eChapters

Self Help Group (SHG) and micro finance may be said a recent movement and the literature on SHG and micro finance is relatively one of the youngest. Review of past works in the field of SHG and related issues since 1995 has been considered, which helps to identify the research gap. Therefore, studies related to SHGs were reviewed and presented covering various aspects comprehensively.
 
2.1 Profile of the SHG Members
 
Hemalatha (1995) conducted study in Haryana and found that majority of women taking up pottery activity were illiterate, Sirki making women’s education ranged from illiteracy to primary level and bakery unit were illiterate.

Agriculture faces increasing pressure from population growth, climate change, resource scarcity, land degradation, water shortages, and growing food demand. This chapter examines the major global challenges affecting agricultural productivity and food security. Climate variability, extreme weather events, declining natural resources, and changing pest and disease patterns create substantial risks for farming systems. The chapter discusses sustainable and climate-smart agricultural approaches for improving resilience and resource-use efficiency. It also highlights the contribution of artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, biotechnology, remote sensing, and digital technologies in addressing these challenges. Policy support, research investment, institutional cooperation, and equitable access to technology are emphasized for sustainable agricultural development

Agricultural extension services are critical for the dissemination of knowledge, technologies and innovations among farmers, leading to improved agricultural productivity, sustainability and livelihoods. Different countries have adopted varied approaches to extension policies, reflecting their unique socioeconomic, political and agro-ecological contexts. Here’s an overview of
extension policies in different regions:
1. United States: In the United States, the Cooperative Extension Service, established under the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, is a nationwide, publicly funded network that connects land-grant universities with local communities. It provides educational programs, resources and advisory services to farmers, ranchers and rural residents. The U.S. model emphasizes partnerships between federal, state and local governments, as well as with the private sector, to deliver extension services.
2. India: India has a diverse and decentralized extension system comprising public, private and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) is the central government’s flagship program that focuses on agricultural extension, including farmer capacity building, technology disseminationand knowledge management. Despite this, challenges such as inadequate funding, limited reach and poor coordination across agencies persist, leading to calls for reform and more innovative approaches like Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration.

Monsoons are vital atmospheric circulations that govern the climate and livelihoods of vast populations across the globe. Characterized by seasonal reversals in wind direction and associated shifts in precipitation patterns, these systems are critical for agriculture, water resources, and overall socio-economic stability in many regions. However, the delicate balance of monsoon systems is increasingly threatened by climate variability, leading to significant disruptions and challenges, particularly in the form of severe droughts. Recent years have witnessed the devastating impact of drought in numerous monsoon-dependent regions across the world. In India, heavily reliant on the summer monsoon, failures have caused significant water shortages and poor crop yields, particularly in vulnerable regions like southeastern Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The consequences extend to groundwater depletion and increased irrigation demands. The impact of recent droughts is not limited to Asia. The African continent has also faced severe consequences. The Horn of Africa experienced a particularly devastating drought from October 2020 to 2023, resulting in widespread harvest failures, livestock losses, and displacement, marking the worst drought in four decades. West Africa has similarly suffered from frequent droughts causing crop failures, rising food prices, and exacerbating income inequality. South America, too, has experienced significant impacts. Argentina faced a severe drought in late 2022 and early 2023, halving wheat and soy harvests and impacting exports. In Uruguay, this drought led to a lack of access to drinking water for thousands. Brazil has seen harvest failures and reduced agricultural GDP due to drought, also threatening its hydroelectric power generation. Furthermore, the Amazon rainforest has been affected by intensifying droughts, leading to increased tree mortality, a higher risk of forest fires, and significant impacts on biodiversity and local communities due to drastically reduced river levels. Recent years have witnessed the dual impact of extreme weather events in numerous monsoon-dependent regions. In India, while facing drought in many areas, heavy monsoon rains have also caused catastrophic flooding. In July 2021, the coastal regions of Maharashtra experienced severe flooding affecting millions and causing hundreds of deaths. Major events like the 2022 Assam floods and the 2023 North India floods further exemplify the destructive potential of intense monsoon rainfall. The African continent also experiences significant flooding during its monsoon seasons. In 2024, West and Central Africa, including countries like

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, basically Navstar GPS is a radio based space aviation system developed by United state government which was operated by United State Air Force. It provides geographic location and time related information to GPS receivers under global navigation satellite from anywhere of earth where unobstructed line of sight to 4 or more GPS satellite co-ordinate (Anonymous, 2018). Even GPS not required any user for transmitting data, with working independently on any telephonic or internet receivers; through these technologies we can enhance usefulness of the GPS location based information. The GPS serves as critical positioning capacity to various fields like army operation, civil aviation, and commercial scope to wider scope in around world.

Introduction

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. The system provides critical capabilities to military, civil, and commercial users around the world. The United States government created the system, maintains it, and makes it freely accessible to anyone with a GPS receiver. The US began the GPS project in 1973 to overcome the limitations of previous navigation systems, integrating ideas from several predecessors, including a number of classified engineering design studies from the 1960s. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) developed the system, which originally used 24 satellites. It became fully operational in 1995. Roger L. Easton, Ivan A. Getting and Bradford Parkinson of the Applied Physics Laboratory are credited with inventing it.
 
Advances in technology and new demands on the existing system have now led to efforts to modernize the GPS and implement the next generation of GPS Block IIIA satellites and Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX). Announcements from Vice President Al Gore and the White House in 1998 initiated these changes. In 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized the modernization effort, GPS III. In addition to GPS, other systems are in use or under development. The Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) was developed contem-poraneously with GPS, but suffered from incomplete coverage of the globe until the mid-2000s. There are also the planned European Union Galileo positioning system, China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, and India’s Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System.

Introduction

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide location and time information for any place on earth, regardless of the weather. GPS is a type of GNSS, which stands for global navigation satellite systems. GPS has many applications in precision farming, such as farm planning, field mapping, soil sampling, tractor guidance, crop guidance, variable- rate applications (VRAs) and yield mapping. GPS helps farmers work in low- visibility conditions such as rain, dust, fog, and darkness. India has its own GPS system called IRNSS or NavIC, which uses about seven satellites. GPS is owned and operated by the U.S. government, specifically the U.S.

Abstract

Agriculture, which was once a livelihood for millions, is now turning into a not -so-profitable occupation. The interest has reduced especially among the youth because of its input intensive nature. Among all other  things, the most important input in profitable and sustainable agriculture is timely information. However, with the increasing value of the ratio of farmers to extension personnel, getting timely information is a challenge. Then again, rationally used, we are surrounded by communication devices and the most essential and affordable of all are mobile phones. They have made communication easier, faster, affordable and profitable. The boom in mobile based agro-advisory services in the developing countries around the world has found its own subscriber base among the bottom of the pyramid farmers in rural areas and has been developing their economic conditions. Their services range from crop information, market price alerts to holistic agricultural information which are available free of cost and under subscription.

ABSTRACT

Hydroponics is a plant growth system that provides a more precise control of growth media composition. It offers people the ability to grow food in places where traditional agriculture simply isn’t possible. As Fiji has a warm tropical climate, the development of the tropical fruit and vegetable industry through hydroponics farming to meet local consumption and export market is a lucrative opportunity. The potential for hydroponics farming is enormous and is in demand to sustain production at reliable and consistent level in Fiji. Potential areas for the setting up of hydroponic farms in Fiji include Savusavu, Nadi, Navua, Sigatoka Valley and Labasa. These areas have established theirlogistical status with the market. A wide range of commodities are grown through hydroponics technology which complements the need to harness the “too hot” and “too wet” weather of tropical Fiji. The pristine environment and availability of resources such as water and other hydroponic farming input are added bonus to establishment of such venture. Hydro nut Hydroponic farming system are constructed as simplest form made of bamboo and coconuts using coconut husk as a growing media and worm casting and humus tea are used as fertilizer. It offers some significant benefits over traditional farming, and as word about these benefits spreads, more people will turn to hydroponics for their agricultural needs. As hydroponics allows produce to be grown locally and requires fewer areas to import their crops, there is a reduction in both price and greenhouse gas emissions due to reduced transportation requirements. This saves time and produces healthier, disease and pest free, lusher plants in about half the time as traditional agriculture farming system.

Building upon the foundation laid in earlier chapters, perhaps exploring local weather dynamics and regional climate patterns, the present chapter “Global Weather Parameters and Teleconnections,” takes a significant step back to examine the Earth’s weather systems on a truly planetary scale. Here, we shift our focus to the fundamental forces and patterns that orchestrate the global climate ballet. We will delve into the key global weather parameters – think of these as the vital signs of our planet’s atmosphere – such as the overall distribution of temperature across latitudes and altitudes, the major global pressure belts that drive air movement, and the resulting large-scale wind systems that circulate heat and moisture around the globe. These parameters, born from the interplay of solar radiation, the Earth’s spherical shape, and its continuous rotation, are the primary drivers of our planet’s diverse climates. Beyond these fundamental parameters, this chapter will illuminate the fascinating world of teleconnections. Imagine the atmosphere and oceans as an intricate network, where events in one distant region can have a ripple effect on weather patterns thousands of kilometers away. Teleconnections represent these long-range linkages, acting as the “threads” that connect seemingly disparate weather phenomena. We will explore prominent examples like the El Niño- Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which has profound impacts on rainfall and temperature across the Pacific and well beyond, including potential influences on the Indian monsoon – a topic likely of particular interest given your previous research. Similarly, we will examine phenomena such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), influencing weather across Europe and North America, and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a traveling wave of thunderstorms in the tropics that can affect global circulation. For those interested in agricultural meteorology, the understanding of global weather parameters and teleconnections is paramount. These largescale patterns and their interconnections play a critical role in shaping regional climate variability, influencing the onset and intensity of droughts and floods – events you’ve extensively researched – and impacting crop yields and water availability. By grasping these global drivers, we can enhance our ability to forecast seasonal weather patterns, anticipate potential climate-related risks to agriculture, and develop more informed strategies for long-term agricultural planning and adaptation in a changing world. This chapter aims to provide you

Transgenic varieties combine genes from totally unrelated species. For example, we can now transfer genes for salinity tolerance to rice from mangroves. The recombinant DNA technology is part of the evolution of genetics starting with the rediscovery of Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance in 1900. In the early part of the twentieth century, various techniques like irradiation, use of chemical mutagens and doubling of chromosomes through colchicine treatment were adopted to develop novel genetic combinations.  Today such gene transfer can be done with both precision and ease through recombinant DNA technology. Both molecular marker-assisted breeding and gene transfer now play a very important role in developing genetic combinations to meet the challenges rising from biotic (i.e., pest and diseases) and abiotic (i.e., drought, flood, sea level rise, etc.) stresses. They will gain further importance in the emerging era of climate change. Varieties developed by marker-assisted selection are also eligible for certification under the protocol for products produced through organic farming.

ABSTRACT

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Dairy Farming Practices (GDFPs) is the need of hours because of the several burgeoning issues like-climate change, low food quality etc. GDFPs concept was introduced in 2004 by International Dairy Federation/Food and Agriculture Organization (IDF/FAO) and it was later updated in 2011. GAPs ensure quality food produce that ultimately leads to better heath. Good Agricultural Practices for dairy farmers is about implementing sound practices on dairy farms – collectively called Good Dairy Farming Practices. These practices need to ensure that the milk and milk products produced are safe and suitable for their intended use, and also that the dairy farm enterprise is viable into the future, from the economic, social and environmental perspectives. Since, dairy farmers are in the practice of producing food for human consumption, they must have confidence in the production of safety and quality of the milk. Since the introduction of the concept in 2004, the importance is growing in various countries, and agencies including private, individual farm house or farmers etc. GAPs and GDFPs underpin the production of food and milk that satisfies the highest expectations of the food industry and consumers. Both of these practices are capable of bring good prices to the farmers at their door steps. But the real issues are that both the practices are labour intensive and requires extra care — so, here the concept of ‘family farming’ may come handy. Today, in Punjab and Haryana due to urbanization the land has become too costly and that’s way these days the whole attention of the farmers including their sons’ are on real estate and that is threat to our sustainable development. So, if we want to attract and retain youth in Agriculture then GAPs and GDFPs are panacea for that- as both have greater scope to fetch fair and remunerative prices of the agricultural produce and product.

Introduction

With the major thrust of extension agencies now focused on production techniques, the market-led extension holds the key to the future. This assumes greater significance in the light of the new international trading regime under WTO as the export opportunities are now being opened-up to India, which may have direct implications on agro-enterprise development.

In the light of the above, the extension functionaries in India are presently ill-equipped to deal with such challenges. It appears now that the production of the agri-produce is going to be dictated by market requirements. In this age of WTO, the extension methodology also needs to work out for dissemination of good agricultural practices to the farmers based on internationally accepted standards. This recommendation has now been made in the 05th National Extension Education Congress held in 2009 jointly conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and CS Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Proceedings of the 05th National Extension Education Congress, March 05-09, 2009, ICAR and CSAU, Kanpur). 

Introduction

Recently the terms “governance” and “good governance” are being increasingly used in development literature. Bad governance is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies. Major donors and international financial institutions are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that reforms that ensure “good governance” are undertaken.

Good governance is an essential complement to sound economic policies. Efficient and accountable management by the public sector and a predictable and transparent policy framework are critical to the efficiency of markets and governments, and hence to economic development. Good governance, for the World Bank, is synonymous with sound development management The Bank’s experience has shown that the programs and projects it helps finance may be technically sound, but fail to deliver anticipated results for reasons connected to the quality of government action. Legal reforms, however urgent, may come to naught if the new laws are not enforced consistently or there are severe delays in implementation. Efforts to develop privatized production and encourage market-led growth may not succeed unless investors face dear rules and institutions that reduce uncertainty about future government action.

Introduction

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

So when it All Started?

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

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

Introduction to 3D Modeling Software
The world of 3D modeling has transformed design, enabling users to create digital representations of objects, buildings, and landscapes with precision and detail. Whether for architecture, product design, or art, 3D modeling software has become invaluable for professionals and enthusiasts alike. This chapter explores Google SketchUp, one of the most accessible tools for 3D modeling, alongside other popular software, comparing features, strengths, and applications.
Key Concepts in 3D Modeling
• Meshes and Polygons: Basic building blocks of 3D models. • Rendering and Texturing: Applying materials and lighting for realistic effects.
• Exporting and Compatibility: Sharing and integrating models across platforms.
Overview of Google SketchUp
Google SketchUp is known for its user-friendly interface and versatile tools, making it a popular choice for beginners and professionals.

Introduction 
The evolution of governance reforms in India must be situated within the broader global and domestic transitions in public administration. Inheriting its foundational structures from British colonial rule, India retained key institutional frameworks post-Independence in 1947, including the Parliament, Executive, Judiciary, and systems of law and order and revenue administration. Although these institutions provided a degree of continuity and stability, they gradually became mired in procedural rigidity, excessive centralization, and legal formalism. Mathur (2013) notes that the performance of the three core organs of governance, the legislature, executive, and judiciary, has drawn increasing public concern, particularly in their responsiveness to the rising aspirations of Indian citizens. In the early decades post-independence, India adopted a centralized, commandand- control model of economic and administrative governance. State officials wielded considerable discretion over the allocation of licenses, quotas, and permits, while the private sector remained underdeveloped and tightly regulated. This framework, while aligned with the nation-building ethos of the time, ultimately led to inefficiencies, corruption, and citizen disenchantment. The 1990s marked a watershed moment in India’s governance trajectory. With a balance-of-payments crisis and external pressures from international financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, India adopted neoliberal economic reforms centered on liberalization, privatization, and globalization (Ramesh Singh, 2013). These reforms fundamentally altered the state’s role from a direct provider of goods and services to a facilitator and regulator. A new governance discourse emerged, emphasizing accountability, transparency, efficiency, and citizen participation. This also marked the diffusion of New Public Management (NPM) ideas, which advocated for performance-based administration, managerial autonomy, and partnership with non-state actors. Simultaneously, the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002–2007) explicitly identified governance as a key determinant of development outcomes, underscoring that economic growth could not be sustained without reforming the institutions

The rapid adoption of Large Language Models requires organizations to manage not only model performance but also ethical, regulatory, operational and lifecycle risks. This chapter presents an integrated perspective on governance, optimization and lifecycle management of LLMs. It examines governance principles based on fairness, accountability, transparency, human-centered design and responsible AI. Regulatory developments and policy gaps are considered alongside the challenges of auditing opaque models, controlling hallucinations and establishing accountability across organizations and jurisdictions. The chapter also explores optimization methods such as pruning, quantization, model compression, instruction tuning, LoRA and QLoRA to improve efficiency while maintaining useful capabilities. Lifecycle management extends from data collection and model design through training, evaluation, deployment, monitoring, updating and eventual decommissioning. Real-world cases demonstrate the importance of continuous testing, feedback, security controls and governance throughout the model lifecycle. Emerging threats, including prompt injection, data poisoning, misinformation, privacy leakage and malicious use, further emphasize the need for coordinated oversight. The chapter ultimately advocates a lifecycle-based governance framework combining technical optimization, regulatory compliance, ethical safeguards and continuous monitoring

The successful transformation of agriculture through artificial intelligence and digital technologies requires supportive policies, institutions, infrastructure, and farmer-oriented programmes. This chapter examines the role of government policies and institutional support in promoting smart farming and digital agricultural innovation. Effective policies can facilitate investment in research and development, digital infrastructure, farmer training, technology access, rural connectivity, data governance, and sustainable agricultural practices. Institutional mechanisms are particularly important for overcoming barriers faced by smallholder farmers, including high technology costs, limited digital literacy, and inadequate infrastructure. The chapter emphasizes collaboration among governments, research institutions, universities, private enterprises, and farming communities to promote inclusive technology adoption, strengthen resilience, and achieve sustainable food security.

Rural development is transforming the lives of the rural people by creating awareness and mobilizing the people for self-help and pastoral help. Rural development is not new in India, where more than 70% of the people live in villages, their primary source of livelihood being agriculture, animal husbandry etc. Any area’s development initially occurs when changes happen in the home and family. Rural development focuses on the holistic development of the rural population by helping them to recognize their needs & interests and guiding them to meet them. This would result in personal, social, economic, and spiritual development.

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, any issue related to “information and communication technologies in agriculture (ICTs)” is extremely interesting and it belongs to the modern subject-matters of the agricultural economics science. Unambiguously the above phrase is the buzz remark for the agricultural extension scientists considering that the process of communication is fundamental to extension, training and passing on information. Thus, learning processes, dissemination of innovations and social change cannot be explained without reference to communication (Albrecht et al., 1989).

An efficient communication strategy, especially when combined with a wide range of available ICTs, utilises the advantages of both personal and impersonal media communication. This can be achieved by building up, promoting and using communication networks and modern technologies. Under the term “network” we understand the complex of communication channels which ensure that all members of the target group receive the message more than once, both from various personal contacts and media. This calls for the use of existing communication relationships, the dissemination of information by multipliers and influential individuals and a range of media which are appropriate to the type of information and for reaching the target groups. As well thought out, communicative approach can partly compensate for the often lamented shortage of advisers provided that one is in a position to communicate a message in various ways, to evaluate feedback and then to take action accordingly.

1. Introduction

Libraries have an outstanding role in the advocacy of sustainability and green practices, now that the place of environmental awareness is on the rise. Green libraries provide a commitment, through sustainable architectural practices, efficient systems in energy saving, measures taken with environmental consciousness to preserve resources, and ways to conserve resources in the work they do. The libraries focus on ensuring they provide healthy indoor spaces and educate their communities on sustainability. Admittedly, it is through the adoption of these practices that libraries minimize their ecological footprint and provide a beacon of environmental responsibility. Green libraries are facilities that take ecologically friendly approaches in carrying out operations and programming in activities targeting environmental responsibility. Such libraries try their best to use methods that diminish energy consumption and lower resource use to move closer to sustainability at its core, which may have less of an impact on the environment. Green libraries have focused on recycling, reduction of trash, renewable sources of energy like solar panels, energy efficiency in lighting and space heating, sustainable building materials, and architectural style.

1. Introduction

The idea of Green Libraries transcends mere energy conservation or waste reduction. It encapsulates a broader commitment to sustainability, encompassing green building practices, sustainable operations, environmentally friendly collections, and programs that educate and engage communities on sustainability issues. This essay explores the multifaceted nature of Green Libraries, examining their significance, the principles that guide them, and their impact on communities and the environment.

2. The Emergence of Green Libraries

The Green Library movement is relatively recent, gaining momentum in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This movement arose from a growing recognition of the library's role in society as a community hub and educational institution. Libraries, traditionally seen as repositories of knowledge and culture, began to evolve in response to societal shifts towards environmental consciousness.

1. Introduction

There is a real climate change, and human activity is its primary driver. Notably, worldwide average temperatures have been rising consistently since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, posing a danger to life as we know it from climate change. For example, 2019 had record sea levels, melting ice, and unusually high global temperatures as a result of increased human activity. Regrettably, in spite of the fact that climate change is causing the environment to deteriorate more and more, insufficient worldwide pledges have been made to mitigate its effects. Thus, the necessity for green libraries became apparent. In India, green libraries are becoming more and more important as the country works toward achieving the Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs). These libraries promote a comprehensive approach to environmentally friendly growth by serving as examples of social responsibility, environmental care, and economic success. Green libraries use eco-friendly construction materials, sustainable waste management practices, and renewable energy sources like solar power in their design. They clearly support climate resilience and drastically cut carbon footprints, which is in line with SDG 13 (Climate Action). Additionally, by fostering environmental literacy, lifelong learning for people of all ages, and inclusive and equal access to knowledge and educational resources, green libraries in India actively support SDG 4 (Quality Education). Additionally, by acting as green public spaces that improve urban livability and provide a haven from the bustle of city life while encouraging social cohesion and community participation, these institutions serve SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

About 80% of the world population live in developing countries and are dependent on agriculture. Agricultural products, just after harvesting, are dried to the safe moisture level. Open solar drying for drying agricultural products is being practiced since ages throughout the world. Due to its several drawbacks as danger of (dust, rain, ultra-violet rays, birds, animals etc.), advance technique, i.e. greenhouse drying, is being adopted for drying crops to reduce the drying time and increase the quality of the food products.

Drying involves a heat and mass transfer phenomenon in which heat energy supplied to the product surface is utilized in two ways: (i) to increase the product surface temperature in the form of sensible heat and (ii) to vaporize the moisture present in product through the provision of the latent heat of vaporization. The removal of moisture from the interior of the product takes place due to induced vapour pressure difference between the product and surrounding medium. The moisture from the interior diffuses to the product surface to replenish the evaporated surrounding moisture.

The working principle of greenhouse drying is in which the product is placed in trays receiving the solar radiations through the plastic cover and moisture is removed by natural convection or forced convection.

Greenhouse drying are being adopted to reduce the losses and to increase the quality of the dried products. Solar energy is the most promising power source of energy for drying of agricultural products. Most of the farmers adopt open sun drying because it is abundant and inexpensive. But the open sun dried products are also subjected to remarkable losses due to environment. Losses of fruits and vegetables are estimated to be 30%-40% during drying under open sunlight. The post-harvest losses can be reduced by adopting advanced means of drying, i.e. greenhouse drying. The greenhouse dryer can be operated in natural and forced mode as required. Studies reveal that the greenhouse dried products are of superior quality and better colour retention as compared to open sun drying.

The variety of greenhouses and greenhouse material, equipment and accessories are so many. However, there are certain basic materials that essential in almost all types of green houses. These are

Structural framing materials

Such materialsinclude low maintenance non-heat conducting timber; strong and durable galvanized steel; or light, low-maintenance and sturdy aluminium alloys. Though plastic pipe frames are usable, they are not very strong to withstand snow load or strong wind sheering forces. What one should choose as the framing material would be determined by the material one wishes to use as glazing, his budget and the permanence of the structure one desires. Aluminium is a popular material for greenhouse framework because it is relatively lightweight, rustproof, affordable and easy to assemble. The downside is that it is not a good insulating material and in very cold weather, heat loss from the metal frame could inflate your heating bill. Also, you would need to look for sturdy frames if your greenhouse is located in an area that experiences high winds. Condensation could also occur on an aluminium frame. Wooden structural frameworks for garden greenhouses are also a popular choice for its aesthetic value, natural feel and the ’warmth’ it exudes. It is an easy material to work with especially if you are not using a greenhouse kit for building. Some greenhouse owners would settle for nothing else as they believe it is the only material that complements the natural beauty of plants inside the greenhouse! Wood is a good insulating material so it will not allow heat loss in cold weather. Reinforced wood has superior strength and has an excellent load bearing capacity. Being a natural material, it has the potential to develop mildew or disease and offer a haven to tiny pests. So, when you choose wood to build the framework of your greenhouse, be sure that you pick a high quality hardy wood such as redwood, cypress or cedar. Also, treat wood with non-hazardous chemicals so that your plants are not adversely affected. The preservatives used for wooden greenhouse frames should be pressure treated, salt type or copper naphthenate. Copper naphthenate is a general use preservative used for pressure treating utility poles and timber. It is known to be very effective in preventing mould, mildew and dry rot. It works very well against wood-damaging fungi and insect pests. Pentachlorophenol is a restricted use wood preservative and is toxic to plants and humans. It is not available to the general public and poles or timber treated with it are not suitable for use in a greenhouse. PVC pipe can also be used as support for small greenhouses that are to be covered with polyethylene, but PVC requires additional support to withstand strong winds. Being flexible, PVC can be used particularly well in hoop houses. Though it has the advantage of offering insulation and, if UV treated, are long-lasting, they are not good at bearing the load of hanging baskets and shelving to any appreciable degree. PVC that is treated to be resistant to ultraviolet radiation is also known as UPVC.

There are several systems for greenhouse heating based on heat source and purpose or crops to be produced in greenhouse.

Electric heaters

Unit space heaters, either floor mounted or supported, are normally dependent on electricity supply supported by stand-by generators. Abroad they are fuelled with natural or bottled gas or fuel oil and use fans for heat distribution. This system requires a relatively moderate capital investment, is easy to install, and provides for easy expansion of facilities. If unit air heaters are used, they should be spaced and directed to blanket the entire area with heated air.

Hot Water Systems

Hot water systems utilize metal pipes that can be perimeter, under benches, or overhead fan forced unit heaters can be used. This system requires a boiler, valves, and other necessary controls. Hot water system is simpler to install and normally requires less maintenance than a steam system. Hot water systems are mainly used in smaller greenhouse.

Plants require proper environment for its growth and development. If environment is not suitable crop would not do well. To ensure proper environment to commercial crops for their better growth and development covered structures are used which provide microclimate appropriate for their growth and development. Growing of crops under such protective structures, also known as greenhouses, is termed as greenhouse technology. The structures harness solar radiation for photosynthesis in plants or can be provided with artificial lights (LEDs) for the purpose. The technology embraces many aspects of farming such as modelling of structures, agronomic practices for the production of the crop and the commercial viability of the venture. The technology ensures crop production in a cover more or less independent of natural prevailing environment. The covering or cladding permits desirable aspect of sun and air and help in modifying crop production environment inside. The modification of environment is aimed of creating micro-climate inside the structure/greenhouse most appropriate for the growth and development of the crop.

Hence greenhouse can be defined as a framed or inflated structure with claddings like glass polyethylene sheets, poly carbonates, fibre reinforced plastics and others in which plants are grown by creating microclimate conducive to crop for its growth and development with or without automation and mechanization. The purpose of growing crops under greenhouse conditions is to extend their cropping season and to protect them from adverse environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures, precipitation and pests. A large number of greenhouses/poly houses have come up in almost all states of India. Though in infancy but greenhouse cultivation particularly in horticulture crops and nursery production is visible.

17.1. Introduction

Grounded Theory (GT) is a systematic methodology in the social sciences that involves the construction of theories through methodical gathering and analysis of data. Developed by Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss in 1967, GT is widely used in qualitative research to generate theories that are grounded in empirical data. Unlike traditional research methods that test hypotheses, GT allows theories are to emerge from the data itself, making it a valuable tool for exploring complex social phenomena.

This chapter provides an in-depth exploration of Grounded Theory, including its origins, key principles, methodologies, applications, and criticisms. By the end of this article, readers will have a thorough understanding of GT and its significance in qualitative research.

Key words : Groundwater Modelling, GIS, PMWIN, ArcInfo Interface Con2grid, Interface Programme, ArcMacro Language.

Introduction

Groundwater is an important source of irrigation in India and has played a major role in increasing the food production. About 50 per cent of total irrigated area in the country is dependent on groundwater (Central Water Commission (CWC), 2000). Productivity of groundwater is normally more than the surface water due to the fact that it is available at the point of use, requires minimum conveyance infrastructure, is available on demand and maximizes the application efficiency. However, in past few years, excessive and unplanned groundwater pumping in certain parts of the country has resulted in depletion of groundwater resources. Water table in these region is going down day by day and making it beyond the reach of poor farmers. Therefore, keeping the water table in the desirable range is a major concern. This can be achieved by adopting proper pumping rate and pumping schedule. Groundwater modelling has successfully been used for deciding the pumping rate and pumping schedule. Groundwater modelling refers to simulation of groundwater behaviour under varying pumping and recharge conditions. A groundwater model is simply a set of equations, which describe the physical processes active in the aquifer subjected to certain assumptions. While the model itself obviously lacks the detailed reality of the groundwater systems, the behaviour of the validated model approximates that of the aquifer.

Abstract

Water is an essential and vital component for our life support system. Drought and floods are the extreme events of rainfall and the vagaries of monsoon and hydrogeological framework in the country are highly variable from place to place. The water resources available in the country are also not uniformly distributed. The changing Landuse pattern and population growth and the resultant water resources development has lead to water stress at many places. In such areas, the extraction of excessive quantities of groundwater has resulted in the drying up of wells, damages of ecosystems, land subsidence, salt-water intrusion and other related problems. Agricultural, urban & industrial wastes are increasingly threatening the groundwater quality, which is likely to become a more serious issue in the coming years. Considering the seriousness of the groundwater contamination, Central Ground Water Board has carried out detailed studies in few hot spots in the state of Tamil Nadu. The issues related to the water resources contamination and the findings of the studies in parts of Tamil Nadu are summarized in this paper.

1. Result demonstration

It is a method of motivating the people for adoption of a new practice by showing its distinctly superior result. The demonstrations are conducted in the farm or home of selected individuals and are utilized to educate and motivate groups of people in their neighborhood. This is a very effective method for the transfer of technology in a community.

Objectives

1. To show the advantages and applicability of a newly recommended practice in farmer’s own situation.

To address the present day problems in agriculture and horticultural sectors and also to equip the graduating and postgraduate agricultural students, the ICAR has been continuously striving to bring necessary reforms for quality enhancement in agricultural education. The Council has appointed National Core Group and BSMA Committee for revision and restructuring of Post graduate and Doctoral syllabi in consultation with all the stakeholders to meet the challenges and harness opportunities in various disciplines of agriculture and allied sciences. It has been felt that a paradigm shift is necessary in academic regulations to comply with various provisions of National Education Policy-2020. The syllabus of Masters’ and Doctoral programs was restructured and new courses were introduced.

Group dynamics and formation represent fundamental processes in community mobilization that determine how individuals come together to form collective entities capable of achieving shared goals while building social capital and institutional capacity that can sustain long-term community development efforts. Understanding these processes provides essential insights into how communities can organize themselves effectively while creating groups that can navigate complex challenges and maintain cohesion through the inevitable difficulties and conflicts that arise during collective action initiatives. The science of group dynamics encompasses the complex social, psychological, and organizational factors that influence how groups form, develop, function, and achieve their objectives while building understanding of the internal processes that enable or constrain group effectiveness and sustainability. This knowledge has evolved through decades of research in social psychology, organizational behavior, and community

Group contact method in communication involves engaging with multiple individuals simultaneously to convey information, facilitate discussions, or stimulate collective action. It encompasses various techniques such as group meetings, result demonstrations, method demonstrations, and study tours, among others. The primary aim of group contact methods is to leverage the power of collective engagement to disseminate knowledge, foster collaboration, and promote the adoption of desired behaviors or practices within communities. These methods enable extension workers to reach larger audiences efficiently, promote peer learning, and create supportive environments conducive to positive behavioral change.

Result Demonstration

Result Demonstration involves showcasing the superior outcomes of a new agricultural practice to motivate its adoption within a community. It serves as an effective means of technology transfer, inspiring farmers to experiment with innovations themselves.

Objectives include illustrating the practical advantages of newly recommended practices, motivating community groups to adopt them, bolstering confidence among farmers and extension agents, and fostering innovation leadership.

Techniques

Planning and Preparation • Analyze the local farming context. • Select cooperative farmers with adequate resources and community acceptance. • Choose representative demonstration sites. • Establish a clear schedule of operations.

Soil is the main growing medium. Natural as well as synthetic substitutes to soils are cropping up. Under greenhouse cultivation growing medium is generally top soil as used in open field/traditional farming. The practices of soil preparation for planting crops are more or less same as under open field. Generally, crops are planted on raise beds. As under open conventional farming soil preparation are made as per the crops or their varieties/hybrids to be grown. To enrich the soil with nutrients soil is tested for its physical and chemical properties and amended accordingly keeping in view the crop requirement. The soil composition is checked with each crop cycle and amended as per requirement of next crop. To avoid the harmful microbes and insects build up in the soil it is advisable to solarize or fumigate the greenhouse soil each year during hottest month of the year. Soil solarisation is an environment friendly soil pathogen management method and practiced widely in north India.

Soil Solarisation

Soil solarisation is an environment friendly method of using solar thermal power for controlling pests such as soil borne plant pathogens including fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and insect and mite pests along with weed seeds and seedlings in the moist soil by mulching the soil usually with a transparent polyethylene cover, to trap solar energy in greenhouses. It may also be described as a method of decontaminating soil or soil disinfestation using sunlight or solar thermal power. This energy/temperature causes desirable physical, chemical, and biological changes in the soil.

The growth pole theory was developed by French regional economist, Francois Perroux, in 1955. He was concerned with the phenomenon of economic development and with the process of structural change. Growth pole is a central location of economic activity. It is an urban location where economic activity ignites growth and better quality of life in the urban periphery.

He attempted to explain how modern process of economic growth deviated from the stationary conception of equilibrium growth. His arguments were based on Schumpeter’s theories of the role of innovations and large scale firms.

In Schumpeter’s analysis, development occurs as a result of discontinuous spurts in a dynamic world. The cause of discontinuous spurts is the innovative entrepreneur whose activities take place in large-scale firms. These firms are able to dominate their environment in the sense of exercising reversible and partially reversible influences on other economic units by reason of their dimension and negotiating strength, and by the nature of their operations.

Scale of operations, dominance and impulses have close relationship to innovate. This is the most important feature of Perroux’s theory and leads to the concepts of dynamic propulsive firm and leading propulsive industry. The dynamic propulsive firm is relatively large and belongs to a relatively fast growing sector. It has a high ability to innovate and intensity of its interrelation with other sectors of the economy is important enough for the induced effects to be transmitted to them.

Halo effect: When making an observation, some observers may be influenced to rate an individual on one aspect of the interaction by the way he was rated on another. This is similar to something that can happen in teaching when a teacher’s assessment of the performance of a student in one subject may influence his rating of that student’s performance in another.

The major impact of the two important components of the Karnataka Watershed Development Programme (KWDP) viz farming system intensification and watershed treatment will be on land-based enterprises and land owners, although to a certain extent landless families would also benefit from the increased labour demand through intensification of agriculture. To ensure growth with equity among all the stakeholders in the project, it is imperative to have practical, market-driven, complementary and supplementary income generating activities for weaker sections of the community, including SCs, STs, women, landless persons, families below the poverty line and other vulnerable groups in project districts.  Hence, it is imperative to raise the status of landless families above the poverty line.  The SHGs are to be encouraged to take up viable enterprise and to enhance their fund mobilization by regular savings, investment in viable income generating activities and in time repayment of the loan taken.  The IGAs are meant mostly for the landless and asset less stakeholders in the watersheds.

Drone cameras have gained popularity due to advancements in technology and decreasing prices. Today, you can find various types of drones, from beginner models with cameras to those equipped with powerful HD and high-resolution 4K cameras. Despite the diversity of models, most drones share similar controls and functionalities. Thanks to technological advancements, drone cameras have become essential tools for aerial photography and videography. This article will explore the components of a drone camera, its functionality, and its diverse applications across various industries.

A drone camera is a specialized device attached to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), designed to capture high-quality aerial images and videos. These cameras vary in size and design, from compact versions for hobbyists to professional-grade models used in commercial applications.

Composition is a fundamental element of cinematography, essential for creating engaging video content. When designing shots and angles, videographers must consider not only technical aspects like lighting and sound but also creative choices that set the mood. Video composition helps filmmakers craft a narrative, influencing how viewers engage with the story. Effective composition goes beyond just framing; it involves color grading and the strategic placement of elements within the frame, making it vital for captivating the audience.

Video Composition Tutorial

A tutorial from B&H Photo’s YouTube channel outlines five crucial rules of video composition that should not be broken. These rules serve as a foundation, providing structure and consistency to the creative process

This practical assignment deals with operational principles and functions of the Overhead Project which governs the appropriate handling and application of OHP in real situation and also guides students in preparing different types of Overhead Projector slides for presentation.

This practical assignment is designed for the students to give first-hand information on components, working procedure and handling of public address system (PAS) and liquid crystal display (LCD) projector.

PURPOSE

 To acquaint students with how to operate and handle the public address system.

 To acquaint the students handle LCD projector.

A video camera is an optical device designed to capture videos, differing from a movie camera that records images on film. Initially developed for the television industry, video cameras are now widely utilized for various purposes.

Video cameras are primarily operated in two modes. The first mode, prominent in early broadcasting, is live television, where the camera transmits real-time images directly to a screen for immediate viewing. While a few cameras still support live television production, most live feeds are now used for security, military/tactical, and industrial applications requiring covert or remote monitoring. In the second mode, images are recorded onto a storage device for archiving or further processing. For many years, videotape was the primary format, but it has been gradually replaced by optical discs, hard disks, and eventually flash memory. Recorded video is utilized in television production and is increasingly used for surveillance and monitoring tasks, where unattended recording of a situation is necessary for later analysis.

A DSLR, or “Digital Single Lens Reflex” camera, uses a mirror mechanism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder, allowing the photographer to see exactly what the lens sees. When the shutter is activated, the mirror moves aside, allowing light to reach the image sensor, capturing the photograph. While single-lens reflex cameras have been around in various forms since the 19th century, initially relying on film, the first commercially available digital SLR with an image sensor emerged in 1991. Unlike point-and-shoot or phone cameras, DSLR cameras allow for interchangeable lenses, offering greater
flexibility.
Working Principles of DSLR Camera
When using a DSLR camera, the image seen through the viewfinder at the back of the camera is the actual view through the lens. This ensures you are previewing the precise scene you intend to capture. Light from the scene enters through the lens and hits a reflex mirror positioned at a 45-degree angle inside the camera. This mirror directs the light vertically to an optical component known as a “pentaprism.” The pent prism then reorients the light horizontally by passing it through two internal mirrors, delivering the final image into the viewfinder.

In Individual Contact Method, the extension agent engages with individuals on a one-on-one basis, ensuring personalized interaction with each person. This method is employed when the target audience is limited in number, geographically proximate to the communicator, and ample time is allocated for effective communication.

Farm and Home Visit

This method entails direct, face-to-face interactions between extension agents and farmers, typically conducted either on the farm or at the farmer's residence. Its objectives include providing firsthand information on agricultural and household matters, assisting farmers in problem-solving, and aiding in their livelihood sustainability.

Techniques

• Planning and Preparation:

• Identify target audience and topics of discussion.

• Gather relevant materials and publications.

• Schedule visits efficiently and provide advance notice to farmers.

Introduction

In a technology that consistently maintains a fantastic development curve with capabilities doubling up year-to-year, freezing the hardware specification is not easy or very meaningful. GIS (not geography) owes to its genesis and progress to the developments in information technology front. It may be asserted that any and all upgrade in the hardware industry will only add to its own ability to effectively process more and more data and handle more complex routines. The personal computers of today are seen to be adequate to run typical GIS software. A reference hardware specification is discussed here. GIS software development is an involved process but then the software developers have made good use of hardware capabilities available and have released upgrades consistently. Hardware developments are such that they defy a static spcification. However a reference specification as on 2009. An overview of various software packages used in the past as well as present is attempted. ESRI released a new version in 2002 and claimed that their ArcGIS is an “integrated collection of GIS software products for building a complete GIS that enable users to deploy GIS functionality wherever it is needed, in desktops, servers, or custom applications; over the Web; or in the field.” The details are discussed below. While a number of software overviews are available, this text is not aimed at providing a tutorial to any of the software packages nor do the comparisons made are to promote any particular software. Similarly, it is presumed that the reader is familiar with the hardware elements and functionality. Lot of information about the software packages are available on their respective web sites and the reader is exhorted to look for current, additional and in depth information required in the pages. A brief discussion on Liveware or human resource can be found at the end of the chapter.

Anderson defines organizations as structured human relationships wherein individuals purposefully associate in systematically arranged units to advance and achieve common purposes or interests not explicitly articulated within the institution. Each member assumes a formal status and role within this framework. Distinguishing an organization from an institution lies in its focused pursuit of narrowly defined objectives; it constitutes a collective of individuals organized to pursue specific aims. Conversely, an institution encompasses broader and more general objectives, constituting a set of socially endorsed procedures entailing patterned behavior, norms, and regulations. Organizations may function within institutions, thereby contributing to and facilitating the achievement of institutional objectives. The formation and structure of an organization evolve through the delineation of specialized activities, formulation of rules and regulations for operations, establishment of meeting schedules and locations, ultimately rendering the organization a clearly delineated entity with specific objectives, officers, and membership.

Introduction

As we all know that the 21st century has witnessed the changing phenomenon of information and its communication resulting a dynamic transformation not only in the social structure but also in the perception of human mind.  Exchange of information and knowledge has empowered the human being and enabled them to achieve sustainable development. From paper- based society to paperless society, information has remained the most valuable commodity.

Abstract

Agroforestry is an ancient practice that farmers have adopted throughout the world. There are innumerable examples of traditional land use practices combining production of trees and agriculture crops on the same piece of land. In India, the organized agroforestry research began in 1979 when a Seminar on Agroforestry was organized at Imphal by the ICAR, New Delhi. As a follow up to this, ICAR launched an All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Agroforestry (AICRPAF) was started in 1983. The diagnostic survey and appraisal revealed that there are enumerable agroforestry practices prevalent in different agro- ecological zones of India occupying sizeable areas. However, spatial technologies like Geographical Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Positioning System (GPS) have yet to be implemented extensively in this field in India. The spatial technologies have shown great potential in natural resource management through out the world, especially in developed countries in the fields like forest cover mapping, agricultural planning, watershed management, land use planning, etc. In India the agroforestry land use occupy large areas but use of these technologies to estimate area has been initiated in year 2007 with DST sponsored project entitled ‘Spatial and Temporal analysis of agroforestry interventions in North-western India using GIS and Remote Sensing’ The area under agroforestry systems has been estimated/ mapped in two districts viz., Yamunanagar (Haryana) and Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), where intensive commercial agroforestry was predominant. Besides, the methodology developed as an out come of this study may be replicated for agroforestry systems existing in other parts of the country.

Keywords: Agroforestry, Geo-spatial, Mapping, Natural Resources, Remote Sensing.