eChapters

Production of Indole-3 Acetic acid (IAA) and mineral phosphate solubilization (MPS) are two predominant and direct mechanisms used by plant growth promoting rhizobacterial strains (PGPR). These traits are widespread among bacteria. Moreover, the role of IAA in plant-microbe interactions is diverse varying from pathogenesis to phytostimulation, to its role as a signaling molecule in microorganisms. With the advent of high performance analytics, molecular tools and recombinant methods, it has become feasible to investigate biochemical pathways of bacterial IAA synthesis at the genetic, biochemical and chemical levels. In the current study, we isolated several PGPRs from Western Ghats region, India.  Of all the efficient isolates, Serratia marcescens SM15 emerged as the most efficient PGPR isolate based on in vitro plant growth assays and ability to express PGPR traits.

Information is a basic resource essential for individual and organization in order to survive and succeed in society. Floriculture is a technology driven industry needing technological advancement. The new technologies that are being developed at various places the world over, needs to be disseminated through proper and quick linkage between the researchers and the beneficiaries i.e. the farmers. This demand can be met out by information technology. Information is data put into a meaningful and useful text. Today, information technology (IT) is a metaresource and computers are being used as a metatool and a metamedia.

COMPONENTS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

An information technology architecture is an integrated framework for acquiring and evolving IT to achieve strategic goals. It has both logical and technical components. Logical components include mission, functional and information requirements, system configurations and information flows. Technical components include IT standards and rules that will be used to implement the logical architecture.

Input devices: The advent of touch screen monitors has made it possible to develop user-friendly interface for farmers. It is now possible to capture and store good quality graphics and video clips with digital cameras.

Output devices: Output devices like monitor screen, printers and plotters, data projectors support high resolution and good quality output.

Processors: The processing speeds of computers have improved a lot these days. At present, Intel P-IV based processors @ 3.3 Ghz are available in the PC range.

Storage devices: To store substantial information at local level. Capacity of 40 GB and higher are common in hard disk devices, besides floppy disk drives and CDs; all making it possible to transfer large amount of data to locations which cannot be connected to networks quickly.

Starting from the middle of the 20^th Century, information has become a commodity. Those best able to access information will be more successful than their peers in their future careers. Technological competence will be as important as medical competence to practice at the highest levels. Advances in computer technology have made access to veterinary and medical databases much simpler than in the past. It is quite likely that in the future, it will be a malpractice for practitioners not to access online information essential to the treatment of their patients. Wireless digital transfer of information will make access to necessary information independent of time and place.

Veterinary medicine and educational delivery are becoming an increasingly international market. Those who are prepared to deliver material in this manner will have a competitive advantage. Use of digital technologies will allow veterinary colleges to share information, including class material, more efficiently. This will enable each college to market specific educational information for students at other veterinary colleges or continuing education modules to graduate veterinarians around the world. On-line certificate programmes in specific veterinary topics will be developed. Use of computer technologies can enrich the teaching environment. By digitizing library, classroom, and laboratory visual images, students can access these materials at any time or place, freeing them from library and classroom schedules. Medical colleges have found that students heavily use these image resources. Computer technologies provide both horizontal and vertical integration of the professional curriculum, allowing students to explore information to the depth at which they are comfortable, without regard to their “year of study” in a traditional “linear” curriculum. Allowing students to see future applications of current learning material provides additional incentive to master basic material. Computers are a tool, just like a textbook, notebook, or calculator.

Introduction
The rapid advancement of information technology in recent years has led to an explosion in the awareness of environmental concerns and issues pertaining to human health. UNEP created UNEP net, the green global Internet, as well as the satellite communication system.
Information technology is necessary for environmental management.
The general population, especially in developing nations, and decision- and policymakers still have limited or no access to this information in a readily comprehensible format. Politicians and the general public have not yet been able to personally experience the effects of ozone layer depletion, climate change, or biodiversity loss. These are all new challenges, and scientists strongly advise taking more immediate action than legislators are able to. Thus, it is more crucial than ever to close the knowledge gap between scientists and decision-makers in order to formulate environmental policy.
UNEP created the Global Resource Information Database in 1985 in an effort to close this information gap and give the world’s population access to current, trustworthy environmental data. Telecommunications and geographic information technology were used as strategic tools to do this, with the former being used for information exchange and analysis and the latter for information distribution.

INTRODUCTION

The first significant economic contribution of host plant resistance in agriculture was made in 1890 when European grape vines were successfully grafted on resistant root stock to save the French Wine industry from viteus vilifaliac (Fitch). Studies from the past century have led to the development of resistant varieties in about 15 crops to about 50 key insect pests. During the last 20 years alone, more than 500 insect resistant cultivars of rice, maize, cotton, sorghum, alfalfa and wheat have been developed and released world wide (Dhaliwal and Arora, 2001). The insect resistant varieties are grown on millions of ha. annually and help the farmers to save billions of dollars in insecticide costs (Dhaliwal and Arora, 2001). The role of Host Plant Resistance in Integrated Pest Management is discussed below.

Introduction

Pollination is an essential ecosystem service for the maintenance and conservation of biodiversity on the earth. Many food crops, barring cereals, are entomophilous in nature and rely on insects for pollination. The pollinators in turn are benefited by obtaining floral resources such as nectar, pollen or both. This mutualism has evolved over centuries and been helping both natural terrestrial ecosystems as well as man-made agro-ecosystems. Pollinators such as bees, birds and bats contribute to 35 per cent of the world’s crop production, increasing outputs of 87 of the leading food crops worldwide (FAO, 2009). The total economic value of crop pollination worldwide has been estimated at €156 billion annually (Gallai et al., 2009). The area covered by pollinator-dependent crops has increased by more than 300 per cent during the past 50 years (Aizen and Harder 2009). Pollinators are found in diverse groups of the animal kingdom, including birds, bats, reptiles, insects, etc. Among them, insects particularly honey bees, dominate in providing pollination services to several plants. There are about 19,000 described species of bees in the world (Linsley, 1958) and, with the exception of one species, Apis mellifera L., the domestic honey bee, all of them are grouped under the general term ‘wild bees’. India is endowed with the greatest biodiversity as far as honey bee species are concerned and is home to five species viz., A. cerana, A. florea, A. dorsata, A. andreniformis and A. laboriosa besides hosting A. melllifera, an introduced one. In addition, several other pollinators including stingless bees, carpenter bees, bumble bees, megachilids, halictids, sphecids, andrenids, syrphids, etc. occur in several agro-ecosystems (Thakur, 2012). Studies on crop pollination by insects are becoming increasingly critical because of a perceived global decline in pollinator stocks, with great economical and conservation consequences (Ghazoul, 2005a, 2005b; Steff an-Dewenter et al., 2005). In the recent years, there has been a concern about declines in both wild and domesticated pollinators, especially honey bees (Reddy et al., 2012a). A large proportion of horticultural crops is potentially vulnerable to declines in honey bee and other pollinator insects (Table 1). One of the essential requirements to adequately evaluate the importance of animal pollination for food production and the impact of pollinator losses is to determine the pollination needs of different cultivated plants. However, detailed studies of crop pollination requirements are incomplete in many crops (Klein et al., 2007).

Tank irrigation is passing through a critical juncture in India today. Tank irrigation contributes significantly to agricultural production in India in general, and in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, in particular. The tank irrigation system is one of the vast networks of thousands of water bodies that constituted a distinctive landscape which was medieval in origin but still the basis of livelihood in the dry Southern plains(Mosse, 2003, P-4). Tank is a small reservoir constructed across the slope of the valley to catch and store water during rainy season. Water is controlled by sluices attached to the tank bank and is delivered to paddy field by distributing channels. Tank is considered as a common property resource. The National Sample Survey Organization defines common property resources as the resources that are accessible to and collectively owned, managed by identifiable community and on which no individual has exclusive property rights (NSSO, 1999).

Abstract

Women play a critical and potentially transformative role in agricultural growth in developing countries but they face persistent obstacles and economic constraints limiting their potential inclusion in agriculture. The feminization of agriculture is determined by two major factors, first compared to men, women have much poorer access to and control over productive resources and they have inadequate access to public services, such as training, extension and credit. Women farmers often lack the know-how and the confidence to use the improved technology and most of the new technologies. The reason being most of these advancements are aimed at male specific end users. Giving support to rural women is a way of breaking the vicious cycle that leads to rural poverty so there is need to cut the drudgery of women farmers and make their efforts worthwhile and economical. Development strategies should consider rural women as the epicenter, paying special attention to their social skills both within and without agriculture sector. In terms of equity, women overall have lower awareness of AAS than men do, indicating the importance of targeting women in communications efforts. More trainings are required to generate interest and motivate farm women to learn about the AAS and use it. Closing the gender productivity gap could increase agricultural output in by a significant amount. Increased production would also imply increased food availability and reductions in undernourishment. Integrating Gender and Agriculture within Agricultural Extension System empowers families, helps women to contribute to household incomes, increases productivity & reduces gender gaps in agriculture.

Introduction

Pulmonary vascular tone regulation involves the balance between vasoconstriction and vasodilation, primarily controlled by pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and endothelial cells (Lyle et al., 2017). This regulation is influenced by various factors, including ion channels, which modulates the flow of ions like K+, Ca2+, Na+ and Cl- across cell membranes, affecting vascular contraction and relaxation. Diseases like pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) are attributed to dysregulation of vascular tone, which is essential for preserving ideal blood flow and pressure in the lungs (Christou and Khalil, 2022). Excessive vasoconstriction and impaired vasodilation increase pulmonary arterial pressure. This heightened resistance strains the right ventricle, leading to heart failure over time. Dysregulated ion channel movement in PASMCs is often a key factor in the development and progression of the disease. Ion channel receptors are promising candidates for medical therapy for the amelioration of pulmonary vascular disorders. Agents that regulate the functioning of ion channels may be employed to treat aberrant pulmonary blood vessel tone (Jouen-Tachoire et al., 2021).

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.

Introduction

Food security is defined as "a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life" (The State of Food Insecurity, 2001) (see http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story028/en/). As of 2015, the concept of food security has mostly focused on food calories rather than the quality and nutrition of food. Thus, food security usually emphasizes food quantity and therefore "nutrition security" is used for the quality dimension. The concept of food security has four dimensions: availability, accessibility, utilization and vulnerability. The interactions among them determine how food secure a country is or how adequate, steady and risk-free food consumption is at the household and individual levels (Kumar and Ayyappan, 2014). Though substantial progress has been achieved in reducing food insecurity, maintaining food security at the national and household level is a major challenge for India (Singh, 2014). The present article briefs about global and Indian scenarios on food security aspects, and the key role of livestock in achieving zero hunger by means of livestock-derived foods such as milk, egg and meat products.

Indian farming community is dominated by the marginal and small farmers who account for nearly 86 percent of farm holdings in India. As these farmers have small land holdings of less than 2 hectare, their income from farming is meagre and not sufficient to meet family expenses (Lalji et al., 2019). As a result, these farmers often follow family income augmentation strategy either by taking land on lease, working as wage earner or livestock rearing. Among all these family income augmentation activities, livestock rearing is the most frequently adopted strategy they undertake to augment their family income. It is observed that in India in general, farmers follow livestock integrated farming system (Paramesh et al, 2022). Popularity of livestock activity to augment farm family income of poor farmers is due to synergy of livestock rearing with the farming. Agriculture waste in the form of green and dry fodder contribute important inputs in livestock rearing. Whereas, farm animals are important source of farm energy needed for cultivation. Livestock waste helps in maintaining soil fertility and protein supply to farm families. Animal rearing also help in managing cash flow for farm family as it generates cash from the sale of milk and other animal products on the daily basis. Sale of live animals help in meeting contingency expenses of farm family. Thus, it solves peculiar problem of farm family cash paradox where farmer gets income through sales of agriculture harvest only during harvest season which happens only two / three times in a year but he needs cash on daily basis to meet his other health, educational, social etc. family needs.

Introduction The ecological stability and food web of intertidal environments are significantly influenced by macroalgae. The majority of marine organisms, including macroalgae, coral reefs, sponges, and the organisms that they are associated with, are well known for producing secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds, which increase their value in a variety of industries, including food, neutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and others. Among them, seaweeds play a vital role in promoting health by offering a variety of phytochemicals with antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and antiviral action (Ngo et al. 2012). Worldwide, there have been more than 20,000 macroalgal species identified. In South Asian nations including China, Japan, and Korea, it has been used as sea vegetables. India now has 841 macroalgal species identified,including 434, 191, and 216 species of red algae, brown algae, and green algae, respectively (Oza and Zaidi, 2001).

Land resources units or major land resources units are the suitable segmentations of land, based on available natural resources, their potential use and management. Irrespective of terms used by different organizations or institutes, these units have spatial dimension and represent a composite unit for interstate, regional, and national level planning. A typical meaning of these land units can be related to terms like land system. Christian and Stewart (1953) of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia devised the ‘Land system’ as the composite mapping-unit which has been defined as “an area or group of areas, throughout which there is a recurring pattern of topography, soils and vegetation”. This system is based on the premise that the land system is expressed on aerial photographs by a distinctive pattern and, as such, the land system can be directly mapped from aerial photographs (Christian and Stewart 1953, Mabbutt and McAlpine 1965). It is a fact that during those period, aerial photographs were more frequently used and studies related to land systems used technique of aerial photogrammetry. As per USDA (United States Developmental Agency), the typical segmentations are; (1) Land Resource Region (LRR), which is the highest level in the hierarchy (2) Major Land Resource Area (MLRA), the second highest level and generally representing broad landforms or a geologic region at a small scale and (3) the Land Resource Unit (LRU).

Abstract

This paper studies the role and status of Indian Agricultural Market Intelligence System (IAMIS) in improving the economic returns of agri-sector in India. Marketing intelligence makes agricultural marketers, including agri-entrepreneurs, aware and updated and reduces risk in decision making. India produced 275.112 million tonnes of food grains in 2016-17 and the projected requirement is 311million tonnes in 2030. Income of farmers has increased at a CAGR of 10.61% and number of farmers has declined at a CAGR of -0.25% from 1993-94 to 2014-15. Acreage remains stagnant. Given this background, to exploit full potential of agricultural production, market intelligence has a great role. The DES and Department of Food with their 435 market information systems (MIS) units transmit daily information through public media. The essential prerequisite of ensuring farmers’income is that they need credible information about “likely price situation”. Agriculture Marketing Intelligence System (AMIS, 2011) has emerged with the aim to provide services in agriculture and allied sectors. ICAR (1991) took initiatives under World Bank to assist National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) and Export Market Intelligence Cell (EMIC) was set up in Tamil Nadu with ten State Agricultural Universities. This paper uses globally available price forecasting models (ARIMA, GARCH, etc.)on 20 crops to provide an idea of the existing status and policies in agricultural market intelligence.

INTRODUCTION

Potato ranks third among the major food crops after wheat and rice in the world. It is most important and versatile food of the world. India is second largest potato producer next to china.Potatois bulky and watery in nature and requires lot of energy for production and processing. It is a shortduration crop of 90-120 days, having highest yield per ay per unit area as compared to other major crops. Being a relatively short duration crop in the plains of India, its mechanization assumes a special importance in order to accomplish various farmoperations inverylimited time foritshigherproduction.Manualproduction of potato is time consuming and tedius job, it requires about 1600-2000 man-hours per hectare. With the rising cost of production and depleting energy reserves, increase in crop productivity with minimum input of energy and cost one of the paramount concerns (Garg and Singh 2002). Sustenance of agriculturalproductivitygoes handin handwith mechanization of differentfarm operations, which aims at achieving timeliness of operations, efficientuseof inputs safety and comfort of farmers, reduction in cost of produce and drudgery of farmers (Verma et. al, 1992).With the emergence of new crop rotations and enhanced cropping intensity, many farmers experience scarcity of time and labour. Mechanization plays an important role in timely completing farm operations involved in potato production. It implies a resource management strategy to increase productivity and economic returns. Efforts have been made at various levels to mechanise both production and processing. Various mechanical tools, implements and machinery have been developed for land development, fertilizer application, planting, weeding, harvesting, preparation for storage and on-farm processing of potato (Singh and Gulati 2014).

Methodology

In the present study, the researcher has tried to present a broad picture of the role of media with his empirical observations on news in some selected print media and TV channels. The content analysis of news along with comparative method between print and electronic, news related to problems in rural governance and other news were taken into consideration.

Introduction

As Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Nation, rightly pointed out that “The true India is to be found not in its few cities, but in its seven hundred thousand villages. If the villages perish, India will perish too”. (GoI website) Primarily India is an agrarian society, where more than 70% people lives in countryside. As majority of our population reside in rural hinterland and their livelihood depends on agricultural and economic activities related to it. People from rural areas migrating to mega cities or urban areas or industrial townships to seek jobs in service sectors. The seasonal migration of laborers to big cities has become a regular feature in our economy. These uprooted people feel lucky to get something to earn for near and dear ones. 58 per cent of these rural households are employed in farming sector i.e. cultivation, livestock rearing and other agricultural activity, which in turn contributes less than 60 per cent to their average monthly income. These were the findings of the ‘Situation Assessment Survey of Agriculture Households’ for the 2012-2013 crop years, from July to June. A brief overview of Indian economy reveals that agriculture contributes 16.5 per cent of the GDP contribution, compared to Industry’s 29.8 per cent and service sector’s 54.4, as per the census of 2015. It is also worth to recall that despite the big claim of booming Indian economy, the share of informal employment in total employment has remained above 90 per cent throughout the period 2004-05 to 2011-12, the Economic Survey 2014-15 revealed.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition, which are exacerbated by issues including pollution, overcrowding, climate change, and economic hardship. These problems highlight the necessity of changing food systems for better immunity and health since they lead to both undernutrition and overnutrition. Essential carbs, fiber, fats, and important micronutrients including iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium are all found in nutrient-dense grains such as foxtail, kodo, proso, tiny, and pearl millets. These millets are widely accessible and have several health advantages. For example, pearl millet is high in amylose starch and contains essential minerals like phosphorus and magnesium, whereas proso millet is a good source of iron, calcium, potassium, and B-vitamins. B vitamins, iron, calcium, and zinc are all found in kodo millet, while finger millet is a great provider of calcium, iron and magnesium. The nutritional profile of millets is further improved by processing methods like milling, germination, extrusion, and fermentation. Prominent research organizations, including as ICRISAT, ICAR, and CGIAR, are actively working to conserve millet and create better types to combat chronic illnesses and malnutrition. Targeted improvements in disease resistance and nutrient content are now possible because to biotechnology advancements. For improved worldwide health outcomes, dietary patterns must nonetheless be changed and these nutrient rich grains incorporated into contemporary food systems, notwithstanding current advancements.

Microbes play a crucial role in floriculture by enhancing plant health, growth and resilience. Beneficial microbes such as bacteria, fungi and mycorrhizae, form symbiotic relationships with plants, aiding in nutrient uptake and improving soil structure. These microorganisms decompose organic matter releasing essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are vital for flower development. They also produce growth-promoting substances such as hormones and enzymes, stimulating root and shoot growth. Moreover, certain microbes act as biological control agents, protecting plants from pathogens and pests by outcompeting harmful organisms or producing antimicrobial compounds. The use of microbial inoculants and biofertilizers in floriculture can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices. By fostering a healthy microbial community in the soil, floriculturists can enhance the aesthetic quality, color and longevity of flowers, contributing to the overall success and sustainability of the floriculture industry.Different microbes can be used for the floriculture has been discussed.

Introduction

Agriculture is the backbone of many economies worldwide, providing food, f ibre, and other essential resources. However, production of these goods generates a significant amount of agricultural waste that must be properly managed.According to United Nations, agricultural waste often consists of silt and salt which get drained from fields, fertilizer runoff from fields, pesticides that end up in the water, air, or soil, harvest waste, and other wastes from farms, poultry houses,slaughterhouses and spoiled food waste too. Different agricultural activities generate agricultural waste, including materials like vegetable waste, sugarcane bagasse, rice and wheat straw and husks, food byproducts, jute fibers, crop stalks, and similar items.The generation of agricultural waste in large quantities pollutes the environment which causes many issues in the environment and is also hazardous to humans.Agricultural wastes like crop residues that are retained after harvesting get burned by the farmers leading to significant environmental consequences by emitting 141.15 million tons (Mt) of carbon dioxide (CO2 ), 8.77 Mt of carbon monoxide (CO), 0.23 Mt of nitric oxide (NO), and 0.12 Mt of ammonia (NH3 ).It contributes to air pollution and loses itshigh organic content. So the proper management of these wastes is of utmost importance for mankind and the environment. The basic principle of managing agricultural waste based on the concept of reuse, reduce, and recycle by adopting sustainable practices to minimize waste generation and promote environmental conservation. Agricultural wastes like Crop residues undergo physical, chemical, and biological decompositions, breaking down lignocellulosic linkages and enriching soil nutrient content, in which the most efficient decomposition process is biological, facilitated by bacterial and fungal spores (microbes) accelerating the waste breakdown aerobically and anaerobically. Microbes are ubiquitous and have played a very crucial role in addressing various environmental challenges faced by humanity. Decomposition with the help of microbes enhances soil nutrition through nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and cellulose degradation in the decomposed end product.Microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, are the driving force behind the natural decomposition of agri-waste.