eChapters

Cardamom thrips: Sciothrips cardamomi: Thripidae

Thysanoptera

This thrips attacks other crops like amomum,  tea, colocasia, grapevine, castor, cotton, ginger and turmeric also. The thrips are minute greyish brown insects with fringed wings. They breed on unopened leaves, spindles, leaf sheath, flower bracts and floral tubes .

Pollu beetle: Longitarsus nigripennis:Chrysomelidae

This pest is monophagous to pepper and no alternate host has been reported so far.

Nature of Damage

Adult is a shining blue flea beetle with yellow head and thorax and has thick enlarged femur and tibia. The adult beetle is only the size of a pin head.  The infested berries dry up and turn dark in colour. Berries become hollow and crumble when pressed and such hollow berries are called “Pollu” meaning empty. The eggs are laid on the berries @ 1-2 eggs in each hole. Eggs hatch in 5-8 days. The grub period extends for 30-32 days. The emerging grubs feed on the berries of pepper and consume the internal contents.

Shoot and fruit borer: Earias vitella (=E.fabia), E. insulana: Noctuidae

This is a pest on cotton, bhendi, hibiscus, holly hock and other malvaceous vegetables. The damage is due to the larva that bores into tender terminal shoots in the vegetative stage and flower buds;  flowers and young fruits in the fruit formation stage.  The damaged shoot drops, wither and dry up.  The infested fruits have bore holes, are deformed and become unfit for consumption.  Bore holes are plugged with excreta.

Shoot and fruit borer: Leucinodes orbonalis: Pyraustidae

The pest is active throughout year, but more during monsoon period. Heavy losses up to 60% can occur.

The adult is a greyish brown medium sized moth with white and hyaline wings, having triangular brown and red markings on forewing. A crescent shaped mark facing outside at the apical margin is typical for the species. About 150-250 creamy white eggs are laid singly on leaves, tender shoots, flowers and developing fruits. Egg period is 3-5 days and the hatched larva completes its life in 15 days with 5 instars.

Diamond back moth: Plutella xylostella: Plutellidae
 
The adults of this moth are small, greyish brown having pale whitish narrow wings and with inner margins yellow. There are three pale whitish triangular markings on hind margins of each forewing. At rest, when both forewings come together, they form a dorsal median patch of three diamond shaped yellowish white spots that give them their name diamond back moth. Hind wings have a fringe of long hairs.

Chilli thrips: Scirtothrips dorsalis, Thrips palmi: Thripidae

The adults of this insect are small brownish black with fringed wings. The nymphs are slender and yellowish straw coloured, later acquiring more brownish hue. They lacerate the tissues and feed on the exuding sap. Leaves become crinkled, curled upward and shed. The attack can be confused with chilli mosaic symptom.  In capsicum and chilli, they also feed beneath calyx of flowers and fruits causing flower/fruit drop and reduction in yield and market value of capsicum. Buds become brittle and drop down. Plants get stunted and bronzed. The fruits if at all formed are crinkled and small.

The Indian agriculture is characterized by agro-ecological diversities in soil, rainfall, temperature and cropping system. Besides favorable solar energy, the country receives about three trillion cubic meter of water from rainfall. Of the total geographical area of 329 million hectares the net sown area has remained at about 140-142 million hectares during the last 40 years. The gross cropped area however has increased to about 200 million hectare in 2011-2012 (Anonymous, 2013). The total operational holding is estimated at 105 million with average size of the holdings of 1.6 ha. The Indian agriculture is not only characterized by small fragmented land, but also hill farming and shifting cultivation are also practiced. Out of an estimated 142 m ha net cultivated area around 40% is irrigated and rest is rain fed. About 65% of the population depend upon agriculture for their livelihood.

1. Why Plant Nutrient Disorders?

Plant Nutrient Disorders result from nutrient imbalances in soils and plants. In-adequate use of one or more nutrients can result in nutrient imbalances. Presence or use of a nutrient in excess amount can hinder the absorption or uptake of another nutrient and thus,cause nutrient disorders. Lime induced iron chlorosis or use of excess Potassium can hinder the absorption of Ca²⁺/and, or Mg²⁺ by plants. Enhanced level of Mg can decrease the uptake of Zn. Excessive use of NPK fertilisers can result in micronutrient deficiencies.

Soils are being regularly depleted of their native reserves, due to intensive cropping and non-application of essential nutrients (primary, secondary and micronutrients). Lack or restricted use of quality organic manures, such as compost, green manures, crop residues etc. and cultivation of HYVs in most crops have accentuated the problem.

Gas chromatography is one of the most valuable techniques available for organic analysis. It has been applied for the separation, identification and analysis of virtually all volatile compounds. In gas chromatography, the mobile phase is gas. When the stationary phase is liquid , it is called gas liquid chromatography (GLC). If the stationary phase is solid, it is called gas solid chromatography (GSC). The sample is transported through a stationary phase with help of an inert carrier gas, namely the mobile phase. The fractionation of the components in the sample mixture takes place based on the partitioning between the stationary and mobile phases.

In 1896, French physicist Becquerel observed that uranium compounds affected a photographic plate that was wrapped inside a black paper. He found that all uranium compounds gave off penetrating rays. He called the production of radiation by uranium compounds “radioactivity”. Madame and Pierre Curie later identified thorium, polonium, and radium as the other radioactive elements.

Titration, also known as titrimetry, is a common laboratory method of quantitative chemical analysis that is used to determine the unknown concentration of an identified analyte.  Since volume measurements play a key role in titration, it is also known as volumetric analysis. A reagent, called the titrant or titrator is prepared as a standard solution. A known concentration and volume of titrant reacts with a solution of analyte or titrand  to determine concentration. The volume of titrant reacted is called titre. Volumetric analysis originated in late 18^th-century in France.

Nucleic acids were first discovered in 1868 by Friedrich Meischer. Nucleic acids are high molecular weight polymers that are present in our cells. They store and transfer genetic material from generation to generation. Knowledge of how genes are expressed and how they can be manipulated is becoming increasingly important for understanding of nearly every aspect of biochemistry. These macromolecules p ass on information for cellular growth and reproduction. All the genetic information in the cells is called the genome. Every time a cell divides, the information is copied and passed on to the new cells.

Molecular biology labo-ratories are becoming very common in every University and research institutes and a good laboratory manners is extremely important as many of the equipments are very expensive and sensitive. Hence familiarity with equipments becomes very crucial before starting any experiment.

Introduction

Restriction enzymes, recognizes specific base sequences in double-helical DNA and cleaves at specific places, both strands of a duplex containing the recognized sequences. To biochemists, these exquisitely precise scalpels are marvelous gifts of nature. They are indispensable for analyzing chromosome structure, sequencing very long DNA molecules, isolating genes, and creating new DNA molecules that can be cloned. Werner Arber and Hamilton Smith discovered restriction enzymes, and Daniel Nathans pioneered their use in the late 1960s.

ABSTRACT

This paper provides an overall view on the history, structure and functions of World Intellectual Property Rights Organization.

Introduction

Human genius is the source of all works of art and invention. These works are the guarantees of a life worthy of men.  It is duty of the state to ensure with diligence the protection of the arts and inventions,” reads an inscription on the copula in the WIPO Headquarters building in Geneva. True to this inscription, WIPO functions through various mechanisms fostering judicious utilization of human intellect.  This paper intends presenting an overview on WIPO.

ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to portray prevailing scenario of IPR in the light of globalization with special emphasis on harmonization of IPR systems and laws of different countries. 

INTRODUCTION

The globalization of information, facilitated by the Internet, has significant implications for intellectual property regimes of national and international levels. Assessment of these implications and their probable outcomes is unavoidably value-driven. Globalization represents ever-increasing influence of developed nations and transnational entities over developing and less developed nations. The process has also brought in significant changes in understandings of sovergenity. An analysis of the implications of globalization of information on international and domestic intellectual property rights and legal regimes is a complex endeavor.

ABSTRACT

This paper is an attempt to analyze the plausible impacts on the economy and social issues of developing countries with reference to enforcement of IPR.

Introduction

From commodity based nature, business has changed during the past hundred years in a way that ideas and knowledge have taken higher value than commodities. Today, many companies find their most valuable assets being intangible and they are therefore dependent on functioning IPR systems. But does the rigid protection of IPR serve all the people in our globalized world? The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of the introduction of IPR protection on developing and under developed countries in the light of TRIPS Agreement.

Research is the basics which have changed human life and surrounding environment what existed on earth million years ago into present form. As soon as man realized himself as a separate entity from other animals, he started thinking about himself, creatures co-inhabiting with him and the universe. In that sense, biological science is the oldest subject which fascinated man, though it was called natural sciences in ancient times. Perhaps, the first curiosity was about himself, his birth, death and alike matters. As soon as he realized mortality of life or faced death of his dear ones, he attempted to become immortal or ‘amar’. This is reflected by worshiping of ‘Asur ’(Hirnakashyap, Bhasmasur, Ravan etc) to ‘Brahma’ or ‘Shiva’ for receiving the blessings of becoming immortal . However, even God refrained to bless these personalities becoming ‘amar’ confirming the realization by all that life is strongly linked with death ; as such they were blessed with certain conditional ties which may lead their death. Eventually, they met with their death under specific circumstances (3). When God or His little part (Ansh) took birth on earth as incarnation, He also followed all the rules and regulations of cosmic laws. But He never tried to become immortal and left His body on the earth, after finishing His duties.

Parasitology is the branch of biological sciences that deals with the study of parasites and all the related aspects. This leads to a basic question who is a parasite ? In fact, this term is frequently used in our society for those persons who are doing nothing and depending on others for their survival. The term Parasite means the organism (parasite) which depends on other organism (host) for its nutritional requirements. By definition, it excludes the organisms which are free living and do not depend on other organism for their food requirements. There are other details in fulfilling its nutritional requirements and important one is that in doing so, it causes some harm to the host other wise it will not be a parasite but a commensal.

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, German physicist, born on November 8, 1895 discovered X-rays and was awarded the first ever Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 in recognition of the extraordinary services he has rendered by the discovery of the remarkable rays subsequently named after him. These short-wave electromagnetic radiations have the wavelengths that are matching with both the atomic sizes and shortest interatomic distances. But, the index of refraction of X-rays is near unity for all materials and hence they could not be focused by a lens in order to observe small objects such as atoms, as it is done by glass lenses in a visible light microscope or by magnetic lenses in an electron microscope. Thus, in general, X-rays cannot be used to image individual atoms directly. As an alternative to this difficulty, Max von Laue in 1912 proved that the periodicity of the crystal lattice allows atoms in a crystal to be observed with exceptionally high resolution and precision by means of X-ray diffraction for the first time by using a single crystal of hydrated copper sulfate (CuSO₄ 5H₂O).

Electron Microscopes are scientific instruments that use a beam of highly energetic electrons to examine objects on a very fine scale. This examination can yield information about the topography (surface features of an object), morphology (shape and size of the particles making up the object), composition (the elements and compounds that the object is composed of and the relative amounts of them) and crystallographic information (how the atoms are arranged in the object).

Electron Microscopes were developed due to the limitations of Light Microscopes which are limited by the physics of light to 500x or 1000x magnification and a resolution of 0.2 micrometers. In the early 1930’s this theoretical limit had been reached and there was a scientific desire to see the fine details of the interior structures of organic cells (nucleus, mitochondria...etc.). This required 10,000x plus magnification which was just not possible using Light Microscopes.

Introduction

Weeds are unwanted plants in agricultural production causing huge losses in crop production system particularly rainfed agriculture. Of the total estimated losses caused in crop production by pests, diseases and weeds in the world, the weeds alone are responsible for one-third of it. Weeds interfere with crop growth and cause an yield loss to the tune of 10% of crop production which amounts to a total loss of about 20 million MT of food grains, valued at over Rs.10,000 crores, at current prices in India. Besides, losses of similar magnitude are experienced in vegetable, fruit and plantation crops. The losses inflicted on biodiversity, environment and health are considerable and have not been quantified scientifically.

Nanofibres are an exciting new class of material used for several value added applications in the field of such as medical, filtration as barrier in composites, garments, wipes, insulation, and energy storage. Special properties of nanofibres make them suitable for a wide range of applications from medicine to consumer products and industrial to high-tech applications. The US - National Science Foundation (NSF) defines nanofibres as having at least one dimension of 100 nm or less (Hegde, 2005). Amongst the various nanostructures that have recently been developed for use in practical applications, nanofibres produced from synthetic and natural polymershave received increased attention due to their ease of fabrication and the ability to control their compositional, structural and functional properties (Burgeretal.,2006).

Introduction

Since past decades, the application of nanotechnology in the areas of medicine, materials science and electronics have been widely accepted and appreciated due to its potential and benefits.  However, only during the recent years, researchers from other disciplines have started to see the potential applications of nanoscience in the field of agriculture (Robinson and Morrison, 2009). Recently, a generalized and process based framework to enable identification and characterization of the outputs (publications, patents etc.), and map them to the different agricultural research theme areas through the filter of links in the agri-value chain were developed by Kalpana Shastri et al., (2010) from National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad, India. The frame work also permits assessing the implications for technology transfer, and impacts on society and environment. This frame work mainly relies on the identification of nano research and relating them agri-food thematic areas (Fig.1).

The understanding of VAM symbiont and VAM symbiosis is of prime importance in manipulating VAM associations for the welfare of plants. Many contributions have been made worldover in the areas of taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, histology, cytology and genetics of VAM fungi and/or their associations with the plants. However, the share of Indian mycorrhizasts in such contributions is negligible. The following description gives an account of work done by the mycorrhizasts of the country in these areas.

Groundwater is a precious renewable resource which gets replenishment from the precipitation. Total water resources of the world are estimated at 1.37 x 10⁸ million ha-m. Of these, about 97.2% is salt water, mainly in oceans, and only 2.8% is available as fresh water. And, out of this 2.8%, about 2.2% is available as surface water (2.1% is fresh water in glaciers and icecaps, 0.1% is available in lakes and reservoirs, 0.0001% in streams) and 0.6% is available as groundwater. Only 50% of groundwater resource is economically extracted with available technology. Presently, 1.3 x 10⁴ million ha-m fresh water in reservoirs and 41.1x10⁴ million ha-m groundwater is theoretically available to provide usable water for drinking, domestic use, irrigation, etc., to mankind. Groundwater is the largest source of fresh water excluding the polar icecaps and glaciers. The amount of groundwater within 800 m from the ground surface is over 30 times the amount in all fresh water lakes and reservoirs, and about 3000 times the amount in stream channels, at any one time.

Introduction

Salinity in India is a major issue affecting the sustainability of irrigated as well as non-irrigated areas particularly in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa. Salt affected soils are unproductive unless excess salts are reduced or removed. These soils occur most extensively in arid and semi-arid climates, but these soils are also found in coastal sea areas where soils are unundated by ocean or sea water. Soils are said to be saline if they contain an excess of soluble salts and sodic or alkali if they contain an excess of sodium salts. Again soils are said to be saline-sodic or saline-alkali if they contain appreciable amounts of both soluble salts and sodium. The impact of salinity manifests itself in several ways. As the salinity increases, not only does the productivity decline but sensitive crops also go out of cultivation and are replaced by salt-tolerant, low value crops and other plant species.

Importance

Drought is a climatic anomaly characterized by deficient supply of moisture, which may result from sub-normal, untimely and unevenly distributed rainfall. Among the various hazards of nature, drought is one of the major disasters because it brings innumerable miseries to the mankind. Almost every year some part or the other of the country suffers from such calamities. Drought is a recurring phenomena and its occurrence cannot be avoided. However, its impact can be minimized through application of science and technology by developing drought management plans.

Agriculture is world’s single largest employer and probably the most weather dependent of all human activities.  Climate and its variability have been and continue to be, the principal source of fluctuations in global food production. Throughout history, extreames of heat and cold, droughts and floods, and various form of violent weather have wretched havoc on the global agricultural production. With the unprecedented increase in population over past few decades, clearly the mankind faces undertaking task to ensure food and nutritional security for all, considering reduced per capita land, reduced availability of water, depleting biodiversity and need to preserve ecology and environment. In India, of the total geographical area of 328 m ha, about 175 m ha (53 % of total) are categorized as degraded land, of which 150 m ha are subjected to serious water and wind erosion (Singh et al. 1981). Crops are sown in about 180 m ha annually. Since it seems very much impossible to bring more area under cultivation we need to achieve greater efficiency in the natural resources use while conserving the environment by placing greater emphasis on understanding and exploiting climatic resources for the benefits of agriculture.

Vegetables are defined as edible herbaceous plants or parts of plants consumed as raw or after cooking and are rich in vitamins and minerals, low in calorific value and neutralize the acid substances produced during digestion of high energy foods.  Olericulture is a branch of Horticulture that deals with production, storage, processing and marketing of vegetables and has its origin when man started growing vegetables for consumption. The term Olericulture comes from Latin words holus-holeris = any kind of culinary vegetable, pot herb, and cultura = to cultivate.

Okra is predominantly a crop of tropics and subtropics.  It occupies fifth position, next to tomato, in area under vegetables in the country with a production of 33.24 lakh metric tonnes from an area of 3.47 lakh hectares.  The crop is cultivated for its young tender fruits, used in curry and soups after cooking. It is a good source of vitamins A and B, protein and minerals. It is also an excellent source of iodine and is useful for the treatment of goitre.  Fruit is useful against genito-urinary disorders, spermetorrhoea and chronic dysentery. Fruits are also dried or frozen for use during off-season.  Dried fruit contain 13-22% edible oil and 20-24% protein and is used for refined edible oil.  Dry fruit skin and fibres are used in manufacture of paper, card board and fibres.  Root and stem are used for clearing cane juice for preparation of jaggary.

ABSTRACT

Family farming is the blending of experience, skill, managerial qualities, business strategies and finally economic independence because this type of farming involves the blending of different minds of the family members. There is not any doubt in saying that youth are the of future. This is the time between childhood and adulthood. It is the time when a young individual get out of their dreamy world of childhood and face some of the most complicated realities of the world. Family farming is still facing the problem of urbanization and unemployment. But youth of present scenario are the solution of every problem because skilled youth of rural background can drive future economic growth as they are innovative in bringing and applying new ideas on a large scale. Rural youth are enthusiastic and they can act as good leaders as their orientation is scientific. Youth support family farming as well as perform gender specific activities. They are said to be the key to sustainable and innovative development. Investment in rural youth is the key to country‘s progress and boost economic opportunities. Rural youth of today want that their capabilities should be utilized for producing food and for conserving productive resources in rural environment. Their mental skills make them different from others so Govt. should adopt such policies that mark the correct value of their skill. This research paper emphasizes the role of rural youth in agriculture and family farming and what are their aspirations from this sector.

ABSTRACT

The United Nations has declared 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming. The central role of increased participation by youth in agriculture is necessary and vital to facilitate food and nutrition security. Rural Family farming generates food and income for hundreds of millions of rural people, including the poor and marginalized fostering jobs for men, women and young people, both within their family farms and in related enterprises along food and agricultural value chains. It provides models of adaptability and resilience for more sustainable food production and is socially and culturally part of communities and territories constituting regions and as such underpins national food security in most countries safeguarding and protecting the environmental assets and natural resources, biodiversity and cultural heritage. Under the right conditions and with supportive policies, family farmers particularly the youth and women have proven to be innovative, productive and resilient, especially if they are supported to use agroecological practices that are based on their own resources and priorities. This makes youth in family farming key players in tackling the pressing issues of our time, such as hunger, climate change and biodiversity loss. Family farming includes all family-based agricultural activities, and it is linked to several areas of rural development. Family farming is a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, including both men and women. Rural youth, smallholder and family farmers face numerous challenges in the prevailing times such as climate change and climate variability; lack of tenure security in a context of increasing competition for land and water (population growth, urbanization) and inadequate governance of land tenure; limited access to financial resources, inputs, technology, training, research and advisory services, and education, price volatility and limited access to markets among a few. As an opportunity the availability of real income generating options in agriculture can offer rehabilitating young persons whose alternative options are neither socially acceptable nor responsible. Simultaneously, the vibrant and expanding market for primary and secondary agricultural commodities offers tremendous opportunities for young people to earn good income from agricultural activities.

ABSTRACT

Agriculture and allied sectors is the largest livelihood providers in rural India, still Indian farmers are among the poorest in the World. Agriculture sector is potentially largest employment providing sectors in the country. Despite this, unemployment is high among educated rural youth, and they prefer to migrate to urban areas to take up low paying jobs. The present study was carried out mainly to find out the challenges faced by rural youth in choice of agriculture as a means of livelihood. The study was conducted in four villages in Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand. Data was collected from 115 youth using pre-tested interview schedule. It was found that maximum number of respondents had education up to higher secondary level, majority were students and had medium level of mass media exposure and change proneness. The study indicates that limited access to new agricultural technologies, limited access to farm machinery, perception regarding suitability to agriculture, damage of crops from pests and insects, and lack of information on agricultural inputs and government policies were the main challenges faced by rural youth in choosing agriculture as a means of livelihood. The study indicates that government has developed policy framework for involving youth in agriculture. This study can be carried on training needs of youth in agriculture and allied sectors.

ABSTRACT

Assessment of technical and financial feasibility of two resource conservation technologies suitable for rice establishment1. Zero Tillage Machine (ZTM) for direct seeded rice (DSR) and; 2. Paddy transplanter machine (PTM) for mechanical transplanted rice(MTR) in Rohtas district was carried out at the demonstration farm of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Rohtas during Kharif-2012 and 2013 in a view to reduce the drudgery and cost of cultivation. An eight row self-propelled PTM (Model 2ZT-238-8) and 9 tined National Make ZTM were used for the purpose. Technical performance of these resource conservation technologies was found satisfactory. The field capacity, field efficiency, fuel consumption and cost of establishment of rice by these technologies were evaluated for the purpose. For the assessment of financial feasibility; benefit-cost ratio, internal rate of return, pay-back period and net present worth of these technologies were evaluated and demonstrated to rural youths for their quick adoption and get rid of labour-shortage and delayed transplanting of rice crop and hence saving of significant loss of Rabi crops that happens due to delayed harvesting of rice crop.

ABSTRACT

Information is the data that have been put into a meaningful and useful context and communicated to a recipient who uses it to make decisions. Information is needed because of it affects individuals living activities. The present age has rightly termed as an ‘information age’. Information cannot provide finance, inputs or infrastructure. But, it can help in creating awareness about technologies and mobilise people to use them. It also helps in imparting training to people, organising community and ultimately the development of the whole nation.

The present study was undertaken to assess the information needs of young farm women (18-35 age group) with respect to kharif paddy cultivation. The study was conducted in Bolpur sub-division of Birbhum district, West Bengal. Results of this empirical study indicated that farm women wanted to know more about selling of product, pest control, nursery raising and disease management. The study also revealed that most preferred sources of information for the young farm women personal localite sources.

Key words: Young farm women, information needs, personal localite, personal cosmopolite, kharif paddy

ABSTRACT

A detailed survey was carried out in all the 19 rural blocks of Birbhum district of West Bengal. Pisciculture is a powerful income generating activity (IGA) by the women Self Help Group (SHG) members related to poverty reductionand employment generation for a vast section of the rural society. Self Help Groups are non-formal cooperatives that are causing a silent revolution in rural India through micro credit and various other economic activities involving women are the major change agents. Nearly, thirty thousand SHGs have been formed in Birbhum district of West Bengal that had made a notable success in micro finance. This study has focused on the functioning of 38 women SHGs of Birbhum district comprising 644 members mainly belonging to Below Poverty Line family. Totally 38 SHGs have been selected for the study. Each group had it unique name and consists of about 10 to 18women members. Information was elicited from all the members of 38 women SHGs, which together formed 644 members, constituting the study sample. The data were collected with the help of semi-structured interview survey schedule. The survey was carried out during the year 2009. Different social class of these fisher women members of the SHGs were assisted under Swarnjayanti Gram SwarojgarYojana. These SHGs were found to save a portion of their meager income and pool that money for their inter-lending among them at an interest decided by the SHG. The survey revealed that cash credit and project loan was used for better sustainability and enhancement of income from pisciculture. Most of the cultural water bodies i.e. ponds were under lease condition. Self Help group members particularly belonged to scheduled caste community actively take part in retail marketing of fish in rural areas. Empowerment of women was undertaken through training and other assistance given by local Panchayat, NGOs and Govt. Officials. The SHG women members increase in self-confidence, leadership qualities, skill to undertake pisciculture and marketing, knowledge of book keeping, enhanced income, linkage with bankand protest against social injustice.

ABSTRACT

Information Technology includes computers and communication technology along with associated software. I.T. can be defined as the technology of creation, processing, storage, retrieval and transmission of data and information. Transmission of data and information between through local national, regional and global telecommunication channels are not new to us. Computer networks have been the real facilitators of data and information interchange in the individual and corporate levels. LANS and WANS are the good examples of it. Developing countries have a critical stake in how successfully they cope with the trade, environmental, energy, healthy, agricultural, industrial, population and other challenges facing them as they enter the information age. The World is experiencing an explosive growth of IT at the moment. There have been tremendous impacts of I.T. on the trade, commerce and industries of the globe.

ABSTRACT

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become one of the basic building blocks of modern society. Young people are the world’s largest resource in development. Forty percent of the world’s population is under 20 years of age while 66 per cent of the total population in the country is below the age of 35 and this youth play very important role in adoption of ICTs. Present study is concerning with Information and Communication Technology, importance of ICTs on youth and rural peoples of our country, the importance of ICTs is not the technology as such, but its enabling function in facilitating enhanced access to information and communication across large distances. It involved development and need of Information and Communication Technology. It also focused on strategies for sustained ICTs growth in India and development ranking of some selected countries. India has been ranked 121^st among 157 countries in terms of progress in the realm of information and communication technology.

ABSTRACT

Marketers make consistent attempts to innovate tools and strategies to overcome the challenges they face in the business arena. Business innovations are broadly classified under two heads, namely Product / Service innovation. Marketers need to design creative solutions to overcome challenges typical of the rural environment such as physical distribution, channel management, promotion and communication. India’s rural markets offer a sea of opportunity. The urban rural split in consumer spending stands at 9: 11, with rural India accounting for 55 percent of private retail consumption. Indeed the market can be tapped with focused attention and strategy. Currently the Indian retail market is estimated at Rs. 13,30,000 crore and almost half of this growing retail market at present lies in rural India, which is a tremendous growth sector that needs to be tapped with care. This paper examines how the corporate sectors with their innovation and creativity tapping the Indian rural market with their retail marketing.

Key words: Innovation, retailing, rural retailing, rural India, creativity

ABSTRACT

India is one of the leading coconuts producing country in the world. Yet, it does not figure in the list of leading exporting countries of desiccated coconut. The study makes an attempt to examine the Economics of production and marketing of desiccated coconut. The study was conducted in Tiptur taluk of Tumkur district. The primary data was collected from the 10 desiccated coconut entrepreneurs from Tipturtaluk of Tumkur district of Karnataka. The study reveals that desiccated coconut units were utilizing 78.9 per cent of their installed capacity. The net return per tonne of coconut processed by desiccated coconut units was lakh Rs. 32.1, lakh Rs.81.1, and lakh Rs. 114.5 in case of small, medium, and large sized units respectively. On an average Rs. 144.01 lakhs was needed for the establishment of desiccated coconut unit. Out of which the investment on land (53.64%) was a major cost followed by machinery (26.15%), building (15.11%), and power installation (5.11%). The break even analysis showed that all categories of units had processed more than breakeven level. The investment made on desiccated coconut units was realized back within 2 to 3 years. The major constraints faced by desiccated coconut units were lack of skilled labor, limited market for desiccated coconut, higher requirement of working capital, and use of obsolete machines. Motivating the entrepreneurs to improve the quality standards, and modernization of desiccated coconut units need to be considered to improve the performance of desiccated coconut sector.

ABSTRACT

India is the second largest producer of vegetables in the world after China with an annual production of 162.19 million tonnes from an area of 9.2 m ha. The requirement of vegetables in the country has increased a lot to meet the nutritional requirement of an estimated 1200 million population expected by 2020-21. Although the productivity levels of vegetables have increased manifold, it would not be sufficient to feed the ever increasing population. Production per unit area of land, time and inputs can be increased by improving efficiency of the rate and extent to which solar energy is harvested for conversion to economic produce. In multiple cropping systems, the possibility of more efficient use of resources like sunlight, nutrient and water per unit area is higher leading to higher production stability. It can be very much successful in high imput requiring crops like vegetables. Intensive cropping involving multi-tiered vegetable crops like pointed gourd + elephant foot yam + cowpea grown on the single piece of land at the same time can generate profits up to Rs 1,30,000 per acre. India ranks first in the youth population. If the energy of these dynamic youth is properly utilized in the field of better agricultural practices, especially vegetable cultivation, it will help improve the national productivity of vegetable crops and generate employment as a whole. Thus, intercropping involving multi-storied/ multi-tier cropping system can serve as well-established practice for sustained supply of vegetables throughout the year through which rural youth can generate high income for sustainable livelihoods and increased per capita income.

ABSTRACT

Agriculture is an important component of Indian economy contributing over 14% to the National GDP and employment to about 52% of the workforce. The small farm families form the backbone of Indian agriculture. The sustainability of small farms needs to be continuously supported with appropriate technologies and also with promoting off farm employment opportunities in the rural sector. The role of KVKs’ in preparing the next generation farmers’ through imparting training to update their knowledge and skills in modern agricultural technologies related to technology assessment; refinement, demonstration and training of extension personnel to orient them in the frontier areas of technology development. Sh. Narender Singh s/o Sh. Jagdish Rai, Graduate, 42 years old youth from Dharania Village came in contact with KVK, Fatehabad in 2008 and got training from this centre. He was motivated to diversify his traditional system of agriculture with integrated farming system of Dairy Farming, Vegetable, Seed production, inter cropping of Guar in cotton. He also used neem cake and bio control agents in poly houses for management of root knot nematode. He is recycling cow dung from the dairy farm and producing bio gas for domestic consumption with the diversification of farming system. The total expenditure was Rs. 5,55,645 and gross return was Rs. 13,63,100. The farmer benefit cost ratio is 2:45.

INTRODUCTION

Livestock is an integral part of agriculture in our country. In the decade, India’s population has grown drastically by 13% to 1.2 billion people. Meeting the nutritional needs of this swiftly growing is a gargantuan challenge. Researchers and young farmers have an important role to play in the India Government strategy to relieve pressure on food resources. The dairy industry is a large and important sector in India. We are the highest milk producers in world and milk is an integral source of nutrition and household income. But per animal production is very low as compared to developed countries. The challenge is to improve production and reproduction of dairy animals. Indian farmers feed their animals with imbalanced ration. Supplementation of mineral and vitamins in feed not only improves health status but also in turn increase the income of dairy farmers. The economic contribution of dairy sector seems to be quite substantial in the agricultural economy as well as in the national economy. Keeping in view the growing importance of dairy sector in the changing national and global economic scenario, the dairy farming vocational training programs are organized in the Extension Center of LUVAS at Jind. To undertake this work, 856 young dairy farmers of the area who have successfully completed dairy farming vocational training programmes during the year 2010 to 2013 were selected for the collection of data.

³Ex-Head & Principal Scientist, Dairy Extension Divison, Karnal, Haryana

INTRODUCTION

Backyard poultry production is an age old practice in rural India. Rural poultry farming in India contributes to about 40% of the national egg production. In ancient time poultry birds were reared for different purposes such as for its fighting ability. In old civilization, the cocks are known for their morning alarm and the selection is also done for these traits. Their fighting ability is more responsible for their spread than there nutritive value of the chickens. Backyard poultry farming is now gaining considerable momentum in the country and enables rural community to participate, in the economic, political and social sustainable development of the rural communities.

Backyard poultry farming is being recognized as important component of socio- economic improvement among the weaker section of society; specially rural youth, landless labour, small and marginal farmers. Backyard poultry generates self-employment, provides supplementary income with protein rich food at relatively low cost. Backyard poultry farming is the one among different enterprises in the present situation which gives some assured income to rural youths of the country. Before 1950, poultry keeping in India was largely a backyard venture. During last 3-4 decades Indian poultry industry has shown excellent growth. Poultry farming is a profitable venture as a means of livelihood and income prosperity for rural youth and farmers. The small and marginal farmers may choose backyard poultry farming alternative method for generating good income with their limited land and water use. Keeping in view of demand of poultry eggs and meat in the country and its potential for income and employment generation among rural youth, there is a need to increase the poultry production in the country.

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.

Now days, in every walk of our life, we deal with a lot of information. It can be for personal use or family matters or for official or business matters. We store, process and retrieve variety of information. Information is basically the collection of various facts, records, statistics, formula or methods, which we use for our official work, for our research or for other use. When all these (information, we keep/ accumulate, for possible future use) are put in an organized manner, we find it convenient to use and easy to remember/ apply. Today, as it is rightly said, information is power; information is our knowledge-strength. It is thus important to organize and manage this knowledge that mostly depends on (and derived from) an information pool.

Abstract

Cloud computing is becoming a technology mature enough for its use in genome research experiments. The use of large datasets, its highly demanding algorithms and the need for sudden computational resources, make large-scale sequencing experiments an attractive test-case for cloud computing. So far I have seen cloud computing demonstrated using R. However, it remains to be seen a rigorous comparison of its performance using a BLAST search and its ability to cope with ever-increasing databases and open source frameworks such as bioperl or bioconductor.

Introduction

The capabilities and effort to collect the geographic data has increased dramatically in the last decade to cope up with the increasing demand for the support of decision making and planning process in the state, national and global level.  From the Government sector, there is a need for spatial data to make quick responses to natural disasters, industrial accidents and environmental crises as actions will be decided based on geography. There is constant pressure to make wise decisions in a more time and cost effective and efficient manner. Accurate and current geospatial data are critical to these decisions.

Abstract

Crop cultivation is a complex process and involves a set of activities like land preparation, planting, pest control, irrigation, nutrient management, harvesting, marketing, etc. Entire cycle of crop production requires multitude of information by the farmers. Despite many efforts over the years to disseminate and transfer agriculture knowledge to the stakeholders, large amounts of expertise and knowledge are still out of reach to most of them. Agriculture knowledge may be contained in the corporate database, or it may reside undocumented inside the brain of the researchers or even stored in locations unknown to the majority of the people in the organization. Large sections of the farming community, particularly the rural folk, do not have access to the huge knowledge base acquired by agricultural universities, extension-centers and businesses. In this respect the main challenge is to find this knowledge and apply it to the decision making process involved in agriculture development.