eChapters

Databases

A database is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated. Databases can be classified according to types of content: bibliographic, full-text, numeric and images and by their application area, for example: accounting, music compositions, movies, banking, manufacturing, or insurance. The term database may be narrowed to specify particular aspects of organized collection of data and may refer to the logical database, to the physical database as data content in computer data storage or to many other database sub-definitions.

Abstract

Biological databases that are composed of a large collection of digital nucleic acid sequences, protein sequences, or other polymer sequences stored on a computer, which is made available to the research community worldwide using web servers. The vast amount of information generated in molecular biology is analyzed, curated, tabulated, and arranged in databases. There are different types of biological databases, based on their contents. Besides, the database management system, a program to manage the databases, can be of two types: distributed DBMS and relational DBMS. This chapter briefly narrates the importance and purpose of biological databases.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) known as Khajoor, Kharek is an important fruit tree of semi-arid and arid regions of the world. It grows well under poor desertic soils due to its hardy plant characteristics and deep root system.  It is also one of the most suitable fruit plant, which can be easily grown under saline irrigation conditions. It is well known fact for date palm that its feet in the water and its head in sun. It requires dry hot climate for growth and development of fruits. In arid region, crop production is risky preposition, where date palm cultivation contributes in achieving food security, high nutritive value food, crop diversification, desertification control, income generation and foreign exchange earnings. It can be grown at such areas where adequate irrigation facilities are available besides other climatic requirements (Chandra et al., 1992; Sharma and Singh, 2013).

Introduction

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.; Family- Arecaceae) also known as Khajoor, Kharek is an ancient important fruit tree of semi-arid and arid regions of the world. It grows well under poor desertic soils due to its hardy plant characteristics and deep root system. It is also suitable fruit trees for growing under saline irrigation conditions. It is well known fact for date palm that its feet in the water and its head in sun. It requires dry hot climate for growth and development of fruits. In arid region, crop production is risky preposition, where date palm cultivation contributes in achieving food security, high nutritive value food, crop diversification, desertification control, higher income generation and foreign exchange earnings. It can be grown at such places where adequate irrigation facility is available besides other dry hot climate conditions (Chandra et al, 1992; Singh and Dhandar, 2007). Better returns from date plantation can be achieved through good management practices besides adequate marketing of produce. The quality produce and its marketing will help to increase the income from date palm cultivation.

Introduction

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a monocotyledonous and dieocious species belonging to the family Palmae. The Latin name of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, is derived from the Phoenician name “Phoenix,” which means date palm, and dactylifera is derived from the Greek word “daktulos,” which means a finger. In India, generally, two species of Phoenix are found, of which, Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. called “desi khajoor,” is found throughout the country but t produces inferior quality fruits. The fruit contains large stones with less pulp content.

Date palm is considered one of the world’s oldest cultivated fruit trees. Archeological evidence suggests that the date palm was domesticated some 6000 years ago in the Mesopotamian region. It is widely cultivated in arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa. It is also one of the most appropriate fruit trees, and it can be easily grown under saline soil and water conditions. It grows well in poor, arid soils due to its hardy plant characteristics and deep root system. Date palm is believed to be indigenous to countries around the Persian Gulf. In the Indus Valley, date palm is believed to have been introduced by the soldiers of Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C. and during the Muslim invasions at the beginning of the eight century AD. Date palm was commercially cultivated in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iran, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Pakistan, and Sudan, among many other Near East and North African countries. In India, dates are grown in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu (Table 1).

Phoenix dactylifera commonly known as the true date palm, is a palm in the genus Phoenix, cultivated for its edible sweet fruits. The fruit’s English name as well as the Latin species name dactylifera, both come from the Greek word for “finger,” Daktulos, because of the fruit’s elongated shape. The date palm is believed to have originated in the lands around the Persian Gulf. Date palms are said to thrive with their “feet in water and heads in the sun” because they need plenty of ground water but high heat and arid weather to produce fruit. Therefore, date palms grow best in hot and arid climates.

Genus : Phoenix 
Species : dactylifera L.
Family : Palmae (Sub family-Phoenicoideae)
Chromosome No. : 2n=36

Date (Phoenix dactylifera) Finger bearing is derived from Greek word Phoenix. This ancient plant has been named phoenix after the mythological bird which was native of Egypt and also very likely after ‘Phoenicia’, an old country on the coastal regions of Syria where palms were found growing in plenty. The date palms are usually planted as ornamental for their luxurious crown which is spreading at the top. The trunk and crown is covered with stiff pinnate leaves, suckers or offshoots at the base, markedly transforms the site or scene and provide an exotic charm.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important fruit tree of semi-arid and arid regions. It grows well under poor desertic soils due to its hardy plant characteristics and deep root system. It is also one of the most suitable fruit trees, which can be easily grown under saline conditions. In arid region, crop production is risky preposition, where date palm cultivation contributes in achieving food security, high nutritive value food, crop diversification, desertification control, income generation and foreign exchange earnings. It can be grown at such places where adequate irrigation facilities are available besides other climatic requirements.

The latin name of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera is derived from a Phoenician name “Phoenix”, which means date palm and dactylifera derived from a Greek word “daktulos” means a finger. In India, generally two species of Phoenix are found. Out of which, Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. called “desi khajoor” is found throughout the country but it produces inferior quality fruits. The fruit contains large stone with less pulp content. From its crown parts, a liquid is extracted known as neera or taddi, which is used as fresh drinks and also for preparation of jaggary. The tree of wild date/ desi khajoor (Phoenix sylvestris) is found in Bundelkhand region of the country and it is suitable tree component for agro forestry system (Tewari et al., 2001). Phoenix dactylifera is commercially grown for edible fruits and value added products.

• The date is a good source of crystalline sugar.
• It is a dioecious and monocotyledonous fruit crop.
• Dates can be grown in sandy loamy soils.
• Date palm needs 3300 units of heat. (A unit of heat means a degree above a daily mean of 18°C between flowering, fruit development and ripening period.

Cultivars

• Halawi of makes tolerant of rain. It is 28.5 to 42.2 per cent Dakastage Dang Zoo, Hayni Khadrawy, Shamran (Sayen) are tolerant to high humidity. Medjoal, Bastree, Zahidi – is rain and high humidity tolerant.

Date-palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). belongs to family Palmae and is the most common tree of desert and dry areas. Date palm is one of the oldest trees known to man kind. Date-palm is believed to have originated in the countries around Persian Gulf. It is extensively grown in Iraq, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Mauritiana, Morrocco, Tunisia, Baharin, Sudan, USA, Spain, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, Somalia, Oman and some parts of the South America. Date is a staple food of the people of the Western Iraq and North Africa. In India, it has been believed to be introduced by soldiers of Alexander the Great in 4^th century B.C. In India it is commercially cultivated in Rajasthan, Punjab, Hariyana and Gujarat.

Cultivars: Deglet Noor, Halawy, Khadhrawi, Hayani, Majhul, Zahidi, Khalaeh.

Uses

Date palms produce many products that are useful to human beings. The primary product is the date fruit, which can be eaten fresh, dried, or in various processed forms. In North Africa and the Middle East, some dates are harvested and consumed during the Khalal stage, when the fruit are still very astringent with a high tannin content (Dowson and Aten, 1962 ; Glasner et al., 2002; Kader,1992). Dates can be used in cereal, pudding, bread, pressed cakes, cookies, candy bars, ice cream, and date shakes (a California specialty). Date fruit also can be made into juice, vinegar, wine, beer, sugar, syrup, honey, chutney, pickle, paste, dip, and food flavoring (Barreveld, 1993; Glasner et al., 2002).

It is said that there are as many uses of dates as there are days in a year. The trunk and wood of date palms can be used as timber, wood, or fuel. Fiber from the trunk and leaves can be made into bags, baskets, camel saddles, cords, crates, fans, food covers, furniture, mats, paper, ropes, trays, and twine. Dried bundles of leaves (‘‘Barusti’’) can be made into shades, roofs, separating walls, and enclosures. Ribs of the leaves can be used to build boats (small fishing boats called ‘‘Shasha’’) or fishing traps. The base of the leaves and fruit stalks can be used for fuel. The pith of the palms can be made into date palm flour. Terminal buds (palm heart) can be eaten as a salad or as a cooked vegetable. Date seeds can be used as feed for livestock or strung as beads for decoration. Oil from date seeds can be manufactured into soap (Chao and Krueger, 2007). Dates are considered a balanced and healthy diet and have several medicinal uses. Leaves are source of fibre used for making ropes baskets and cordage. Walking sticks are made from leafstalk.

Introduction
Davana (Artemisia pallens Wall.) is one of the important aromatic herb found abundantly in humid habitats in the plains all over India. It is popularly known as sage brush, worm wood and mug word. The davana (Artemisia pallens) is a small to medium height; annual and herbaceous aromatic plant. This herb is erect, and grow up to 60 cm height. Its leaves are highly divided and bears small size yellow coloured flower. Its leaves and stem found protected with greyish-white tomentum. The leaves are lobed, alternate, and petiolate.
Origin & Distribution
It is native to southern India, where it is traditionally grown in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, T.N., and A.P, growing widely in tropical to subtropical
plains as Rabi season crop. It also found growing in wild form in the Himalayan region in the Simla, Kashmir valley, and Nainital hills. It is widely used by Ayurvedic healers to balance the three energies. It is an erect growing
plant up to 60 cm height. It does not grow wild, but grown as a garden plant in South India. It is a crop of irrigated conditions; and do well when planted in November-December, yielding significantly higher oil yield in comparison to crop planting in July-August. The crop should be harvested 2-3 inches above ground level during bright sunny days at 50 percent flowering stage to have high oil content and oil yield.

Semilooper: Thysanoplusia(Plusia) orichalcea : Noctuidae

Bluish green or grey coloured eggs are laid singly on lower surface of leaves.The larvae are semi loopers and feed voraciously on leaves and cause defoliation of the plants.

6.1. Origin and distribution

• Grows wild in temperate Himalayas.

• Common in Kashmir Valley, Shimla and Nainital Hills.

• Commercially cultivated in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

6.2. Economic importance

• Sweet worm wood or annual worm wood

• Chemical constituents - Artimisinin

• Commonly used in garlands, bouquets and religious offerings in most part of the country.

• Leaves and flowers contain essential oil valued for its exquisite and delicate aroma and is used in high grade perfumes and cosmetics.

Deadweight cost/loss : The extent to which the value and impact of a tax, tax relief or subsidy is reduced because of its side-effects. For instance, increasing the amount of tax levied on workers’ pay will lead some workers to stop working or work less, so reducing the amount of extra tax to be collected. However, creating a tax relief or subsidy to encourage people to buy life insurance would have a deadweight cost because people who would have bought insurance anyway would benefit.

Death-to-case ratio : The number of deaths attributed to a particular disease during a specified time period divided by the number of new cases of that disease identified during the same time period.

Debt forgiveness : Cancelling or rescheduling a borrower’s debts to lessen the pain of the debt burden. Debt forgiveness is increasingly viewed as the best way to relieve the financial problems facing poorer countries. Some of these countries have to pay so much in interest each year to foreign lenders that they have little money left to spend on the long-term solutions to their poverty, such as educating their workers and building a modern infrastructure. In 1998 the world Bank calculated that around 40 of the world’s poorest countries had an “unsustainably high” debt burden : the present value of their total debts was more than 220% of their exports. Debt forgiveness has potential drawbacks. For instance, there is a risk of moral hazard. If countries that borrow too much are let off their financial obligations, poor countries may feel they have nothing to lose by borrowing as much as they can. This is why policymakers often argue that debt forgiveness should come with a conditionality clause, for instance, a requirement that countries have a track record of implementing economic reforms designed to prevent a repeat of the errors that first created the need for debt forgiveness. This is the approach taken by the World Bank’s HIPC (highly indebted poor country) initiative, launched in 1996 and expanded in 1999. However, by 2003, only eight of the 38 poor countries eligible under the programme had made enough progress in reform to have some debt forgiven.

Introduction

Work-dwelling or workplace well-being describes all aspects of the working lifespan of workers from the point of view of quality, safety and physical environment. It pronounces the workers’ feelings about their work, their working environment, the climate at work and work organization. According to WHO (2010), a healthy workplace environment not only merely finds the absence of illness but also a state of comprehensive physical, mental and social comfort. Work and health hence have a reciprocal relationship that concerns occupational health wellbeing and confers decent work environments i.e. (i) payment of reasonable income; (ii) safety-security in employment and working environment; (iii) guarantee of equal opportunities and treatment for all; (iv) enclosure of social protection for the workers and their families; (v) offering prospects for personal development and inspiring social integration and (vi) allowance of workers to express their apprehensions and to organize (ILO, 1999). In the entrepreneurial sphere, globalization along with fast industrial progress is supposed to be accountable for occupational health hazards and related workplace ill-being, work insecurity, the lack of protection for workers’ health and well-being in the form of work-related accidents, illness and stress, lack of workers’ compensation and paid sick leave, lack of maternity protection, excessive hours of work, etc.(https://www.ilo.org/). This was evidenced in the recent report of ILO (2023) where it was found that 2.3 million people around the world surrender to work-related accidents or diseases every year which links to over 6000 deaths every solitary day (www.ilo.org). Subsequently, there are about 340 million occupational accidents where 160 million are fatalities of work-related illnesses annually in the World.

Introduction

Decentralization means the action or fact of reducing or undoing “centralization” or “concentration.” The dictionary meaning of decentralization is “The process of transferring the functions from the Central Government to the local units.” Decentralization is devolving power of decision–making with the lower level of organization. In a decentralization, delegation and devolution of power are given to the lower level. Devolution implies a situation in which lower ranking units acquire greater autonomy in respect of certain defined functions, including decision-making authority. Devolution of functions, powers, and responsibilities are normally granted through legislation.

Decentralized Planning in India

With the introduction of the Community Development Programme (CDP) and National Extension Service (NES) in 1952, increasing agricultural production had been on India’s agenda in different plan periods. The success of CDP and NES was reviewed by the Balawant Rai Committee in 1957 and the committee realized that community development can be achieved only when the community understands its problems, owns its responsibilities, exercises the necessary powers through its elected representatives, and maintains a constant and intelligent vigilance on local administration. The recommendation of the committee led to the preparation of plans at the level of state, district, block, towns, and Panchayats in the second plan period from 1957 to 1962. The Fourth Evaluation Report (Programme Evaluation Organization, Planning Commission) in 1959 recommended that organized and institutional participation by the public in development programs is bound to give better, more consistent, and more lasting results. In 1977, Ashok Meheta Committee suggested changing the concept of Panchayati Raj to a political institution. In 1981, the eminent economist Prof. M.L. Dantewala observed that the merit of decentralized planning is derived from its ability to discover dormant resources and skills and its endeavor to activate them. However, there was slow progress in decentralized planning up to the eighth plan (1992-97).

Storage of paddy seed lots after harvesting is one of the crucial aspects of processing shopfloor. Paddy due to increased mechanised harvesting may loose vital seed quality parameters. Since seed growers cannot buy a combined harvester themselves-they resort to hiring of this machine. Sometimes in the hurry of completing harvesting they harvest the crop at un-safe moisture content. This un-safe moisture content may go up to 50-60% also. Harvesting of seed crop with high moisture has adverse effect on storability. Ensuring safe seed moisture is very critical especially during rabi-summer seed production cycle. Most of the growers depend on sun drying for reducing the seed moisture. But paddy should not be dried >3% in one cycle. Follow tempering and convection cooling after every cycle and repeat the cycle till seed attains safe moisture content (14%).

Introduction

Financial markets play a critical role in the health and stability of a nation's economy. They act as a complex network where individuals, businesses and governments can exchange financial instruments, facilitating the flow of capital and fostering economic growth. According to the World Bank, the global stock market capitalization reached a staggering $93 trillion USD in 2022, highlighting the vast pool of resources circulating within these systems. At the heart of financial markets lies the ability to connect those who possess capital with those who require it (Karpova et al?, 2020). Companies seeking to expand their operations can raise funds by issuing stocks or bonds, essentially selling a piece of ownership or a promise to repay a loan with interest. Investors, on the other hand, can utilize these markets to put their money to work, seeking returns on their investments through dividends, interest payments, or capital appreciation. This efficient allocation of resources fuels economic growth by enabling businesses to invest, innovate and create jobs.

Introduction

Women make essential contributions to the agricultural and rural economies in all developing countries. Their roles vary considerably between and within regions and are changing rapidly in many parts of the world, where economic and social forces are transforming the agricultural sector. Agriculture needs manpower, if the manpower split into gender wise, amazing fact is that the women contribution is greater or equal to men (Chauhan, 2011).That is reason that right from the day the country become independent, it has been trying hard for rural development.

According to the Penguin Atlas of Women in the World, women make up 40 per cent of the agricultural labour force in most parts of the world, while in developing countries they make up 67 per cent of the agricultural workforce (Singh, 2008). Therefore, strengthening and expanding women’s roles and opportunities in agriculture promotes sustainable economic development. Gender inequalities are a measurable and significant limit on agricultural productivity and efficiency, undermining rural economic development. India has paved the way to development by increasing its trade and growth in Agriculture sector. To review the agriculture scenario of our country, it depicted that there is need to pay sincere attention towards the human resource development (men and women together) because modernizing agriculture needs skill and efficient work forced. Farm business has become a family enterprise in India, where both men and women take part evenly. It is well known fact that the success of rural development process largely depends on the participation of people at large, irrespective of sex. The problems of involving women’s participation in the development process are now catching the attention of planners and policy maker because of increasing imbalances generated out of development process. Now days, rural women play a vital role in domestic and socio-economic life of the society and therefore, national development is not possible without developing this important and substantial section of our society (Okafor, 2008).

The content presented in this chapter is exploratory and reflects emerging trends in integrating weather intelligence with decision support systems. The term “weather intelligence” is introduced as a framework, with ongoing research expected to further refine and expand upon these ideas as technologies evolve. In an era where climate variability and extreme weather events increasingly threaten global food systems, the integration of advanced decision support systems (DSS) with what we are now calling weather intelligence has emerged as a transformative paradigm. This chapter explores how food production— encompassing agriculture, fisheries, and animal husbandry—can harness integrated weather intelligence to inform real-time crisis management, strategic planning, and risk mitigation. The discussion is exploratory in many respects, as the concept of weather intelligence represents an innovative framework that challenges traditional forecasting methods and decision support tools (Fig. 9.1). Drawing on multidisciplinary research and practical case studies, we examine the building blocks of decision support systems tailored to food production. We then discuss the integration of weather intelligence into crisis response and strategic planning, highlighting both established risk mitigation approaches and emerging tools designed to anticipate and respond to extreme weather events. By contextualizing these developments within the broader scope of sustainable food production, this chapter offers an in-depth analysis and a forward-looking vision for decision support and response management in a rapidly changing climate.