eChapters

The Tea mosquito bug : Helopeltis antonii : Miridae

The host range of this bug also includes tea, neem, moringa and guava. The attack can cause inflorescence blight, terminal drying of young shoots and heavy yield loss. The adult is a reddish brown bug with black head, red thorax, and black and white abdomen. The easiest identifying character for this pest is a pin like process on the scutellum mid dorsally on the thorax. It is reddish brown, erect and knobbed, and would seem as a pin inserted into the scutellum.

Sweet potato weevil: Cylas formicarius: Apionidae

It is a specific pest of sweet potato and the most important one. Adult weevils are ant-like, slender bodied having elongated snout-like bluish-brown head with geniculate antenna, bright red thorax and leg tips and bluish-brown elytra. Females make small cavities on the tubers or stems and lay eggs singly. Each female lays 180-200 eggs. Grubs are elongate, legless, pale-yellowish white in colour with smaller brown head. Pupation takes place in larval tunnels in the tuber. Incubation, grub and pupal stages last for 5 to 8, 14 to 17 and 4 to 5 days respectively. Life cycle is completed in 4-5 weeks and adults live for 95-110 days. The grubs bore into stems, tunnel inside and feed on soft tissues. Grubs and adults bore into tubers both in field and storage godowns. Affected tubers develop dark patches, which later start rotting. Feeding holes and adult emergence holes can be seen on vines and tubers.  In severe infestation the collar region of the plants shows unusual thickening due to proliferation and hypertrophy of tissues causing a characteristic terpenoid odour.  Even the slightly damaged tubers are unsuitable for cooking and consumption.  Hence yield loss in practice may come to 100% in many cases.

Amaranthus stem weevil: Hypolixus truncatulus :Curculionidae
 
It is an important pest of amaranthus and is widely distributed in India. It attacks both wild and cultivated amaranthus, especially the leafy varieties with large leaves. Hence, management involves destruction of unwanted, weedy wild amaranthus plants, to reduce the breeding place for the weevil. Adults are ash-grey in colour, with elbowed antennae and brown elytra. Females lay eggs singly in holes made on the stem, branches, petioles or midribs. Eggs are smooth, oval and pale yellow in colour. Incubation period is 3 to 8 days.

Analysis of materials or samples is essential to understand their nature and quality. In recent years it has become mandatory to display the composition of food as well as non-food items. This is because of the need for their safety from the point of view of their day to day use. Environmental awareness has further imposed many restrictions on items of wide ranging nature. Analytical information gained from a laboratory is highly useful in knowing the qualitative and quantitative composition of the material.

The mass spectrometry (MS) is not very well suited to the analysis of mixtures of similar substances because of the multiplicity of fragment ions. The gas chromatography (GC), of course,  has no ability to identify compounds on its own. The GC/MS can easily overcome these defects and can identify the components (fractionated by GC). The combined instrument of GC/MS is an unexcelled instrument that can identify the compounds after their  fractionation.

The GC-MS is composed of two major building blocks: the gas chromatograph and the mass spectrometer. The gas chromatograph utilizes a capillary column which depends on the column’s dimensions as well as the stationary phase properties. The difference in the chemical properties between different molecules in a mixture and their relative affinity for the stationary phase of the column will promote separation of the molecules as the sample travels the length of the column. The molecules are retained by the column and then elute (come off) from the column at different times and this allows the mass spectrometer downstream to capture, ionize, accelerate, deflect, and detect the ionized molecules separately.

Spectrophotometry measures how much a chemical substance absorbs light by measuring the intensity of light as a beam of light passes through the sample solution. Chemical compounds normally absorb or transmit light over a certain range of wavelength. Hence spectrophotometry is used to measure the amount of a known chemical substance. It is one of the most useful methods of quantitative analysis in the laboratory and is widely used.

A  colorimeter or spectrophotometer is an instrument that measures the amount of photons (the intensity of light) absorbed after it passes through the sample solution. With the spectrophotometer, the amount of a known chemical substance (concentrations) can also be determined by measuring the intensity of light detected. Depending on the range of wavelength of light source, it can be classified into two different types, namely,1) UV-visible spectrophotometer which uses light over the ultraviolet range (185-400nm) and visible range (400-700nm) of electromagnetic radiation spectrum and 2) IR spectrophotometer which  uses light over the infrared range (700-15000nm) of electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a  useful  technique which produces spectra of the masses of the atoms or molecules in a sample.  The spectra are used to determine the elemental or isotopic   details  of a sample. The masses of particles and of molecules, are used to elucidate the chemical structures of molecules, such as peptides and other chemical compounds. Mass spectrometry works by ionizing chemical compounds to generate charged molecules and measuring their mass-to-charge ratios.

A sample, which may be solid, liquid, or gas, is ionized, by bombarding with electrons. This may cause some of the sample’s molecules to break into charged fragments. These ions are then separated according to their mass-to-charge ratio, typically by accelerating them and subjecting them to an electric or magnetic field. Ions of the same mass-to-charge ratio will undergo the same amount of deflection. The ions are detected by a mechanism capable of detecting charged particles, such as an electron multiplier. Results are displayed as spectra of the relative abundance of detected ions as a function of the mass-to-charge ratio. The atoms or molecules in the sample can be identified by correlating known masses to the identified masses or through a characteristic fragmentation pattern.

Alkaloids are of plant origin and are alkaline in reaction. They contain N as part of a hetercyclic ring. They exhibit pharmacological activity. Presently more than 2000 alkaloids are known. They have a lot of uses in medicine and as  flavoring agents, psychoactive agents, pain killers and as pesticides.

5.1 Seed back up programs

In hybrid breeding program, testing of new hybrid combinations is a continuous process and in most cases, the availability of crossed (hybrid) seed for their annual evaluation of selected hybrids is an important issue. Since, the selection of hybrids for advancement is based on yield data, one year will be required to produce seed for testing in the subsequent season. This means for each cycle of advancement, one valuable season will be consumed in their seed production. To avoid this situation and enhance the testing program at a fast pace, an aggressive hybrid seed production program should be followed. This can be achieved by visually selecting relatively more number of hybrids based on their flowering time, plant vigor, disease resistance, and early pod load about 4-5 weeks before harvesting. During this period, the new seed of the selected hybrids can be produced manually. This operation is facilitated by the perennial nature of pigeonpea plant, which can flower for extended periods of 40-50 days; that allows completion of desired number of pollinations of the target crosses in the same cropping season. One trained person can pollinate about 300 buds in 6-7 hours; and with 20% success, about 150 seeds can be produced. Experience has shown that, with good planning and crop management, this program can be achieved with ease.

Introduction

This section of the manual contains instructions for preparing stock solutions that are commonly used in laboratory protocols for the analysis of DNA, RNA and proteins and visualization of gene or protein expression. Each of these stock solutions is provided as either the most convenient concentration or the most frequently used stock concentrations to be used in the protocols of an individual laboratory.

All chemicals must be reagent grade or molecular biology grade, and the water used in the preparation of all solutions must be the highest quality available. Use sterile-glass distilled deionised water whenever possible. Unless otherwise stated, most solutions required sterilization either by filtration or autoclaving.

Introduction

In order to use a fine quality of DNA for various molecular biological work like sequencing, cDNA synthesis and cloning, RNA transcription, transfection, nucleic acid labeling (random primer labeling), etc., quality and quantity of DNA is extremely important to have the defined template concentration. Failure to produce results from the above techniques can sometimes be attributed to an incorrect estimate of the DNA template used.

ABSTRACT

This paper is an attempt to draw the attention of readers of this volume to understand the importance of documentation and preservation of earth’s resources.  

Introduction

Earth has innumerable treasures that were and are being exploited by mankind. Geo-resources in the form of minerals, non-renewable hydrocarbons, paleontologic relics and related evidences indicate earth’s evolutionary history. Continuum of biological activity albeit varying rates of proliferation had resulted in accumulation of natural resources embedded in Earth and distributed at specific geographical niches. Biological perspective of earth history is significant in unraveling bio-geo-sphere interactions through geological time. Fossil records of invertebrates, vertebrates and plants are signals of major changes in earth’s evolutionary history. These constitute unparalleled windows to understand continental separation. Intercontinental and intra continental migration of living forms are also traced through fossil study.

If you are inclined to make research as a career, the first question is why are you interested in research or making it as a career in your life -whether for money or to pass a cozy life in a government institute or to get fame or to solve some scientific problems - related to cosmos, Agriculture, animals, human health, search some medicinal plants or you have great passion for science and impressed with its power to find solutions for many universal problems ? Or it is un-employment, now rampant in every field, which is deriving you to join higher degrees and research. Many times, this unemployment or no vacancies in due time leads the young persons to continue their post graduation or joining doctorate program with the hope that some vacancy will arise in the ensuing period or a suitable job may fall after or prior getting a Ph.D. degree.

Whenever a person acquires desired qualifications, he needs a forum to express his talents and a place where he can fulfill his dreams and make important attainments. This may be achieved by two ways. One is, he becomes an entrepreneur and plans his own organization. As we are discussing biological research, there are good opportunities to start a Pharmaceutical firm to produce a drug, or a biotechnology firm to produce some biochemical molecule, enzymes, bio-fertilizers, vaccines against important human/animal/poultry diseases or a firm to supply diagnostic kits or immunological products etc. These are not hypothetical suggestions, difficult to achieve by a middle class person, but part of reality achieved by middle class family in India with laurels in their field of work. We may cite examples of firms like Dr Reddy Laboratory (Dr K.A Reddy), Biocon India (Ms Majumdar), Venky (poultry vaccines etc), Biorad (Bangalore based biochemical molecules supplier) who are working in India and leading their respective field. All this have been possible with tremendous change that has occurred in Indian scenario where there are many venture capitalists (or PE firms) who are willing to invest any amount of money provided they like your new idea of establishing a new enterprise. A somewhat more detailed information, in this regards, is provided elsewhere (see Research for money-chapter 13). Here I have not mentioned to pursue a Dairy or Poultry farm as these are not parts of research activities but related to animal production and any other person may also enter in such commercial activities.

It will be unjust not to describe history of Parasitology (31) and a little bit about Parasitology (chapter 8) so that our students may know the earlier works done in this field and how research has advanced by diligent observations of the eminent scientists when they were not having such sophisticated facilities.

As helminth is visible with naked eyes, it was this parasite which man encountered first in its journey of life sciences or natural sciences,as was known in ancient times. Some of these were known even before the era of biblical Palestine and ancient Egyptian civilization. Hippocrates (460-357BC), ‘Father of Medicine’ knew about pinworms (Oxyuris equi) of horses. In his “History of Animalium”, Aristotle (384-322 BC)(32) has mentioned three kinds of helminthes-flatworms, cylindrical worms (Ascaris lumbricoides) and thinworms (Enterobius vermicularis). The treatises of India had the information on large roundworms of intestine (Ascaris), pinworms, leeches, bed bugs and mosquitoes.

If you have prepared yourself to make research as your career, it is most advantageous to read research papers/reviews/chapters/books published by the eminent scientists. It is not necessary to confine reading to your subject but a voracious reading will enable you to develop an idea about general problems related to science and our society; how scientists managed to solve them and with development of new knowledge, how you may tackle fresh or existing problems. A deep analysis may be done of those works which are so accurate that even after lapse of so many years, they still hold true. In our opinion, it is better to launch websites/blogs highlighting important works of eminent Parasitologists for the benefit of our research scholars; a beginning, in India in Parasitology, has been made in this direction with launch of a website on first time Rafi Ahmed Kidwai award winner (in Animal Sciences) late Dr SC Dutt (www.drscdutt.com). 

One prime fact in research is not to take the matter for granted and do not believe in status quo. This is most critical mindset for creating something new. Even change may be made in existing circumstances with minimum requirements. Here, I may cite my experience while starting research in 1976 for my doctorate program on immunity against schistosomiasis. The experimental model was albino mouse where schistosomes, by their nature, develop into blood vascular system of the host hence require a special technique called “Perfusion technique” for retrieval of mature and immature schistosomes. This ‘perfusion technique’ requires use of a “Peristaltic pump” and was followed in some western countries (2). However, No body in India followed this perfusion technique hence recovered schistosomes from mouse or from any other host species by teasing the blood vessels or/and cutting and soaking liver,spleen, kidney, lung pieces in normal saline.

After planning research problem, the next step is to start real research work. Indeed, it is said that planning of a research work is only 20% of work done while conducting the experiments is 80% to be done and is more laborious, requiring extended time and patience of the scientist. While conducting your research work,it is essential to record each and every observation of your work. These observations will be of two types. One is the subjective observations which are difficult to quantify. For example, if you are recording clinical parameters of a disease,you may record pulse, temperature, respiration in arithmetic form but clinical symptoms are subjective and require a description of the patient rather than filling tabular sheet. In describing morphology of a parasite both parameters are needed ; you will describe morphology of the parasite and will also mention measurements of different parts of the parasite. Likewise, you may like to describe weather conditions or behavior of animals, vectors at certain stage of disease while you have to mention figures in many cases. Thus your observations are clearly divided in two categories – one is subjective observation and other is recording arithmetic values.

What so ever work you have done, it will not be recognized in the scientific world unless you publish it hence publishing the search work is of prime importance for a scientist. As it provides you recognition, you must pay greatest attention on quality of your research work which depends on the keenness of your observations. It is must to confirm and re-confirm your observations prior publishing them as once they are published, it will come in public domain with nothing you can do (except of publishing another paper to refute your earlier finding). As publishing the observations will form opinion about your scientific integrity and knowledge among the peers, the paper, if not cared and contained silly technical mistakes, will reflect ignorance of the workers on the subject.

It is a must for the research scholars to attend scientific conferences of the Parasitology associations, after being members. It is advisable to become life-members of all three Parasitology associations, in India i.e. Indian Society of Parasitology, Lucknow, Indian Association for Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology, IVRI, Izatnagar and Indian Academy of Tropical Parasitology, JIPMER, Pondicherry. The annual conferences expose better chances to interlink with Parasitologists of the country and at times foreign scientists.

Till twentieth century information technology was restricted to European and American countries but entering in twenty first century witnessed passage of this technology with a vast speed in all other countries making a spectrum of changes in communication and transmission of knowledge that has altogether changed scenario of whole world. Earlier communication to international scientists was costly, time consuming while now its only a click away. So is of transmitting reprints of research papers – earlier they were dispatched by mail, now these reprints and other matters are available in soft copy and are attached with e-mail that is transmitted instantly.

Nanotechnology offers unique opportunities for the development of novel materials and applications. It is set to offer a platform to revolutionize agriculture sector from production, protection, processing and storage (Kuzma and Verhage, 2006). Bulk of nanomaterials produced is used in other sectors; only ten per cent is of use in food, beverages and packaging sector. Studies have projected the opportunities that nanotechnologies might bring to developing countries in the fields of water, energy, food and agriculture and health (Salamanca- Buentello et al., 2005) The key contributions due to application of nanotechnology in agriculture are delivery systems that aid in slow release and efficient delivery of agroinputs.

In recent years application of nanotechnology in various fields including agriculture has received increased attention. Nanotechnology offers an important role in improving the existing crop management techniques especially in plant disease management by controlled and targeted release of agrochemicals to enhance their efficiency. The nano-based delivery systems are beneficial because of improvement in efficacy due to their higher surface area, higher solubility, induction of systemic activity, higher mobility and lower toxicity (Sasson et al., 2007). The pharmacokinetic parameters of nano particles may be altered according to size, shape and surface functionalization. They can also be used to alter the kinetic profiles of drug release leading to more sustained release of drug there by reducing the frequent application (Sharon et al., 2010). The successful use of metal nanoparticles in medical streams as antimicrobial agents has also led to their applications in controlling phyto pathogens (Nair et al., 2010).

Introduction

Crops diseases are caused by bacteria, virus, fungi and phytoplasmas. The detection of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in plants, planting material, vectors or natural reservoirs is essential to ensure safe and sustainable agriculture. The molecular based techniques, have evolved significantly during recent past that  allows the rapid and reliable detection of pathogens. The detection and diagnosis of plant pathogens is essential to take control measures and subsequently for eradication of the disease that causes.  Molecular detection is largely based on PCR or RT-PCR amplification following purification of nucleic acids from the samples, with the extraction of the target DNA.

Quite a large number of vegetable crops are grown in the country either on a commercial scale or limited to backyards of homesteads.  A few crops have similarity while others have dissimilarity in their climatic and soil requirements, parts used, method of cultivation etc. While describing individual vegetables, there is possibility of repetition in many aspects. In order to avoid repetition, it is essential to classify or group them into different classes/groups. Different methods of classification followed in vegetables are described below: 

Foliage or house plants are mostly those with attractive foliages or flowers and are able to survive and grow under indoor conditions. They are mostly used for interior decoration or interior plantscaping. Foliage plants of world’s importance include Aglaonema, Dieffenbachia, Dracena, Epidendrum, Ficus, Peperomia, Philodendron, Sansevieria, Syngonium, Schfflera, ferns, Anthurium, Codiaeum. Florida shares more than 55% in foliage industry.

ABSTRACT

The family farm exists as one of the most important factors in food production in India. Rural areas in the country are home to 73 per cent of India’s population, most of whom rely upon agriculture for their livelihood. Whole families run the farms and, because of the rural location, are less educated than their urban countrymen. Youth are increasingly losing interest in agriculture and migrate to urban areas in search for job opportunities in other sectors, yet in some countries opposite trends were observed recently. Access to adequate productive resources, goods and services, and job opportunities would convince youth to stay closer to the family farm. Access to education would be essential for youth to be able and willing to stay in rural areas and engage in agriculture. Young Farmers’ Organizations can effectively represent the needs and interest of rural/agricultural youth in policy making processes. Women are the backbone of family farming. They play multiple roles, undertaking both productive and reproductive activities in agricultural/rural households. Women’s large contribution of work in family farms is not recognized, in terms of income earned and access to productive resources and assets. Families in agriculture have multiple vulnerabilities. Both women and men need adequate access to productive resources to make rural societies more resilient. If women get equal access to resources, they could improve their yields which would reduce food insecurity of agricultural/rural households. Government should develop policies, programs and projects that target specifically young farmers and provide them with privileged access to land, credit and technical knowledge. Improve educational instruments and support alternative models for knowledge transfer in rural areas, e.g: agroecological education in local schools. Youth should actively participate in farmers’ organizations in order to let their voice heard and better access agricultural resources - including credit and finance. Young farmers should pay special attention to the conservation of natural resources. Governments should invest in young farmers for tomorrow’s food security.

ABSTRACT

Agriculture is an important sector of Indian economy that contributes about 17% to the total GDP and provides employment to over 60% of the population. But, the villages are becoming poorer and poorer and only older generations are left there to do the agricultural operations. During the past two years, cost of food items like grains, pulses, oil and vegetables are increasing, month after month. Family farming is the best approach to produce agricultural products economically, utilizing locally available resources and crop residues and manpower very efficiently and sustainably. Family farming is a way of life” - there are unique advantages - the security of access and control over resources, meeting multiple needs of the family – food and income, the relationships with nature, the bonding with the past, present and future; ensuring freedom from external exploitation as well as freedom to do your own way. Family farms as multipurpose enterprises have been serving as buffers in times of disasters, as glue of social bonding, often functioning as a ’value web’ between farming families and communities. The United Nations defines youth as young men and women from age 15 to 24. The present situation of rural youth in developing countries can generally be characterized by illiteracy, lack of educational and training opportunities, unemployment, under-employment and the flight of large numbers of rural youth to the cities. There are serious challenges too – stifling and non supportive policy environment, lack of extension system to handle the farmer’s distinct needs and capacities, and lastly ‘converting’ family farms to be ‘business like’ models. However, successful pilots can become big impact programmes, for instance, as in Andhra Pradesh, through NGO-GO collaboration. Hence, rural youth need to be prepared in: (a) improving their capabilities to produce food and to conserve productive resources in the rural environment, (b) improving skills and abilities in undertaking income-generating activities in rural areas, (c) relieving population pressure and improving nutrition and the well-being of farming families and (d) developing leadership and the ability to work well with others in group and community situations.

INTRODUCTION

It is becoming obvious that the interest of youth in agriculture is declining and this trend is likely to continue if we do not look into this seriously. A large number of young people are migrating to urban centers in the hope of getting employment and for a better life. This is due to lack of jobs and opportunities in rural areas, and a view that working in farming is low status and does not offer good future prospects. Young people play an important role and are required in the agriculture sector. But education or training programs are not always readily available, technologies are not accessible, inputs may be scarce, and other vital services are not accessible. Young people now-a-days are becoming less connected with their food, often making little or no association between the food they eat, who is behind it and it is produced. They may not see beyond the store or market, nor make the connection between the food they are eating and the efforts made by farmers to grow it. This growing disconnection with agriculture implies an uncertain future for sustainable food production to feed the growing population. It is important to make the link between food and agriculture visible. The important role young people play in farming needs to be understood as agriculture is sustainable if it can attract future generation farmers. In fact the young people are the future farmers. Efforts are required to discourage the overwhelming tendency of young people to move out of farming in search of a more comfortable life and better income. It is true that there are major challenges, farming is not an easy or a more glamorous option, but we should be exploring ways of doing agriculture in a sustainable and rewarding manner.

ABSTRACT

Engaging youth in agriculture has been a prominent topic recently and has risen up the development agenda, as there is growing concern worldwide and also in India that young people have become disenchanted with agriculture. Over 60 per cent of the world’s rural population is made of youth, with half of them being young women and girls. Due to their limited access to assets (in particular land), markets, finance and education and skills training, rural youth are often unemployed or work informally – often in unpaid, very low-skilled, insecure and sometimes hazardous jobs. If young people living in rural areas do not find enough incentives, profitable economic opportunities and attractive environments in which to live and work, they will continue to migrate to cities. This trend would not only contribute to the mega urbanization and growing urban unemployment that is already under way, but is expected to affect global food production: who will then feed the global population that is projected to reach 9.2 billion people by 2050. With most young people around 85% living in developing countries, where agriculture is likely to provide the main source of income it is vital that young people are connected with farming. Currently around the world we’re living in an era where rapid urbanisation has led to a decline in rural populations and for the first time ever the majority of the world’s population lives in a city.

ABSTRACT

Agriculture is backbone of our country, India is lives in its villages, these are all vibrant statements about our nation and our farming system but now the situation has been turned out in to urbanization in terms of migration.UN also announces this year (2014) as an international year of family farming in this context, the real status of FF in India is a biggest question mark. This means FF is not happening as expected even though Tamil Nadu is one of the familiar state across India for family farming but due to lack of youth involvement in agriculture, Family Farming is not happening in a full-fledged and unfortunate thing is it is even more decreased. If this situation persists over a period of time, the above said vibrant statements will become spiritless, hence the solutions for this problem is Indiais reverse migration and every home should have farmer. These are all possible, if the youth is attracted towards farming and adopt Family Farming System (FFS). The statistics says in Tamil Nadu, 13 percent of youth only involved in farming and the population according to the census 2011 is about 7.2 crore, which means meager youth were involved in farming. Although Tamilnadu is one of the fastest growing urban state yet more than half of the population lives in villages and noticeable fact is more than half of them are under the age of 30. So that youth isthe only and powerful source to make agriculture through Family Farming. We believe that if and only if agriculture becomes intellectually, economically viable and bounty which fetches rewards, the younger generation of Tamilnadu will be interested to take forth farming as profession and make Family farming as an attractive one. This paper will explain possible areas to attract youth in Farming and adopt Family Farming System.

ABSTRACT

The future of any country depends on how the youth are moulded. Employment is the key to economic and social development and providing youths with job opportunities is a major issue for all countries irrespective of their level of development. Villages have become a source of cheap labour for growing cities. Meanwhile, rural communities are deprived off the services of rural youth. Increasing pressure on land is compelling youth to get out of farming. In India, there are 639 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) located in every district and also known as the AKC (Agriculture Knowledge Centre). One of the mandate of KVKs is to impart vocational trainings to rural unemployed youth, landless laborer, school dropout boys and girls. The Hisar Districthas been divided into nine blocks and three sub divisions covering 274 villages, with average annual rainfall about 400 mm and the soil type issandy to sandy loam. Sh. Joginder Singh s/o Sh. Mahender Singh, 10+2 passed, 26 yrs. old youth was engaged in traditional cultivation of agricultural crops on his farm at village Saharwa (Hisar). In 2010, he came in contact with KVK, Hisar and got trainings from this centre. He was motivated to diversify his traditional system of agriculture with integrated farming system of vegetable production+ dairy farming+ horticulture+ boundary plantation of agro-forestry multipurpose tree species. With this diversified farming system, his income increased many folds i.e. Rs. 35000/acre to Rs. 4.40 lac/acre/year.

ABSTRACT

Women are vital human resources and play a significant role in agricultural and allied sectors undertaking both on-farm and off- farm activities. Yet their contribution has not been recognized and they are considered as invisible workers. Considering this, the present study has been conducted to analysis the constraints faced by farm women in agriculture and allied sectors. A total of 100 farm women were selected as respondents through proportionate random sampling. The selected respondents were interviewed personally using pre-tested well structured interview schedule. The finding showed that the major constraints that farm women faced were limited access to productive resources like land, credit, input, extension services, storage and technical assistance, their absence from decision-making process, less wages and their illiteracy also hindered their progress. Women perform all un-mechanized agricultural tasks and perform multiple tasks, which add more burden to them.

ABSTRACT

ICT innovations are bringing new information services to rural areas on which, farmers, as users, will have much greater control than ever over current information channels. A greater opportunity to access the services of ICT innovations is crucial requirement for the sustainable development of the farming system, which is the demand of the time. ICT when applied to the rural and agricultural conditions can improve the linkages between research and farmer sub-systems. The variety of new ICT tools for agriculture is impressive, but the tools need to be placed in an overall context of agricultural information and service needs. By looking at the critical information needs of agriculture and farming communities, the focus should be on applicable and relevant ICT tools for the specific purpose to serve the rural community without compromising with their individual applications towards understanding of their overall role in promoting productive, equitable, and sustainable agriculture. Extension workers well equipped with the ICT can prove more efficient in gathering, storage, retrieving, adaptation and dissemination of broad range of information needed by farmers, thus transforming them from extension workers into knowledge workers. Emergence of such knowledge workers will result in the realisation of the much talked about bottom-up, demand driven technology generation, assessment, refinement and transfer.

ABSTRACT

In 21^st century, the world has turned into a global village. This herculean task has been made possible with the advent of ICT tools. When we think of ICT, the most omnipresent tool that comes in our mind is mobile phones. With the increasing rate of mobile phone penetration in the urban as well as in rural areas, it is now possible to connect the farmers leaving in the far-flung areas with the institutes, who are working for the betterment of farming community. Today, mobile phones play a significant role in everybody’s life, besides being an efficient way to stay connected with the family; it also paves a way to bridge the gap between the availability and delivery of agricultural inputs and agricultural infrastructure. Mobile phones provide basic connectivity, mobility and security to owners, it works using the radio spectrum, so no need to rely on physical infrastructure, requires basic literacy only, also its services are available in local language; short message service (SMS), multi-media service (MMS) and voice communication are the added benefits. It allows transfer of data which can be used in the context of applications for the purpose of health, education, commerce and governance. Mobile phones are increasingly affordable due to factors like increased private sector competition and innovative payment methods. Due to high access, its reach, good adoption and real-time interaction mobile phones offer efficient solutions to governments’ communication challenges. Mobile phones helps the farmers in agriculture decision making, as they provide information related to crops, weather forecasting, seeds, fertilizers, bio-pesticides, soil fertility, pest and disease diagnosis, demand and supply of agricultural products, different schemes and technologies. Mobile based initiatives like SMS services related to weather forecast, disease forecast, and market information are issued to farmers by different organizations like IFFCO Kissan Sanchar Limited (IKSL) and Reuters Market Light (RML). Farmers can raise queries related to agriculture and allied sectors using their mobile phone to a farmer call centre which has been operating in every state of India. There are many such initiatives, which are working to provide valuable services, and also it provides opportunities to further explore the potentialities of mobile phones as a tool for transforming the farming scenario of India.

ABSTRACT

The role of community radio has been conceptualized as an important and powerful tool for informing, educating, entertaining and influencing the masses. Community Radio Station at KVK, Barh, Patna has brought about useful contributions to the farmers of surrounding villages and broadcasting different programmes related to agriculture, health, hygiene, nutrition and entertainment in the local language. Present study was carried out to see the impact of organic farming related talks. We found it a very effective tool to communicate with small and marginal farmers of surrounding villages for delivering useful information related with agriculture and organic farming.

Key words: Community radio, farmer, villages, organic farming information

ABSTRACT

Rural youth are the future of the agricultural sector in the country. A rising number of rural youth are migrating to urban areas from villages in search of better employment as well as better life. They are migrating towards cities due to limited resources, weak infrastructure, and unemployment in rural areas. Thus, the number of young people in rural areas is falling and the exodus of rural youth means fewer small-scale farmers for today and tomorrow. Agribusiness may prove important tool to stop the exodus of rural youth from rural to urban areas. Agribusiness provides the various employment opportunities in the areas of agricultural inputs, crop production, agro chemicals, fruit and vegetable cultivation, agricultural marketing and processing of agricultural produce. Agribusiness helps in remunerative farming which increases the level of income, employment and living standard of people in rural India. The present paper will discuss the role and importance of agribusiness in attracting and retaining rural youth in farming.

ABSTRACT

Sweet Corn (Zea mays var. saccharata var. rugosa) also called Indian corn, sugar corn, and pole corn is a kind of maize having high sugar content (12 – 15%). It is a very delicious and rich source of energy, vitamin A and vitamin C. It is consumed as raw, boiled or steamed green cobs/ grain. Cooked/ processed sweet corn has significant antioxidant activity which has been suggested to minimize the chance of heart disease and cancer. In addition to this, it is also utilized in preparation of soup, salad and other famous recipes. Besides green cobs, the green fodder is also available to the farmers for their cattle. It requires deep fertile and good drainage loam or sandy loam soil with neutral pH. It germinates best at the temperature range from 20^°C - 25^°C. Green cobs are harvested after 20 days of pollination during kharif but the days may accorded by season to season. It is ready to harvest in 70-75 days during kharif season and 105 – 110 days during rabi season. After harvesting, green cobs should be immediately transported to the cold storage in refrigerated trucks to avoid the conversion of sugar to starch because loses flavor at high temperature. Being a short duration crop (70-80 days), farmer can earn 2.0 to 2.5 lac rupees per hectare because it require less input i.e. water, manpower and other crop management practices. Therefore, it can generate a good employment for rural youthdue to high demand in hotels for preparation of various dishes.

ABSTRACT

Human resources are one of the most strategic and critical determinants of growth. A country cannot make rapid social and economic advancement unless it has enterprising people with necessary knowledge, skill and attitudes. Entrepreneurship development not only helps individual to become self reliant but also adds to wealth creation process, thereby paving the way to past growth and development of the nation. Rural entrepreneurship is required to capitalize on the opportunities available and to create job, mainly for rural youth and the farm family. In order to achieve this we are promoting mushroom production and processing as an enterprise for rural youths and farm family through their capacity building activities like training, consultancy, forward and backward linkages and to some extent by making available the much required inputs in the initial stages as the scenario of mushroom production in state is far from satisfactory. With the vast opportunities both at the international and national levels lying at the door steps of India, nothing less than a mushroom revolution in the coming decade will help to achieve the targets of nutritional security of people. During last year we have trained 215 farmwomen and youth in mushroom production and processing out of which 110 trainees started producing it at small scale and selling in the local market. Three villages of Patna district have been developed as “mushroom village” namely Sadikpur, Chaknawada and Mahmadpur. A sample of 100 mushroom growers of Patna district was taken for present investigation. All of them agreed that growing mushroom is a beneficial enterprise as it is capable of recycling agricultural wastes and generating employment opportunities. But, they revealed that important constraints in recommended practices of mushroom cultivation are spawn availability, perishable nature and marketing of mushroom in local villages because of poor infrastructural facility and lack of institutional finance available to them. So, in order to encourage mushroom Production at household level in villages, it is required to uplift farmers, initiating new applications, providing them with adequate marketing information and sufficient agri-business finance knowledge. Two of the most important problems in India, unemployment and malnutrition, will be addressed to a larger extent by promoting the cause of mushroom growing and its utilization as health food.

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to assess the knowledge level of dairy Entrepreneurs of Patna District and to find the co-relation between the socioeconomic variables and the training needs. This study was conducted by personally interviewing 100 dairy farmers, sent for training at B.V.C. Patna by different Agencies. Majority of the respondents (58.20%) had medium level of knowledge flowed by 26% respondents with high level of knowledge, while some of the respondents (15.80%) had low level of knowledge about dairy entrepreneurship. The study of co-relation between socio-economic variables and training need of the respondents showed that variables like education (0.469), social participation (0.500) and the knowledge (0.734) were significantly and positively co-related with the training need. Whereas variables like age (0.063) family size (0.193) and land holding (0.072) were found to be positively but non-significantly co-related with the training needs while, the caste (-0.093) was found to be negatively and non-significantly co-related with the training needs at 0.05% level of probability. Therefore it is imperative on the part of change agency to utilize the variables gainfully so as to give needed push to knowledge level in the area of Dairy entrepreneurship development.

Introduction

The role of knowledge management as the key source for competitive advantage in our organizations has become a hotly debated topic. Indeed, it is a core competency for creating competitive advantage. In this environment that knowledge management is vital, therefore, at first we should determine knowledge management situation, and then to achieve a desired point, formulate a knowledge management strategy.

I am happy to note that the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, a premier national institute for agricultural research is celebrating the 100th year of its establishment. It is indeed quite fitting that JARI has chosen to celebrate this occasion by organizing a seminar on current scenario in temperate horticulture in Himachal Pradesh which is the second highest producer of temperate fruits in the country, I, therefore consider myself to be privileged to be a key speaker, and express my appreciation and gratitude to the organizers for giving me this honour and opportunity in this very important event.
 
The varied climatic and soil conditions in India provide enormous scope for cultivation of wide range of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate horticultural crops, The production of tropical and sub-tropical horticultural crops is confined to the plains, coastal and root hills of Indian mountain~ whereas, the temperate horticulture is monopoly of the hilly regions of the country. The production of temperate fruits in the country is spread over some fifteen states and union territories situated in the following regions.

Abstract

The present studies were undertaken in selfed and open pollinated seedlings of 11 cultivars namely Belrubi, Blackmore, Catskill, Chandler, Fairfax,  Fern, Pajaro, Seascape, Selva, Tioga and Torrey during the years 2001 to 2003.  The days taken to 50%  flowering varied  from 43 to 64 days, flower number from 11.8 to 22.4 and pollen viability from 77.5 to 85.2%. The pollen germination was highest in 20% sucrose solution +  5 ppm boric acid in all the progenies.  The fruit length varied from 27.8 mm to 35.5 mm, breadth 21.3 to 27.9 mm, fruit weight 8.8 to 12.2 g, fruit firmness 0.23 to 0.33 lbs force, number of achenes per fruit 176.9 to 297.9, pedicel length 6.4 to 9.5 cm, TSS 8.1 to 12.3^ºB, titratable acidity 0.58 to 1.24%, total sugars 5.1 to 7.3, reducing  sugars 4.8 to 6.8% and non-reducing sugars from 0.50 to 1.11%.  Fruit development period  varied from 32.8 to 53.6 days, total number of fruits per plant 7.2 to 17.9, fruit yield per plant 27.4 to 57.3 g and fruit yield per plot from 0.77 to 1.40 Kg in different progenies.

Abstract

Apple productivity is declining gradually. It is the high time to find out new rootstock for apple improvement. The crab apples can play a pivotal role for the improvement of apple through proper utilization of their potentiality. A number of crab apples have been found growing wild in the Himalayas. Apple accessions collected from Shillong (Meghalaya) i.e. Malus baccata (Shillong), was found completely resistant to woolly aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) and the development of root rot (c.o. Dematophora necatrix) and powdery mildew (Podosphora leuchotricha) was significantly delayed as compared to well known source of resistance, Malus zumi.  It has shown field resistance to apple scab (c.o. Venturia inaequalis) also.  It has a very good propagation potential.

Abstract

In Himachal Pradesh, apple plantations have been made on seedling rootstock. The valley and comparatively warmer areas leads to the problems of irregular bearing and lower yields, besides less colour development in delicious varieties. Non uniformity in tree growth and yield is observed. To solve these problems, efforts have been made and plants of different cultivars of delicious and other prominent cultivars on different virus free clonal rootstocks have been introduced and planted at progeny-cum-demonstration orchard (PCDO) at anu situated at 1375m a.m.s.l. in Shimla district during 1989-90. Plant of three cultivars viz., Real Mecoy Red Delicious, Mutsu and Criterion on EMLA 26, EMLA 7a and EMLA 106 rootstock have been planted with a density of 1280 plants per hectare. The observations on yield were recorded during 1999-2002.

Abstract

Studies were carried out on 110 seedling trees of aonla growing at Tikker area of district Sirmaur, Ghanatti area of district Shimla and Kandaghat & Arki areas of district Solan to know the extent of divergence for various fruit characters by using non-hierarchical cluster analysis. Maximum co-efficient of variability was observed for fruit volume (38.63 %). First component gave maximum Eigen root value (7.286) and maximum percent variation (45.54 %). All 110 genotypes got clustered into eight clusters and the distribution of genotypes from different location was random. Maximum genotypes (30) entered in cluster 3 and minimum (5) in cluster 8. Intra-cluster distance varied between 1.877 (Cluster 5) to 3.137 (Cluster 8). The inter-cluster distance ranged between 3.006 (Cluster 3 & 4) to 11.677(Cluster 5 & 8). Wider genetic base is the prerequisite for breeding to get better recombinants and segregants. So, genotypes of Cluster 5 & 8 can be used for future aonla breeding programmes.

Abstract
The analysis of variance showed significant differences for all the traits studied. The best two combinations out of the 28 F1s produced by crossing eight diverse lines of capsicum in diallel fashion (excluding reciprocals) with respect to most of the traits were Osh Region x EC-119058 and California Wonder x Bonali.

Keywords: Heterosis, Capsicum annuum L.

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) also known as Sweet pepper or Spanish pepper is an important vegetable used in various delicacies and salads, the world over. The crop originated in New World tropics and subtropics (Greenleaf, 1986), and introduced in India by the British. Because of its excellent quality as obtained under Shimla hills conditions, it came to be called as Shimla Mirch. Its most notable feature is flavour and hence is appreciated worldwide. It is also an excellent source of pro-vitamin A and vitamin C. Bell pepper assumes a special significance in the mid hills of Himachal Pradesh as it is grown as an off season crop during summer and rainy seasons, which brings lucrative returns to the growers. 

Abstract

It is essential that care is taken in the design of primers for PCR. Several parameters including the length of the primer, percentage of GC content and the 3' sequence need to be optimized for successful  PCR. Some of these parameters can be easily manually optimized while others are best done with commercial computer programs. In any event, careful observance of the general rules of primer designing will help ensure successful experiments.

Keywords: Bioinformatic tools, primer designing

Abstract

Seven different parents viz. July Elberta, Alton, J.H. Hale, Kanto-5, Saharanpuri, Quetta as female and Kateroo as male were used in the present crosses.  The crosses were made in the year 1997 and 76 hybrid seedlings under different crosses were raised  for these studies. The variability in respect of chemical characters, the mean values for titratable acidity for each cross varied between 0.50 to 0.75%, TSS 11.53 to 12.90oB,  reducing sugars from 2.33 to 2.88%, non-reducing sugars from 6.27 to 6.83%, total sugars from 9.24 to 10.05% and TSS/acid ratio between 14.47 to 23.90. The coefficient of variability varied 11.07 to 31.55% for titratable acidity, 0.00 to 23.02% for TSS, 5.24  to 18.53% for reducing sugars, 2.09 to 15.14% for non-reducing sugars, 0.00 to 6.80% for total sugars and 18.23 to 156.51% for TSS/acid ratio in these crosses.

Abstract

Lean season ornamentals of Shimla are observed for two years. Out of them, the flowering plants include those blooming more or less throughout the year, those having extended flowering up to early winter i.e. November, those begins to flower well before their actual flowering season i.e. spring and those which yield flowers mostly in winter. Some plants having good stalk length, keeping quality and attractive flower such as Reinwardtia indica, Asclepias curassavica and Spermadictyon suaveolens can be tried as cut flower. Some of foliage plants during spring produce beautiful flowers. Planting of these dual purpose plants will have the advantage of beautifying these temperate hills all the year round. Others are evergreen foliage plants with insignificant flower value. All the above plants belong to various utilitarian groups viz. annuals, herbaceous perennials, trees, climbers etc. and can be put into different uses. Some are potential multipurpose economic plants. This preliminary treatise reveals that there are adequate plants available within the premises of Shimla for lean season beautification. The ways to proceed further are also detailed.