to substantiate or reduce these losses in production would be the use of appropriate rootstocks, which are capable of reducing the effect of external stresses on the scion.

• Rootstocks have a primary role in determining orchard efficiency.

• They are responsible for water and mineral uptake and provide anchorage for the tree.