eChapters

Climate change significantly impacts agriculture, altering growing conditions, crop yields, and the livelihoods of farmers. Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns can lead to more frequent and intense droughts, floods, and storms, which disrupt planting and harvesting schedules and reduce crop productivity. Changes in temperature and precipitation can also exacerbate pest and disease pressures, making it harder for farmers to protect their crops. Additionally, the increased frequency of extreme weather events can damage infrastructure and soil health, further challenging agricultural systems. These effects pose serious threats to food security, necessitating the development of climate-resilient farming practices and crop varieties, as well as policies that support sustainable agricultural development and climate adaptation.
The climate change is not “gender neutral”. Women and girls experience the greatest impacts of climate change, which amplifies existing gender inequalities and poses unique threats to their livelihoods, health, and safety.
Climate Change: Effects and Impacts on Agriculture Climate change significantly influences agriculture, affecting productivity, resource availability, and farming systems. These effects manifest differently across regions, crops, and farming practices, but the overall impacts are profound.
1. Impacts on Crop Production
Temperature Changes
• Higher temperatures reduce yields of temperature-sensitive crops like wheat, maize, and rice.
• Heat stress during critical growth stages, such as flowering and grain filling, leads to lower productivity.

Digital Transformation in Agricultural Extension
Digital transformation in agricultural extension involves leveraging modern digital technologies to enhance the reach, efficiency, and impact of extension services. This transformation aims to address the challenges of traditional systems and make agricultural knowledge, tools, and support accessible to all stakeholders.
Key Components of Digital Transformation in Agricultural Extension
1. Digital Tools and Platforms
• Mobile Apps: Provide real-time information on weather, crop management, pest control, and market prices (e.g., Kisan Suvidha, IFFCO Kisan).
• Web Portals: Offer online resources for farmers, including e-governance services and advisory content.
• Decision Support Systems (DSS): Help in farm-level decision-making using predictive analytics and data-driven insights.
2. Communication Technologies
• SMS and IVR Services: Deliver critical farming updates to farmers in local languages.
• Social Media Platforms: Share knowledge, success stories, and best practices among farming communities.
• Video Conferencing and Webinars: Enable virtual training and farmer–scientist interactions.
3. Data-Driven Solutions
• Remote Sensing and GIS: Assist in land use planning, pest forecasting, and disaster management.

Agribusiness as a concept is dynamic in nature and kept on evolving over time since it was first used during 1950s. Downey & Erickson defined agribusiness to include “all those business and management activities performed by firms that provide inputs to the farm sector, produce farm products, and/or process, transport, finance, handle or market farm products”. Chait, referred to it as agriculturally related businesses including warehouses, wholesalers, processors, retailers and more. In the developed countries, agribusiness is defined as the total output arising from farm production and product processing at both pre- and post-farm gate levels. However, in developing countries like India, the agribusiness sector encompasses four distinct sub-sectors, viz. agricultural inputs; agricultural production; agro-processing; and marketing and trade. All these add value or utility to the goods. Agribusiness is emerging as a specialized branch of knowledge in the field of management sciences. In this context, agribusiness can be defined as science and practice of activities, with backward and forward linkages, related to production, processing, marketing, trade, and distribution of raw and processed food, feed and fiber, including supply of inputs and services for these activities.
Examples
• Vermi compost
• Poultry Farming
• Mushroom Farming
• Bee Keeping
• Livestock Feed Production

Women empowerment refers to the process of enabling women to increase their control over their lives, resources, and decision-making power. It involves promoting gender equality, challenging gender stereotypes, and addressing the social, economic, and political barriers that prevent women from reaching their full potential.
The Government of India declared 2001 as the ‘Year of Women’s Empowerment and the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women came into force from 2001. The policy approaches that were underlined in this policy concerned gender equality. The policy proposed that the legal system be made responsive and gender sensitive to women’s needs. It stated that women should be economically and socially empowered through focused efforts.
Women empowerment has several dimensions
1. Economic Empowerment: Access to education, employment, credit, and other economic resources.
2. Political Empowerment: Participation in decision-making processes, leadership positions, and political representation.
3. Social Empowerment: Challenging gender stereotypes, promoting gender equality and addressing social norms that limit women’s potential.
4. Legal Empowerment: Access to justice, legal rights, and protection from discrimination and violence.
5. Psychological Empowerment: Building self-esteem, confidence, and self-reliance.
Challenges/problems in women empowerment
1. Societal and Cultural Barriers: Gender stereotypes, patriarchal norms, and cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality.
2. Lack of Education and Awareness: Limited access to education, training, and information that hinders women’s ability to make informed choices.
3. Economic Dependence: Limited access to resources, credit, and employment opportunities that perpetuate financial dependence on men.

Youth Engagement in Farming
Youth engagement in farming is critical for the future of agriculture, given the challenges of an aging farming population, rural-to-urban migration and the declining interest in agriculture among young people. Empowering youth to view agriculture as a viable and profitable career can ensure food security and foster rural development.
Importance of Youth Engagement in Farming
• Demographic Dividend: Harness the potential of the large youth population to rejuvenate the agricultural workforce.
• Innovation and Technology Adoption: Youth are more likely to adopt modern agricultural technologies, digital tools, and innovative practices.
• Sustainable Development: Involve youth in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource conservation through sustainable farming.
• Rural Livelihoods: Reduce rural unemployment and migration by making farming attractive and lucrative.
Strategies for Engaging Youth in Farming
1. Modernizing Agriculture • Promote Agri-Tech: Introduce youth to precision farming, drones, IoT, and AI-based tools.
• Mechanization: Provide access to modern machinery to reduce drudgery and increase productivity.
2. Entrepreneurship Opportunities
• Agri-Startups: Encourage youth to explore startups in organic farming, agribusiness, food processing, and agri-tourism.
• Value Addition: Train youth in post-harvest management and valueadded product creation.

Agriculture is a vital sector that sustains economies and ensures food security. However, farming comes with unique stressors that significantly impact mental health. Farmers face financial uncertainties, climate-related challenges, market fluctuations, labor shortages, and social isolation, all of which contribute to mental health struggles. Recognizing and addressing these issues is crucial for improving the well-being of farmers and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.
Common Mental Health Challenges Faced by Farmers Farmers often experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to the demanding nature of their profession. Some of the primary mental health challenges include:
1. Financial Stress: Unpredictable weather conditions, fluctuating market prices, and increasing input costs lead to financial instability. This burden contributes to anxiety and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.
2. Isolation and Loneliness: Farming is often a solitary occupation, leading to social isolation. Limited interactions with peers can result in a lack of emotional support.
3. Climate-Related Stress: Droughts, floods, and extreme weather conditions directly impact crop yields and livestock health, exacerbating stress levels.
4. Physical Exhaustion: The physically demanding nature of farming can lead to chronic fatigue, increasing the risk of mental health issues.
5. Stigma and Lack of Awareness: Mental health is still a taboo subject in many rural communities, preventing farmers from seeking professional help.
6. Work-Life Imbalance: Long working hours and the pressure to sustain agricultural production leave little time for personal and family life, causing emotional distress.

Key Institutions involved in policy advocacy in Agriculture:
1. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Objectives
• Advocate for research-driven policies that enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.
• Support the development and adoption of innovative agricultural technologies and practices.
• Influence policies related to agricultural education and research funding.
2. National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)
Objectives
• Promote effective agricultural extension services and advisory systems.
• Advocate for policies that improve extension management and farmer training.
• Support the development of strategies for scaling up extension services.
3. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
Objectives
• Advocate for financial policies that enhance credit access for agriculture and rural development.
• Support policies that improve rural infrastructure and promote sustainable rural livelihoods.
• Influence agricultural and rural development policies through financial support and policy recommendations

Agri-tourism, also known as farm tourism or agro-tourism, is a growing sector that combines agriculture with tourism. It offers visitors an opportunity to experience rural life, farm activities, and the natural beauty of agricultural landscapes. Agri-tourism serves as a supplementary source of income for farmers while promoting cultural exchange, environmental awareness, and sustainable development.
Concept and Scope of Agri-Tourism Agri-tourism encompasses a range of activities, including farm stays, organic farm visits, dairy farming experiences, vineyard tours, livestock interaction, and agricultural festivals. It allows tourists to participate in farm-based activities such as milking cows, plowing fields, harvesting crops, and tasting farm-fresh produce. This form of tourism not only educates visitors about agriculture but also fosters a deeper appreciation for rural traditions and lifestyles.
Benefits of Agri-Tourism
1. Economic Benefits: Agri-tourism provides an additional source of income for farmers, reducing their dependence on traditional farming. It creates employment opportunities in rural areas and contributes to local economies by promoting the sale of agricultural products, handicrafts, and local cuisine.
2. Environmental Benefits: By encouraging eco-friendly tourism, agritourism helps in the conservation of natural resources, promotes organic farming, and reduces the environmental impact of mass tourism.
3. Socio-Cultural Benefits: Agri-tourism facilitates cultural exchange between urban and rural populations. It preserves traditional farming practices, promotes rural heritage, and strengthens community bonds.
4. Educational Benefits: Tourists, especially students and children, gain hands-on knowledge about farming techniques, biodiversity, and sustainable agricultural practices.

The history of the guava fruit can be traced back thousands of years, and it has a rich cultural and botanical significance. The guava fruit (Psidium guajava) is believed to have originated in the tropical regions of Central America, particularly in present-day Mexico and neighboring countries. Archaeological evidence suggests that guavas were cultivated and consumed by the indigenous people of these regions as early as 2000 BCE. From there, the fruit spread to other parts of South and Central America, the Caribbean, and eventually to other tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Guava holds significant cultural importance in various ancient civilizations. In the Mayan culture, guavas were considered sacred and symbolized fertility (Arévalo- Marín et al., 2021). The fruit was also believed to have healing properties, leading to its use in traditional medicine. The Spanish and Portuguese explorers played a pivotal role in spreading guavas to other parts of the world during the Age of Exploration. They brought the fruit back to Europe, Africa, and Asia, where it quickly adapted to the tropical and subtropical climates. Guava cultivation in Asia can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed that the Portuguese introduced guavas to India and Southeast Asia (Hussain et al., 2021). The fruit’s popularity grew rapidly in these regions due to its adaptability to various soil and climate conditions. Guavas were introduced to Hawaii in the early 19th century. The fruit quickly naturalized and became a prominent part of the Hawaiian diet. Today, Hawaii is known for its delicious pink-fleshed guavas, and guava-based products such as jams and juices are popular exports (Shigeura & Bullock, 1983). Guava has been recognized for its nutritional and medicinal properties since ancient times. It is a rich source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and various essential nutrients. Traditional medicine in many cultures used guava leaves, fruit, and roots for treating ailments such as diarrhea, dysentery, and respiratory issues. Guava fruit and trees have also found their way into ancient literature and folklore. In some Indian epics and poems, the guava tree is celebrated for its lush greenery and sweet fruits, symbolizing prosperity and abundance (Reguengo et al., 2022).

2.1 Relatives of Guava
The Psidium guajava complex is a group of closely related species that share certain characteristics, making them distinct from other species in the genus. These characteristics include venation pattern, seed number and size, indumentum pattern, and calyx structure. The complex consists of several species, including Psidium guajava, P. guineense, P. guyanense, P. nutans, P. rostratum, and P. rutidocarpum. Their distribution ranges from Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay, including the Antilles. A molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that P. guajava and P. guineense are sister taxa, but the relationships with the other species are not clear due to insufficient representation in the analysis. Psidium guajava and P. rutidocarpum share a unique characteristic of leaves with numerous lateral veins, which is not found in other Psidium species. While P. guajava is a widespread weedy species, P. rutidocarpum is found in a more limited range in natural habitats in the upper Amazon of Peru. Psidium guineense, P. guyanense, and P. nutans are very similar to each other and could be considered as one large variable species, but they can be distinguished using specific characters described in a key proposed by Landrum in 2021. Psidium rostratum is geographically separated from other members of the P. guajava complex. It shares certain characteristics, such as flower size, closed calyx, and placenta, with other species in the complex but differs in having fewer ovules and larger seeds. Its venation is similar to that of P. guineense, which is why it is tentatively assigned to this complex (Gangappa et al., 2022).

Guava is a fast growing evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow to a height of 3-10 m. It has a shallow root system. Guava produces low drooping branches from the base and suckers from the roots. The trunk is slender, 20 cm in diameter, covered with a smooth green to red brown bark that peels off in thin flakes. Young twigs are pubescent. The leaves grow in pairs, opposite each other. The leaf blade is elliptic to oblong in shape, 5-15 cm long x 3-7 cm broad, finely pubescent and veined on the lower face, glabrous on the upper face. The flowers are white in colour, about 3 cm in diameter, solitary or in 2-3 flower clusters borne at the axils of newly emerging lateral shots. The fruit is a fleshy, pyriform or ovoid berry that can weigh up to 500 g. The skin colour is yellowish to orange. The flesh can be white, yellow, pink or red, sour to sweet, juicy and aromatic. The fruit contains a variable number of seeds (about 3-5 mm long) and its mesocarp is characterized by the presence of small (0.1 mm) and hard fibrous structures called stone cells (sclereids), which may cause damage to processing machinery (Toma & Luchian, 2019).
3.1 Reproductive Biology and Pollination
Research on breeding systems in Psidium focuses primarily on P. guajava, which is an allogamous species characterized by an open pollination reproductive cycle. Nevertheless, self-pollination can occur. Bee-pollination, in which pollen is the sole reward, is the dominant pollination system in Psidium. Species of the superfamily Apoidea are important pollinators of both P. guajava and P. guineense. Both species are also pollinated by the European honeybee, Apis mellifera. Psidium guyanense, P. nutans, P. rostratum, and P. rutidocarpum lack comprehensive studies of their breeding systems, pollination, and dispersal (Sarkar & Sarkar, 2022).

Guava is a highly nutritious fruit with an impressive array of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. It’s nutritional profile makes it an excellent choice for maintaining a healthy diet. The high vitamin C content, in particular, contributes to its antioxidant properties, which can help boost the immune system and protect against various diseases. The fiber content aids digestion and promotes gastrointestinal health. Incorporating guava into your regular diet can be a flavorful and nutritious way to stay healthy. The Indian population adores the tropical delicacy known as guava (Psidium guajava). It thrives in both commercial and wild orchards throughout subtropical and tropical countries, and it comes in a wide variety of sizes, colours, and forms (i.e pomiforms and pyriforms). Guava is valued for its notable therapeutic properties in addition to its delicious taste. It has shown that both the fruit itself and guava leaf extracts have anti-carcinogenic properties. As a result, it has established itself as a strong rival in the world of anti-cancer fruits. In the field of cancer treatment, diet plays a crucial part in improving the wellbeing of patients receiving chemotherapy while also reducing the risk of cancer development. This remarkable plant has been embraced for its multifaceted attributes, including its antimicrobial, emmenagogue, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antispasmodic, and gastrointestinal advantages (Jiménez-Escrig et al., 2001).
In India, guava leaves have a special place in the world of Ayurveda. These leaves are useful for treating a range of medical disorders, including as toothaches, rheumatic diseases, digestive problems, skin wounds, and specific microbiological infections. Guava is used for its ability to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and influenza infections throughout Southeast Asian countries. The leaves of this plant are used in Malaysia to treat diarrhoea, relieve stomach aches, and aid in placenta discharge after childbirth. Guava is used as an antibacterial, anti-diarrheal, and anti-diabetic agent in China (Daswani et al., 2017).

Guava, Psidium guajava L., belongs to the family Myrtaceae, which comprises 3,000 species under 80 genera. It is well-distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, especially in South America, Asia and Australia. The genus Psidium has about 150 shrubs and P. guajava is wellknown and grown worldwide. The flower of guava is self-pollinated; cross pollination, however, is estimated to be around 35% and pollination mainly carried-out of by bees and other insects. Therefore, seed multiplication will result in genetic heterogeneity that can be observed in orchards and plants in the same orchard. Therefore, seed propagation in commercial orchards to increase productivity is not recommended. The methods of vegetative propagation have been studied for the purpose of the production chain. In addition to the propagation structure, the costs of new technologies must also be taken into account.
Progress in guava propagation has taken place in the last 100 years. It is important to know how to use the same methods of graftings and cutting. Detection of growth regulators, information on role of the juvenile stage in reproduction, advances in knowledge of chimeras, micro-propagation and application of vegetative propagation to prevent diseases caused by viruses and other pathogens. One can propagate guava by buddings, air layering, stoolings and inarching are not yet commercially feasible due to different success rates, the lack of a tap root system and burdensome processes. The purpose of this review is to discuss the diverse methods of propagating guava which are used commercially and the advancement made in recently.

Crop regulation in guava, flowering is more in summer season (Ambe bahar) due to the break of winter stress that leads to more fruit production in rainy season. But, in this season due to high temperature and rainfall during fruit maturation, the duration of maturation is reduced to 30 days that causes glut in the market, whereas winter season crop (Mrigbahar) is superior in quality which fetches comparatively higher price. Although, the production is surplus in rainy season (Rathore and Singh, 1974 and Singh et al., 2000), it offers poor quality due to insipid in taste and infestation of pest (Rawal and Ullasa, 1988) in comparison to winter season. On the contrary, in winter season quality fruits are produced with good quality and fetch high monetary returns (Singh et al., 2000). Guava fruit harvest peaks can deviate with prevailing weather conditions and cultural practices because flowers are produced on new growth. So, it is advisable to take only winter season crop every year. This requires crop regulation to obtain the most desirable crop, by the methods like withholding irrigation, thinning of flowers by chemically or manually, pruning, bending, root exposure, etc. The basic principle of crop regulation is to manipulates the natural flowering and fruiting of guava plant in desired season of the year that contribute to increased fruit yield, quality, profitability and sustainability of the environment by reducing the use of the frequency of the pesticides (Mahadevan and Kumar, 2014). The selection of bahar at a 

7.1 Introduction
A nursery is a place where plants are cultivated and grown until they reach a usable size. Nursery management has evolved into a commercial venture, with different types of nurseries including retail, wholesale, and private nurseries. Retail nurseries sell planting materials to the general public, while wholesale nurseries supply other nurseries and commercial landscape gardeners. Private nurseries cater to the needs of specific institutions or organizations. Since many horticultural crops are propagated in nurseries, the production of quality planting materials is vital, especially for orchardists whose success largely depends on the quality of these materials, as most fruit crops are perennial. To be a successful grower, it is crucial to consider several factors, including soil and climatic conditions, location, water availability, financial support, labor availability, marketing facilities, demand, and transportation systems. However, the production of quality planting materials plays a pivotal role in determining the success of horticultural ventures, as planting materials form the foundation of the orchard (Chadha, 2001; Singh & Negi, 2010).
7.2 Demand for Seedlings and Seeds in India
The availability of quality planting materials is one of the most important factors in the development of a sound horticulture sector. In India, there is an immense demand for quality seedlings and seeds at lower costs, offering scope for large-scale planting. The demand for quality planting materials exists across the country, as these materials contribute to sustainable fruit production systems (Swaminathan, 2007).
7.3 Seedling Supply Chain
The primary suppliers of perennial tree seedlings are departmental/ government and industrial nurseries, which produce seedlings and vegetative propagules for their own needs, as well as for public distribution to meet raw material demands. Farmers primarily produce vegetable and ornamental seedlings, benefiting from the availability of improved seeds and the low input requirements. The price of ornamental seedlings depends on factors such as 

Fruit crop productivity is greatly impacted by rootstocks in a number of areas, including canopy structure, fruit quality, yield, blooming, and nutritional absorption. Furthermore, they are an essential line of defence against biotic and abiotic stressors such salt, heat stress, soil pathogens, and nutritional imbalances. Because there is a shortage of arable land and a growing market for fruit crops, production frequently takes place in unfavourable environments with high temperatures, little precipitation, floods, salt, and exposure to organic contaminants. The strategic use of appropriate rootstocks is crucial to reducing output losses under these conditions because they can lessen the effect of outside pressures on the scion (Bhandari & Bhattacharya, 2019) Rootstocks are essential to orchard management because they provide anchoring and facilitate the uptake of water and minerals. They also affect the growth of the trees, and they help create “three-piece” trees when they are employed as interstems, placed between the scion and the rootstock during propagation. Interstems assist regulate excessive vigour in desirable rootstocks and handle compatibility difficulties between stock and scion (Singh & Kumar, 2021).
Soils that are too dry or too moist can be made tolerable by rootstocks. The potential of rootstocks in commercial fruit crops has not yet been completely utilised in India, despite substantial research internationally on the discovery and use of appropriate rootstocks in crops including apple, pear, citrus, mango, and grapes. Therefore, the crucial next step involves identifying rootstocks with optimal characteristics tailored to specific environmental conditions, acknowledging that the best rootstock for one variety and set of conditions may not be suitable for another (Sahu & Patra, 2018).
Presently seedlings from open-pollinated seeds are used to propagate guava instead of homogenous clonal rootstocks. It was determined that many rootstocks, such as P. cattleianum, P. guinesee, P. molle, and Philippine guava, were appropriate. Plants using P. cattleianum rootstock had the best yield and the tallest trees. P. pumilum produced fruits with the largest total sugar content, total soluble solids (TSS), and quantity of seeds possible, exhibiting a dwarfing effect. Despite having uneven and rough skin, P. cujavillis rootstock produced

Guava planting has historically followed a 5 m × 5 m or 6 m x 6 m spacing, providing 278 to 400 plants per hectare in a square planting pattern. Growth, productivity, fruit quality, and leaf nutritional content are just a few of the management characteristics of guava orchards that are greatly impacted by this traditional spacing method. CISH, Lucknow, has recently launched a novel meadow orchard system that comprises growing guava at a greater density of 5000 plants per hectare with a spacing of 2.0 x 1.0 metres. Regular topping and hedging techniques are used in this innovative approach, especially in the early phases of orchard development. Techniques for topping and hedging are essential for regulating tree size and increasing fruit supply. By using strategic management techniques to maximise tree size and fruit output, this meadow orchard system offers a more intense approach to guava cultivation than standard planting methods. It also provides improved plant density. This method’s introduction is a reflection of continuous attempts to improve guava growing methods and adjust to changing agricultural practises.
9.1 Low Density Planting
When planting guava, low-density planting differs from traditional or higher-density planting in that the guava plants are spaced widely apart and accommodates about 100-250 plants/ha. According to several studies, this strategy has a number of benefits that are essential for the best possible orchard management and acquires commercial production potential after 7-10 years of planting. According to Singh and Yadav (2014), guava trees are typically planted with a spacing of 6 to 8 metres between rows and 3 to 5 metres between trees within a row in low-density plantings. This spacing and planting density encourages a more open and well-ventilated orchard layout. (Singh & Yadav, 2014). The advantages of low-density planting are numerous, as Paramesha and Ravishankar (2013) have shown. Better fruit quality is the outcome of increased photosynthesis fostered by improved light penetration. Furthermore, the improved air circulation lowers the risk of illness, giving guava trees a better habitat. Additionally, less rivalry among trees promotes greater water and nutrient absorption, which increases tree vigour and productivity overall

The tropical fruit guava is prone to a number of diseases, pests, and disorders. Aphids, fruit flies, and scale insects are common pests; on the other hand, pathogens, such as bacteria and fungus, can cause illnesses like wilt and anthracnose. Deficiencies in some nutrients can occur and have an impact on the general health of plants. For effective control, integrated pest management must be put into practise along with routine inspections and prompt treatments. Maintaining a healthy guava crop involves disease-resistant cultivars, balanced fertilisation, and good orchard cleanliness. A vigorous guava crop is ensured by minimising the influence of diseases disorders, and pests via vigilant and preventative methods.
10.1 Weed control
Weeds should be kept under control throughout the year because fruit harvesting is done throughout the year, for the easy mobility of labour. For this purpose, spray Gramoxone @ 6ml/litre of water during March, July and September. To control perennial weeds in March, spray may be done with Round up (Glyphosate) @ 10 ml/litre. Spray of these weedicides should be carried out on a calm day to avoid the damage to guava foliage.
10.2 Insect pests
10.2.1 Fruit fly
Fruit fly, the serious threat to guava production particularly during rainy season, lays eggs singly in ripened fruits just below the epicarp which eventually results in appearance of minute depression with dark punctures. Maggots after hatching feed on pulp and make fruit unfit for consumption. They pupate in soil and takes about 12 to 18 days to complete its life cycle during July- August (main season).

The fundamental idea behind integrated nutrient management, or INM, is to optimize plant nutrient supply in order to maintain the targeted crop yield. It entails using chemical fertilizers, organic manure, and biofertilizers in the right amounts according to the land use system and the environmental, social, and economic circumstances. Vermicomposting is a natural fertilizer that is devoid of chemicals and made from organic wastes that decompose. It is an environmentally benign process. Beneficial microflora, including those that fix nitrogen, dissolve phosphorus, and break down cellulose, are abundant in vermicompost. In addition to having earthworm cocoons, which boost the number and activity of earthworms in the soil, it also has important vitamins, enzymes, and hormones like auxin and gibberellins, which improve the soil’s structure, texture, aeration, and ability to hold water while preventing soil erosion. Additionally, because of its high organic matter content, it increases the soil’s capacity to retain water, improves the macro- and micronutrient quality of the soil, and encourages greater root development and nutrient absorption. Porosity, aeration, drainage, and water-holding capacity are all extremely high in vermicompost (Sinha, 2009). Profile of Nutrients in Vermicompost: C:N ratio of 15.5. N = 1.6%, P = 0.7%, K = 0.8%, Ca = 0.5%, Mg = 0.2%, Fe 175.0 ppm, Mn 96.5 ppm, Zn 24.5 ppm, Cu 5.0 ppm, T = 0.5%. Biofertilizers are substances that include living microbes that, when added to soil, colonize the plant’s interior, or rhizosphere, and increase the host plant’s availability or supply of primary nutrients, so promoting growth. Biofertilizers provide soil with nutrients by utilizing the body’s natural mechanisms of fixing nitrogen, phosphorus solubilization, and growth-promoting material production. It can symbiotically link with plant roots because it is a living entity. Complex organic material could be simply and safely converted into a simple chemical by the involved microorganisms, making it easier for plants to absorb them. Long-term microorganism function leads to an increase in soil fertility. It preserves the soil’s natural habitat. In addition to increasing plant development, it substitutes artificial nitrogen and phosphate by 25% and enhances crop output by 20% to 30%. According to Hazarika and Ansari (2007), biofertilizers have the capacity to fix 20–200 kg N/ha/year, solubilize

12.1 Introduction
Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is an important tropical and subtropical fruit crop, valued for its high nutritive content, processing potential, and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. In recent years, there has been a growing shift from conventional chemical-intensive farming towards eco-friendly and sustainable production systems. Organic farming in guava has gained importance due to its ability to enhance soil fertility, improve fruit quality, and reduce environmental degradation. The integrated use of organic manures, biofertilizers, and reduced chemical fertilizers has been shown to optimize yield while maintaining ecological balance.
12.2 Role of Organic Manures
Farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, poultry manure, and neem cake are commonly used organic amendments in guava cultivation. These materials improve soil physical properties, enhance microbial activity, and release nutrients gradually. Muhammad et al. (2000) reported that a combined application of FYM with NPK fertilizers significantly increased fruit size, weight, and total yield in guava. Similarly, Ebrahiem and Mohamed (2000) observed that FYM application in ‘Balady’ mandarin improved fruit set and yield, demonstrating the broad utility of organic amendments across citrus crops.