eChapters

Introduction

The state of Odisha highly depends on rainfall for the agricultural production. But rainfall distribution is very erratic and uneven which result heavy floods and droughts in different pockets of the state. Thus, the agricultural production is very unstable. It is present in the eastern region of India which is again located in the subtropical belt of medium pressure. Here hot and dry summer welcomes wet humid monsoon which last about few months. Charming autumn and with short and mild winter entertain the human life. But here climate is characterized by high temperature and medium rainfall. Topography however modifies the local climate greatly. The four meteorological seasons prevailing in the state which are: winter (January to February), pre-monsoon season (March to May), south-west monsoon season (June to September) and north east monsoon season (October-December).

Introduction

Seasonal or annual fluctuation in weather patterns is termed as climate variability. However, climate change is a change in the mean state of weather statistic over three decades of time period. Climate change is exacerbating the challenges faced by the agriculture as well as horticulture sector. For last 10 years, Asia is facing the serious threats from climate change and variability such as tsunami, f loods and droughts. Extreme events are expected to have large negative impacts on crop productivity. The rise in temperature and reduction in rainfall under semi-arid environments are likely to reduce production of fruits, vegetables and flowers in the coming 20 years. The production and quality of fresh fruit and vegetable crops can be directly and indirectly affected by exposure to high temperatures and elevated levels of carbon dioxide and ozone. The rise in atmospheric CO2 levels due to global climate change and horticultural practices has both direct and indirect effects on secondary metabolite synthesis in plants.

Introduction Soil ecosystems are the foundation of human life support systems. Soil erosion, loss of soil organic matter and nutrient depletion are among the leading contributors to impaired soil health, reduced crop yields and poverty. Realizing the significant role that soils play in food and environmental security and in abating climate change, the United Nations declared 2015 as the Year of Soils. The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), in 2002, proposed to observe the 5th December as “World Soil Day” [WSD] to create awareness among all stakeholders on the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to human commonwealth through its contribution to food, water and energy security and as a mitigation of biodiversity loss and climate change. These occasions remind all stakeholders associated with agriculture all over the world to put in all efforts to promote scientific management of soil resources for soil protection, conservation and sustainable productivity.

Agricultural production system has gone a long way in supporting the world’s food requirement. The projected estimates revealed that to meet the global population of about 11.3 billion in 2050, the global demand for cereal will increase by 60% (Rosegrant and Cline, 2003, Bengtsson et al., 2006). Agriculture is considered as the chief agent of environmental transformation. The unrestrained attitude of Homo sapiens towards the use of natural resource catalyzing the causes leading to global warming, has increased the challenges manifold to provide food security in a sustainable manner. Increased concentration of CO2 and other green house gases have resulted in an increase of 0.760 C in surface temperature globally since nineteenth century and the mean global surface temperature is predicted to increase by an additional 1.30C to 1.80C by 2050( IPCC, 2007). Sinha and Swaminathan (1991) reported that an increase of 20C in temperature could decrease the rice yield by about 0.75 t/ha in the high yield areas and a 0.5oC increase in winter temperature would reduce wheat yield 0.45 t/ha.

Introduction

Agriculture and allied sectors have always been the backbone of the Indian economy and despite concerted industrialization in the last six decades agriculture still occupies a place of pride. The significance of agriculture in the national economy arises from the role it plays in India’s national income, employment generation and export earnings; this can be seen from the provisional estimate on contribution of various sectors to the GDP in the f irst quarter of 2020-21, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic, positive percentage change (+3.4) over previous year when all other sectors have negative change.

Introduction

Women entrepreneurship in economic development of any nation has been recognised for its significant contribution. The women folk can be considered as backbone of any nation. Now time has come for women empowerment. In rural Odisha, women not only play an important role for agricultural development but also plays significant role in allied agricultural sector such as dairy, fishery, poultry, mushroom production etc. In Indian condition dairy has been considered as “Rural Banking” as it is practiced mostly by majority of the marginal, small and landless farm families for their sustenance and livelihood. The role of rural women for animal husbandry is of paramount importance. In this sector they are managers as well as decision makers. Women do more than 80% dairy operation like cleaning, feeding, milking, marketing of milk and milk products. The state and central government initiate several scheme, programmes and projects for empowerment of women through various micro enterprises including dairy. Against this background a study was undertaken to identify the constraint faced by women entrepreneur in dairy sector in Khordha district of Odisha.

Introduction

Agriculture is an important sector of Indian economy and it contributes about 17.4% to the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA) for the year 2016-17 provides employment to over 54.6 % of the population. There has been a continuous decline in the share of agriculture and allied sector in GVA from 18.6% in 2013 14 to 17.4% in 2016-17. Falling share of agriculture and allied sector in GVA is an expected outcome in a fast growing and structurally changing economy. However since 54.6% of the population is still dependent on agriculture and engaged in improving the agricultural production and overall income. The agricultural production system required timely and adequate agriculture credit to fulfill farmers need. Agricultural Finance ensures provision of multiple types of services dedicated to support both on- and off-farm agricultural activities and businesses including input provision, production, and distribution, wholesale, processing and marketing.

Introduction

Cotton is a fiber crop of Malvaceous family. There are four cultivated species of cotton viz. Gossypium arboreum, G. herbaceum, G. hirsutum and G. barbadense out of which G. hirsutum is the predominant species contributing about 90% to the global production. In India all the above four cultivated species are grown on commercial scale as a kharif crop. India is the largest producer as well as consumer of cotton in the world. The major cotton growing states of India are Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and parts of Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka. In Odisha cotton cultivation is an up-coming activity. Many of the western belt farmers, mainly from Rayagada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Nuapara districts have been taking cultivation of this cash crop. According to the report of Odisha economic survey, 2018-19 a total of 1.45 lakh ha area was cultivated in 2017-18 producing 3.65lakh bales of cotton. In Rayagada district cotton is cultivated in 9 blocks out of 11 blocks comprising an area of 35170 ha. For the year 2018-19 yield was 12.37 q/ha with production of 25.6 MT of cotton according to the data given by District agriculture office, Rayagada.

Mushrooms is known for its delicious and nutritious food with highly digestible lysine rich protein, vitamins and minerals, Mushroom serves as a low calorie food which lacks fats and are low in carbohydrate. They are rich in folic acid, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, copper and iron and vitamin-B complex. In place of starch, mushroom contains sorbitol and linolenic acid. They are excellent sources of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid and vitamin B-12. Further, mushrooms are also reported to have high medicinal attributes. A large number of mushrooms contain biological active polysaccharide protein complex having anti-tumor, immune-modulating and antioxidant properties.

Nutritional and food security is the problem of the day globally due to increase in population by many folds. It is therefore one of the important challenges of public and private sector to provide nutrient rich food with appropriate security for development of human kingdom. Advances in food production have largely kept pace with demand. More than 830 billion people are still hungry and more than 2 billion people are lack of sufficient nutrients. Paradoxically, more than 2 billion people are overweight or obese. Malnutrition means bad nutrition not only under nutrition. For some time the food debate centered on the food security drawing on wildly accepted thinking from 1966 i.e. world food summit which defined food security as a state or condition “when all people at all times are physical, economic and social access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet the dietary needs and food preference for active and healthy life”. Thus nutrients are necessary component to food security.

The current world population of 7.6 billion is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100, according to United Nations (UN). With roughly 83 million people being added to the world’s population every year, the upward trend in population size is expected to continue, even assuming that fertility levels will continue to decline (UN, 2017). This means there will be an extra billion people to feed within the next decade. Continuing population and consumption growth will mean that the global demand for food will increase for at least another 50 years .The future’s food systems need to be resource efficient and sustainable. It is quite clear that the only way to grow more food is to increase the yield while saving the environment from further degradation. It is not just food, it is the four F’s – Food, Feed, Fiber and Fuel. Digitization has increased in importance for the agricultural sector and is described through concepts like Smart Farming (SF), Precision Farming (PF) and Precision Agriculture (PA).The only way to get higher yield from limited resources is by changing agriculture into what we call Precision Agriculture, Climate Smart Agriculture, or as I prefer to call it Water-Smart Agriculture”

Introduction

India is one among the progressive countries in the world in maintaining food and nutrition database efficiently. The country has been in the fore front in signing the resolution on ‘Transforming the World: the agenda for Sustainable Development-2030’. India outstood among the developing countries in food self-sufficiency since seventies with low household hunger rates and low infant mortality rate. In the meanwhile, the country faced double burden of food and nutrition with inadequate dietary intake and under nutrition in one hand and overweight due to low physical activities on the other hand. Rapid increase in population with diminishing food production led to food insufficiency and malnutrition whereas, rapid economic growth and increasing mechanization led to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Both the under- and over nutrition are associated with health hazards, hence, use of normal body mass index (BMI)would be considered as an indicator for food security (FAO, 2013)

Introduction

Biofortification is the development of nutrient dense staple food crops using the best conventional breeding practices and modern biotechnology, without sacrificing agronomic performance and important consumer preferred trait (Nestel et al., 2006). It provides a comparatively cost-effective, sustainable, and long- term means of delivering more micronutrients (Saltzman et al. 2014). This approach not only will lower the number of severely malnourished people who require treatment by complementary interventions but also will help them maintain improved nutritional status. Moreover, biofortification provides a feasible means of reaching malnourished rural populations who may have limited access to commercially marketed fortified foods and supplements. Micronutrient malnutrition (MNM) is the major constrain to provide nutritional security to world population of underdeveloped and developing countries. Among the 20 major risk factors of the global burden of disease estimates, Fe deficiency ranks 9th and Zn deficiency ranks 11th, while in the high mortality countries, including India, they rank 6th and 5th, respectively (WHO 2002).

Introduction

Agriculture is the measure livelihood of tribals in India. Indigenous Tuber crops, like Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus) and Dioscorea play a valuable role to uplift the socio and economic status of people of tribal areas (tribal farmers) in terms of nutritional security and livelihood. In every year rural India subjected to wide spread of poverty, malnutrition, infant mortality rate etc. Ecological degradation, climate change, erratic rainfall and drought are the principal causes of food insecurity in these tribal areas resulting migration, periodic starvation and deaths. Therefore under erratic climate, tuber crops like Amorphophallus and Dioscorea, played a crucial role as life support crops to combat hidden hunger. Tuber crops are the traditional crops cultivated in order to meet the food requirements and give economical sustainability to the people. After cereals and legumes, tuber crops constitute a major staple or subsidiary food for all. Amorphophallus paeoniifolious and Dioscorea alata, important tropical tuber crops are excellent dietary staple for low-income consumers in tribal areas of Odisha state, better opting tuber crops cultivation rather than forest produces.

Introduction

The COVID 19 pandemic is threatening food systems and international food security. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), that says the amount of individuals facing crisis hunger is anticipated to virtually double this year to 265 million. Already, quite 820 million individuals don’t get enough food to eat, and another a hundred thirty five million individuals face acute hunger or starvation. Increase that, the economic destabilization caused by COVID-19, and another a hundred thirty million people are in danger of starvation by the top of 2020, says WFP. The quickness with that a health crisis transforms in an exceedingly hunger crisis shows however fragile is our food systems to shocks of any nature.

Introduction

Agricultural production system achieved a miracle by the way of green revolution which compactualized the potential of photoperiod and the thermo insensitive input responsive crop culture. The productive trends of food crops continued with increased fertilizer consumption, irrigation potential and improved agro-techniques. However science based intensive agriculture with intensive irrigation due to its inappropriate, inpropotional and ambitious approaches put the agriculture productivity on back foot. Because of these problems the arable land is facing the problem to sustain itself in terms of its capacity to produce desirable output. The scenario is further threatened with increase in climate change impact on various natural resources. The projected food crisis is on the card.

Introduction

Rice, being an important crop in India, there is a part to focus on improving rice production and productivity. A number of biotic and abiotic factors mostly referred as production constraints that affect the rice yield adversely and subsequently, needs an extraordinary consideration to the developing demand of continuously emerging population of India (Kumar and Jha, 2000). Abiotic stress has been estimated that more than half of the yield potential of major crops is mainly affected due to unfavourable growing environments such as drought (Cortina and Culianez-Macia, 2005). The current study was aimed to carry out to assess the impact of Pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM) and plant growth promoters on mitigating drought stress effects in semi dry rice.

Introduction

Agriculture is an important sector in Indian economy, 58 per cent of India’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture is main victim of climate change, it can disrupt availability, accessibility and quality of food. Moreover, increase in temperature, reduction in ground water availability, f looding and salinity are the major limiting factors in sustaining and increasing vegetable productivity. As a result of this crop physiology and production both are affected. Organic farming can help to tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to farming land. In India we have advantage that the agricultural techniques we practiced before green revolution in our country is eco-friendly and today also it is somehow it is in memories of our older and younger farmer generation. Principle of sustainable farming is the base of organic farming. According to OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) “Sustainable agro-ecosystem - agricultural and food systems are economically viable, meet society’s need for food assurance, while they retain and enhance natural resources and environmental quality for future generations” it is very clear from the definition that organic farming mostly emphasizes the environmental aspect and it includes.

Introduction

The hilly states in north eastern India are not only famous for their forest wealth and awesome wild assets. These states are also known for their track record in harvesting specific crops and fruits. Some of the iconic ones are like, “Assam tea” which is famous in and outside India and popularity of “Khasi mandarin” is also well known. The small landlocked state Tripura produces quality pineapples in abundant amounts, where cv. Queen is popular among the growers. Sikkim and other states of north eastern region of India is known for their Organic Farming techniques, which is mostly attributed the nature of hill farming on this region. North-East is rich in horticultural aspect viz., f loriculture with a rich variety of medicinal plants grown there along with various fruits and vegetables. An analysis of NSSO survey data on cultivation practices shows that the North-East hill states have retained traditional practices and show an inclination towards organic agriculture that is harnessed for the development of the region with ecological benefits.

Introduction

For capacity building of farming community, training plays a vital role. It helps in enriching the knowledge along with enhancement of essential skill required in performing certain practices in a specific crop cultivation. The skills required by a coconut cultivator need to be supplemented with additional skills in order to increase the yield of nuts. Government provide better support to the coconut growing farmers to improve their income, to reduce the risk involved in cultivation, implementation of quality agricultural practices and f inally enhancing the income of coconut grower in business mode. Training is a source of information, advice and influence in the decision making process. Training helps in enhancement of knowledge, improvement of skill, interaction with experts and to build confidence. Keeping this in view, the present study was conducted to know the training need areas of coconut growers in Gop block of Puri district of the state of Odisha.