eChapters

Abstract

Historically, the tiny island katchatheevu located in between Rameshwaram and Srilanka belongs to Ramnad Kingdom and it was handed over to Britishers and during the British’s rule. During that time both Indian and Srilankan fishermen communities were using this for their fishing related activities. On a goodwill, in 1994, the Government of India donated this island to Srilanka. Since then it has become a major issue and a perpetual problem to Indian fishermen that they could neither do fishing around nor berth their boats for drying their fishing nets. Under this scenario, an attempt was made to evaluate the geological setting of Katchatheevu island using E-Topo data which provides the sea bottom topography/morphology. The study revealed that the Katchatheevu island is the north eastern extension of the Pisasumunai of the Rameshwaram island and such arcuate nature of the land between the Pisasumunai and Katchatheevu is attributed to anticlockwisly spiralling littoral currents which would have dumped the sands and developed the island. Thus the study brings some newer information that the Katchatheevu is geologically a part of Indian land mass.

Studies and Findings

The boundary problems within the nations and amongst the nations, especially amongst the territorial nations, have started emerging as major issues of global concern. Katchatheevu Theevu located between India and Sri Lanka is one such a major issue, as the said island which originally belonged to Ramnad kingdom was handed over to Sri Lanka by India in 1974 and since then, the Indian fishermen community is facing untold miseries in the hands of Sri Lankans and hence it warrents immediate attention.

As the temperature rises during the summer months, it's crucial for pet owners to be vigilant about the well-being of their furry companions, especially dogs. As dogs are very much playful and active in nature, constant monitoring or observation is required to assess onset of heat stress as its onset is very quick and require immediate attention. Hence, knowing the sign and symptoms of heat stress will save the pets from ensuing negative impact on the health. Proper care and management are essential to ensure your pet stays healthy and happy during this adverse climatic condition.

Dogs release their body temperature through panting and by sweating through the nose and paw pads. If they can’t dissipate heat sufficiently their internal body temperature raises leading to hyperthermia (excess body temperature than normal, 101.0 to 102.50F).

Signs and symptoms of heat stress

The signs and symptoms vary as per the degree of stress incurred. At the initial stage of stress they show – increased thirst and panting.

Ker (Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew, (synonym Capparis aphylla, Roth) is a multipurpose, perennial, woody shrub or small tree found growing naturally in hot arid regions and semi-arid subtropics in various parts of the world. In India, it is known by different names in different parts of the country. In Rajasthan, it is generally called Kair or Ker while in Haryana it is known as Teent or Dela. Some more synonym by which ker is known are Caper, Karyal, Hanbag, Cari, Karira etc while in English, it is known as Caper berry. This species is an important constituent of arid ecosystem and plays significant roles in sustaining the ecosystem. The peoples of Indian Thar desert have known the importance of this shrub for long back. On account of its acquired xerophytic adaptive characteristics, it is capable of growing in various kinds of habitats including wastelands. It is also suitable for stabilizing sand dunes and controlling soil erosion by wind and water. Due to its xerophytic adaptive nature, the plant grows successfully under harsh climatic conditions of arid regions. Berry-shaped unripe fruits are rich in carbohydrates, proteins and minerals. It was abundant about five decades back, but, with increase in populations of humans and livestock and more demand of land for agricultural purpose, it has been over-exploited and eliminated by tractor ploughing and excessive browsing pressure from livestock. This has resulted in significant reduction in plant population of ker, but people still try to retain some plants on farm boundaries as this also prevent soil erosion which is quite high due to wind.

The total area under pulses in Kerala during 2008-09 was 3943 ha with a production of 2982 tonnes. The average yield per hectare is 756 kg. Cowpea, greengram, black gram and red gram are the important pulse crops traditionally grown in Kerala. Nearly 75% of area under pulses cultivation is occupied by cowpea. The remaining 25 per cent of area under this group of crops in the State is shared mainly by greengram, black gram and red gram. Among these, red gram is mainly confined to the Palakkad district and the crop season extends over kharif and rabi together. The other pulses are cultivated in all the districts of the State. Bengal gram is totally imported and there is little scope for its development in Kerala.

Ketosis is a metabolic disorder that occurs when animals rely heavily on fat as an energy source due to inadequate glucose availability. This condition is common in high-producing dairy cows, small ruminants like sheep and goats, and occasionally other species. Ketosis is characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies (acetone, acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate) in the blood, urine and milk. While ketosis can occur in various animals, it is most frequently observed during periods of negative energy balance, such as early lactation in dairy cattle. Proper understanding and management are critical to maintaining
animal health and productivity.
The economic repercussions of ketosis in dairy herds are substantial. Affected dairy animals often exhibit reduced milk yield, diminished reproductive performance and an increased susceptibility to other diseases. Financial losses are attributed to decreased productivity, treatment expenses, and potential culling of severely affected animals. Recent studies estimate that the economic losses per case of ketosis can reach up to Rs. 10000– Rs. 20000 per cow per lactation due to ketosis, making prevention critical and a figure that may double when associated diseases are considered.

Multiple Choice Questions

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach to managing landscapes—cropland, livestock, forests, and fisheries—to address the interlinked challenges of food security, climate change adaptation, and mitigation [FAO, 2023]. In the context of the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Member Countries, which span diverse agro- ecological and socio-economic landscapes across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, CSA emerges as a pivotal strategy for fostering climate- resilient rural development [CIRDAP, 2023]. These countries, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Vietnam, and others, face significant climate vulnerabilities such as rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise [IPCC, 2022]. CSA offers a framework to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the region's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and rural livelihoods improvement [UN, 2023]. The contribution of agricultural GHG emissions

a. Dairy entrepreneurship

A dairy entrepreneur is a person who undertakes dairy based activities such as rearing of milch animals, production of milk, processing of milk, manufacture of milk products and marketing of milk and milk products and also involved in buying and selling of other inputs of dairy business. He finds ways and means to create and develop a profitable dairy business. Dairy entrepreneurs see their farming as a business and as a means of earning profits. So they are willing to take calculated risks to make profits and to grow their businesses. They are also motivated to improve dairy production through mechanization and application of technologies in the field of dairy and allied enterprises.

Livestock entrepreneur is a person who undertakes livestock based activities such as livestock rearing, production of livestock/ livestock products, processing and other inputs of livestock business. He finds ways and means to create and develop a profitable livestock business. Livestock entrepreneurs see their farming as a business and as a means of earning profits. So they are willing to take calculated risks to make profits and to grow their businesses. They are also motivated to improve livestock production through mechanization and application of technologies in the field of dairy, small ruminant, poultry and allied enterprises. Livestock entrepreneur is determined and creative person, always looking for opportunities to improve and expand his business. He likes to take calculated risks, and assumes responsibility for both profits and losses. An entrepreneur is passionate about growing his business and is constantly looking for new opportunities.Enterprising farmers are also innovators. They always look for better and more efficient and profitable ways to do things. Being innovative is an important quality for a farmer-entrepreneur, especially when the business faces strong competition or operates in a rapidly changing environment. They look for better ways to organize their farms. They try, better animals, and alternative technologies to increase productivity, diversify production, reduce risk and to increase profits.

The capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land use boundaries, to sustain plant and animal production, maintain or 

enhance water and air quality, and promote plant and animal health (Doran and

Zeiss, 2000). A healthy soil may function is as follows:

• Sustain biological activity, diversity, and productivity

• Regulate, store of nutrients and cycle water and, decompose organic

matter

• Filtering and buffering, degrading, mineralizing, immobilizing, and

detoxifying organic and inorganic materials

• Inactivate toxic compounds, suppress pathogens, protect water quality,

and enhance catchment soil health.

Understanding the key terms in plant pathology is crucial for grasping the basic concepts and principles of how diseases develop and how they can be managed. This chapter will define and explain the terminology commonly used in plant pathology to facilitate a clearer understanding of the subject.
• Adjuvants: Additives mixed with fungicides to enhance their performance. These are usually inactive substances, such as surfactants, that improve how the chemical spreads, sticks, or penetrates plant surfaces by altering surface tension.
• Antagonism: A relationship where one microorganism harms or inhibits the growth of another, often through competition or by producing harmful substances.
• Antagonists: Organisms that can suppress or interfere with the growth of other microorganisms, often used in biological control to reduce plant diseases.
• Antibiosis: A form of microbial warfare where one organism produces a chemical that negatively affects another organism’s growth or survival.
• Appressorium: A swollen structure at the tip of a fungal germ tube or hypha that helps the fungus stick to and break into the plant’s surface.

Keynesian : A branch of economics, based, often loosely, on the ideas of keynes, characterized by a belief in active government and suspicion of market outcomes. 

Introduction

Global meat production is a crucial component of the global food system, driven by expanding populations, wealth development, and shifting dietary preferences. It involves the rearing of animals such as cattle, poultry, pigs, and sheep, and has experienced rapid growth in recent decades. In 2023, worldwide meat production was estimated to reach approximately 350 million tons per year, with chicken, pork, and beef being the most popular forms. Poultry meat is the most produced and consumed meat globally due to its lower cost and shorter production cycles. Countries like the U.S., Brazil, and China are major poultry producers globally. Pork is highly consumed, especially in Asia, with China being both the largest producer and consumer of pork. By 2050, the global human population is projected to reach 10 billion, presenting a major challenge in ensuring adequate balanced food. The demand for animal-based foods is increasing, and the intensification of animal farming is leading to the exploitation of natural resources and resulting in natural calamities that adversely affect humans, animals, and ecosystems. Meat production fosters sustainable development as it employs and supports over a billion people worldwide, many of whom live in underdeveloped regions. Meat contains essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, and minerals, which help prevent nutritional deficiencies and improve health (Headey et al., 2018; Zaharia et al., 2021). The meat production industry can also transform grass and agricultural waste into healthy food for people, thereby promoting food security in a world with limited natural resources (Mottet et al., 2017). However, it is important to note that meat has a much larger environmental and climatic footprint compared to plant-based diets (Poore & Nemecek, 2018).

Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), also known as shami (Sanskrit), janti and jand (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab), sumi (Gujarat), banni (Karnataka), kandi (Sindh) is a leguminous tree species of arid and semi-arid regions. It not only tolerates the extreme edapho-climatic conditions of these regions but also bears flowers and fruits and that too during the driest period from February to May (Pareek, 2002). Khejri is a tree having multipurpose uses, viz. nutritious rich pods and fodder and valuable fuel, besides its favourable effects on ecology and soil fertility(Arya et al.,1991). It is an important perennial component compatible to almost any companion crop in various agri-horti-forestry systems of production in the hot arid ecosystem (Harsh and Tewari, 1998). The crops such as bajra, guar, moth, mung, cowpea and ground nut during kharif and wheat, mustard, gram, etc. during rabi season are grown between the natural plantations of khejri trees without adverse effect on growth of crops. Almost all the vegetable crops grow better between the widespread natural this leguminous tree. Also the fruits such as ber, aonla, bael, kinnow, lime, etc. have been observed to perform better in association of khejri trees. Excellent growth and development of desert plant species of commercial significance such as jharber, ker, lasora, pilu, rohida, kumat, phog, kheep and grasses like sewan, dhaman, etc. has been observed in association with khejri trees (Mann and Saxena,1980; Samadia,2007, Samadia et al., 2009).

Khirni (Manilkara hexandra) also known as rayan, is an important multipurpose tree of dry parts of country. It is commercially used as a rootstock for vegetative propagation of sapota in different parts of the country (Singh and Singh, 2012).  Seedlings are found in natural state in the field as well forest areas. Its fruit are nutritious, edible and available during summer season at high price because of its low production. At present, the potential of this fruit crop is unexploited.  There is no improved cultivar for orchard plantation.  It can be planted as wind break on boundary of farm/orchards because of its dense foliage. It is a underexploited fruit tree semi arid to sub tropical regions. Malik et al. (2012) reported that Khirni is a socio- economically important fruit species for tribal peoples.

21.1 Introduction
Khoa, as well as mawa or khava, is a partially dehydrated whole milk product that is produced by perpetually heating milk in a karahi over a direct fire while stirring and scraping it with a khunti until it reaches a semi-solid consistency. The pan is removed from the fire once the desired consistency is obtained, and the contents are transformed into a solid mass known as khoa pat. “Khoa is produced by rapid drying cow, buffalo, goat, or sheep milk, or a combination thereof, and must contain a minimum of 20% milk fat.The product is produced by heat desiccating milk to 65–69% solids in an open pan. Khoa has been utilised as a foundation for Indian desserts for centuries. Milk traders and halwais prepare it according to the conventional procedure. You typically require five times the amount of milk content.

21.2 Classification
There are three primary varieties: “pindi” for burfi, “dhap” for gulab jamun, pantooa, and other delicacies, and “danedar” for kalakand. Khoa production has been the most straightforward technique of preserving milk produced in rural areas during the flood season. Pindi, dhap, and Danedar are the three primary varieties of khoa that are prepared throughout the country. Khoa is the foundation for a diverse array of Indian delicacies, such as gulab jamun and other dishes.

The common stones found in the kidneys are of calcium oxalate, uric acid, urates, triple phosphates or a combination of these.

The patients are often males between 30 to 50 years.

Taxonomic keys are devices that make identification of taxa easy and enjoyable. A key is presentation of appropriate diagnostic characters in a series of attractive choices to facilitate identification of a specimen.

Key characters are the characters that are easily perceived of very low variability, usually present in preserved material. They are useful as convenient labels for distinguishing taxa by the process of classification. Many taxonomic characters such as chemical, chromosomal, physiological and behavioural may have high value of identification because they are inaccessible in preserved material. Ideal key characters apply equally to all individuals of the population. They are absolute, relatively constant and external so that they can be observed directly without special equipment.

Originating in the New World tropics, peppers have become ubiquitous culinary essential now grown not only in warm climates but in temperate areas as well. They include both sweet and hot chilli varieties. Botanically chilli belongs to the genus Capsicum. The North East region has its own unique combination of living species, habitats and ecosystems, which together make up its diversity rich resource. While speaking strictly about plant diversity, two regions of the country are termed as hot spots. These are – Western Ghats and the North Eastern hill regions. The King’s chilli is an inter-specific hybrid cultivated in the Nagaland and Assam region of northeastern India and parts of neighboring Bangladesh. In 2007, Guinness World Records certified the Bhut Jolokia as the world’s hottest chili pepper, 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. From time immemorial, traditionally the Bhut jolokia is been cultivated and consumed by the local people in North eastern states like Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. A good amount of genetic variability exists in the landraces of the crop in respect of Pod size, shape, and colour etc.

In recent years, the King’s chilli (Bhut jolokia) is gaining importance in the scientific community as it was reported as the hottest chilli. Though Bhoot jolokia or Naga chilli was cultivated from time immemorial, but nobody really bothered to compare its heat with other record setters. The field of King’s chilli is still in a growing stage and it components and their beneficial uses are still to be exploited fully. Very little research towards the scientific cultivation of this potential crop was accomplished in recent years and until now no standard scientific package of practice is available for the cultivation of the crop.

There is tremendous scope for utilizing the available genetic variability of the crop in a well-planned plant breeding programme for further development of elite genotypes in this crop. Development of proper and efficient post harvest mechanism and also of different value added products of King’s chilli shall generate a great potential for earning revenue in the national as well as international markets.

Introduction

The Kisan Call Centre is an ICT initiative launched by the Department of Agri- culture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture on January 21, 2004 to instantly respond to farmer’s queries in their local language. Farmers from any part of the country can contact KCC simply like common public do to contact the customer care of their preferred network for queries. If it is a BSNL connection KCC can be contacted by just dialling 1551 toll free number. If it is other network, then farmers can dial “1800-180-1551” and get their query solved. In Tamil Nadu, until 2014, it was Cartel India Limited which acted as Level-III centre for Kisan Call Centre in Tamil Nadu. From May 2014 onwards, the administration of Kisan Call Centre was taken over by Indian Farmer Fertilizer Company (IFFCO) and working since then in the name of IFFCO Kisan.

In today’s condition, the policy makers feel it as a real challenge to bridge the com- munication gap that prevails between two farmers, between two villages, between two regions and perhaps between two countries. The only way to bridge this gap is through some ICT initiatives. Recent studies have shown impressive growth of telecommunication network for effective information utilization and delivery of knowledge and information in the country. In Kenya, the helpline service was start- ed on a pilot basis by GSMA Foundation, Inc., which was funded by Rockefeller Foundation. The technology was named Kenya Farmer’s Helpline. It was mainly started to bring a change in the economic, social and environmental development in the country. The helpline received very good support from the local farmers and till 2010, the helpline solved queries of over 30,000 farmers. During the same period, India solved queried of over one lakh farmers. Now, the number would be much more than what we expect.