eChapters

Remote sensing can be a useful tool in engineering geological investigations, particularly in the identification and characterization of geological features and hazards.

Some of the ways that remote sensing can be used in engineering geological investigations include:

Geological mapping: Remote sensing data can be used to create detailed maps of the geological features in an area, including rock formations, faults, and folds. This information can be used to identify potential hazards, such as landslides and rockfalls, and to plan engineering projects accordingly.

Landslide detection and monitoring: Remote sensing data, such as satellite imagery, can be used to detect landslides and monitor their movement over time. This information can help engineers to design and implement appropriate stabilization measures.

Ground deformation monitoring: Remote sensing techniques, such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), can be used to detect ground deformation caused by geological processes such as subsidence, uplift, and faulting. This information can be used to identify potential hazards and plan engineering projects accordingly.

Local government is essential for responsive governance, citizen participation, effective service delivery, and sustainable development at the grassroots level. It ensures that decisions are made with the best interests of the community in mind, leading to improved quality of life and overall well-being for its residents. Local government ensures that decision-making is participatory, responsive, and tailored to the needs of the community, promoting effective governance and sustainable development at the grassroots level.

Introduction

As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, the agricultural sector faces escalating challenges. The need for climate-resilient agriculture has never been more urgent. This chapter embarks on a journey to unravel the intricacies of adapting farming practices to changing weather patterns. It explores the multifaceted nature of climate change impacts on agriculture, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and resilient solutions.

Understanding Climate Change And Agriculture

The chapter begins by elucidating the current state of climate change and its specific implications for agriculture. It highlights shifts in temperature, altered precipitation patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, underscoring the urgency for proactive adaptation measures.

Frequently referred to as "vegetable confetti," microgreens are produced from a variety of commercially grown food crops, including cereals, vegetables and herbs. They contain completely formed cotyledons that may or may not have partially extended genuine leaves (Treadwell et al., 2020). Seven to twenty-one days after germination, the exact piece of the delicate plant's growing stem is removed, along with the cotyledon leaves and maybe the real leaves (Galieni et al., 2020). Despite their small size, these useful micro veggies offer exceptional sensory qualities, including flavour, texture, scent, look and unusual colours. They normally have a height of 2-8 centimetres.

There is a high demand for arable land to meet food demand and end malnutrition due to the growth of megacities and the global urban population. To enhance yield per unit area, conventional agricultural practises result in agricultural intensification and land clearing for crop cultivation. It has been established that these behaviours have a negative effect on the ecosystem, including soil and water contamination. It is crucial to take into account the application of vertical farming technology which makes use of both horizontal and vertical space and utilises nutrients, water and time (off-season production with artificial illumination) more efficiently to create a larger yield per unit volume of area than conventional outdoor farming. Since microgreens are rich in phytonutrients and are easily harvested, it is being thought of to grow them utilising cutting-edge vertical farming technology. Forest area being turned over to agriculture causes deforestation, the depletion of natural resources like groundwater, loss of biodiversity due to the destruction of habitats, increased soil erosion and greenhouse gas emissions.

Information and communication technology (ICT) is the combination of hardware, software and the means of production that enables the collection, exchange, processing and management of information and knowledge. It includes social media, portals, websites, kisan call centers and expert systems etc.,

Need of ICT in agriculture and rural development

• For increasing the productivity and efficiency in agriculture
• Globalization, Modernization, Challenges and Opportunities across the world for Sharing of knowledge.
• Public Expenditure and gaps in extension could be reduced
• For effective utilization of available platforms
• Penetration of smartphones even in villages and the transfer of information

The intersection of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with agriculture has sparked a transformative revolution in the farming landscape. ICT projects in agriculture represent a paradigm shift, leveraging technological advancements to optimize farming practices, enhance productivity and ensure sustainable food production. From precision farming and data-driven decision-making to innovative tools and connectivity solutions, these projects harness the power of digital innovation to address challenges and drive efficiency across the agricultural sector. In this era where technology has become a cornerstone of progress, ICT projects stand as beacons of hope, ushering in a new era of smarter, more resilient and eco-conscious agriculture. The initiatives of ICT projects in agriculture and allied sectors

Social media are electronic communication platforms that allow users to interact, create, share, retrieve and exchange information and ideas in different forms.

Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.

There are many forms of social media including blogs, micro-blogs, wikis, social networking sites, photo-sharing sites, instant messaging, video-sharing sites, podcasts, widgets, virtual worlds, and more. Ex: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube etc.,

Role of social media in Transfer of Technology

Multimedia refers to the integration of various forms of media, including text, audio, video, graphics, and animations, to convey information or entertainment. It's a powerful tool used in various fields due to its ability to engage multiple senses simultaneously.

Aspects of Multimedia

• Text: Written content forms the basis of multimedia, providing information, context, and explanations.
• Audio: Sound elements, such as music, narration, or sound effects, enhance the overall experience, making content more engaging and informative.

Artificial intelligence is founded on the idea that human intelligence may be described in such a way that a computer can simply imitate it and carry out tasks ranging from simple to sophisticated. Artificial intelligence is assisting several agricultural sectors in increasing output and efficiency. In every industry, AI technologies are assisting in overcoming traditional hurdles.

AI intervention in agriculture is assisting farmers in increasing their farming efficiency while reducing harmful environmental impacts. The agriculture business has embraced AI with open arms in order to improve overall results. The way food is produced is changing as a result of artificial intelligence. Incorporating AI technology into agriculture aids in the control and management of any unwelcome natural occurrence.

In the broadest sense, a network is any interconnected group of people or things capable of sharing meaningful information with one another. In a technology context, the network is usually short for "computer network" or "data network" and implies that computers are the things sharing meaningful information. At a conceptual level, all data networks consist of nodes, which refers to any computer or digital device using the network and links, the physical connections (either wired or wireless) that carry messages between nodes.

The recent concept of intellectual property emerged in England in the 17^th & 18^th centuries. The term Intellectual Property came in use in the 19^th century and in the late 20^th century. As of now the Intellectual Property has occupied common position in the global legal systems. There are different forms of Intellectual property rights which include patents, copyright, industrial design, trademarks, plant variety rights, trade dress, geographical indications and in some jurisdictions trade secrets too

Major International Treaties Related to IPR & TRIPS

There are different forms of intellectual property like Patents, Copyright, Trademarks, Industrial design, Plant Varieties etc. Various meeting and conventions were also convened for the protection in these intellectual properties at international level from time to time and to bring uniformity and coordination among member countries. These were reflected in different treaties, which are mentioned below. Among all these treaties/conventions the agreement on Trade related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS), which runs under aegis of World Trade Organization is most influential, comprehensive and inclusive of all.

The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants or UPOV is an intergovernmental organization with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. UPOV was established by the International Convention. The objective of the Convention is the protection of new varieties of plants by an intellectual property right. The Convention was adopted in Paris in 1961 and revised in 1972, 1978 and 1991. UPOV aims to encourage the development of new varieties of plants for the benefit of society by codifying intellectual property for plant breeders.

The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) based in Geneva, Switzerland and established in 1961 is an intergovernmental organization to provide and promote an effective system of plant variety protection, with the aim of encouraging the development of new varieties of plants, for the benefit of society. For plant breeders' rights to be granted, the new variety must meet four criteria under the rules established by UPOV as discussed earlier also.

Components of biodiversity are all the various forms of life on Earth including ecosystems, animals, plants, fungi, microorganisms, and genetic diversity. Ecosystems, species and genetic resources should be used for the benefit of humans, but in a way that does not lead to the decline of biodiversity. Substantial investments are required to conserve biodiversity, but it will bring significant environmental, economic and social benefits in return. To address these challenges various initiatives were taken in the past such as Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973, 1979 Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in 1979.

The ITPGRFA is a comprehensive international agreement which is poised at guaranteeing food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world's plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, instead of fair and equitable benefit sharing arising from its use. It also advocates Farmers' Rights.

13.1. Genesis of the Treaty

The conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture are keys to feed global growing population in the coming future. The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was established in 1983, and the voluntary International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources was adopted here in. Another major step was taken in 1996 with the adoption of the Global Plan of Action at the Leipzig International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources. 

Bibliometric Analysis

1. What is?

Bibliometric analysis is a quantitative research method used to examine and analyze the bibliographic data present in scientific publications.

2. It involves?

The systematic evaluation of publication patterns, citation relationships, and other bibliographic characteristics to gain insights into the scholarly landscape.

3. How?

By applying various metrics and indicators, bibliometric analysis helps researchers and institutions assess research impact, identify emerging trends, map collaborations, and make informed decisions.

Project management in recent years has proliferated, reaching new heights of sophistication. It has emerged as a distinct area of management practices to meet the challenges of new economic environment, globalization process, rapid technological advancement, and quality concerns of the stakeholders. Project in general refers to a new endeavour with specific objective and varies so widely that it is very difficult to precisely define it or Project is a unique process, consist of a set of coordinated and controlled activities with start and finish dates, undertaken to achieve an objective confirming to specific requirements, including the constraints of time cost and resource.

Introduction

After working for more than 10 years in set of private companies, Mr. A K Aggarwal joined a very large government organisation, ITN Ltd (ITNL) (refer to Exhibit 1). He, along with other two freshly recruited MBA graduates, was posted to a project location in the remote district of India after a brief stint at ITNL's corporate office. The top management posted them with a lot of expectation to implement one of the most critical projects of the company. In the first few weeks only, he observed a tussle between the field team and project manager Mr. Amaresh Sharma. This tussle was impeding the project progress. Being new in the organisation, Mr Aggarwal was hesitant to approach any body and was clueless about how to handle the situation. This was also a new situation for Mr. Sharma in his 20 years of ITNL career and he was facing difficulty in breaking this logjam.

"Unseasonal thundershowers," remarked Mr. Ritesh Prasad, as he peered out of the windows at the overcast sky and the storm raging outside - the landscape outside was no different than the one raging inside AXYZ ltd, a family-owned, logistics firm. Mr. Ritesh Prasad, or RP as he was popularly known, had been the CHRO at AXYZ for a decade now. He was a personal favourite of Mr. Pulkit Sahni, the founder-owner of AXYZ, and was quite popular with all levels of hierarchy, because of his genial disposition and general sense of empathy towards the firm's workforce.

Background

GMPK is a large professional services partnership firm comprising over 155,000 professionals with presence in more than 156 countries, providing Audit, Tax & Advisory services to some leading companies and governments around the world. In India, the company has two entities with a total of approximately 20000 employees and partners.

For the last four years, GMPK has ranked as an 'Ideal Employer' on a global index of the world's most attractive employers. The index is based on the opinions of close to 130,000 students from renowned academic institutions across many economies, including the United States, China, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and India. GMPK provides its employees with award-winning diversity initiatives and a formal mentoring program.

Farm machinery is a range of mechanical implements used in agriculture production from land preparation to harvesting and processing the produce. It includes various ploughs, tractors, broadcaster, harvester and post harvest processing machineries. The purpose of using machines in agriculture production is to handle the mass production, improve the efficiency and to save the labour costs. The types of implements used in fodder production are tillage, sowing, intercultural, plant protection and harvesting equipments.

Introduction

Quality of Work Life (QWL) is a popular concept among the organizations. Work is an essential part of everyday human life. Work influences the overall quality of life. Human resources are one of the main assets of any organization. Quality of work life (QWL) is one of the important subsystems of human resource management. There are economic, social, psychological and organizational aspects of work life. Many new subsystems are being added to human resource management with employees’ changing needs, culture, expectations, and work environment.

Poultry has grown significantly over the last few decades; nevertheless, as production has increased, the usage of specific medications and feed additives has become essential for illness prevention, treatment, and growth promotion. Around the world, broiler chickens are regarded as one of the main sources of meat. Poultry consumption has increased by more than 100% in the last few decades, from 13% of total meat consumption in 1965 to 28% in 2015. All around the world, but especially in emerging and Asian nations, there is a growing need for chicken meat. The amount of poultry meat consumed worldwide increased from 11 kg per person in 2000 to 14.4 kg in 2011, with predictions that it will reach 17.2 kg per person by 2030.

Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of livestock in India. The major growth promoters used in broiler diets in the past were antibiotics, which have been found helpful in improvement of growth performance and feed conversion ratio in poultry (Miles et al., 2006). However, constant supplementation of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in poultry feed led to residual effects in poultry products and usage of antibiotics in sub-therapeutic concentrations resulted in development of antibiotic resistant bacteria (Diaz et al., 2015) which represent a public health hazard.

The acidifiers could be used to favourably manipulate the intestinal microbial populations and improve the immune response, hence perform an activity similar to antibiotics in feed. Acidifiers also improve the digestibility of nutrients and increases the absorption of minerals. The incorporation of organic acids also leads to thinning of the intestinal lining which facilitates better absorption of nutrients and its efficient utilization. However, their effect will not be similar among all types of organic acids as their mechanism of activity is based on its pKa value. At present, coated salts of acidifiers are available commercially for use in feed of poultry.

A novel approach to immunisation is edible vaccines that work by using plants as bio factories to create immunogenic proteins that, when ingested, can provide immunity. The idea is to genetically modify plants such that they express genes that code for pathogen proteins or antigens. Then, because they stimulate the synthesis of vaccine components within their tissues, these genetically engineered plants serve as vaccine delivery vehicles. The hepatitis B vaccination served as the model for immunogenicity in humans in the early research on edible vaccines.

Losses caused by Eimeria in Intestine of poultry are well known from more than century (Chapman, 2014) and their important information like life cycle, pathogenesis, global distribution are well established (Shirley et al., 2005). Heavy infection of coccidiosis in poultry leads to necrotic enteritis, reduced feed conversion ratio and even some species of Eimeria are responsible for mortality of birds (Shirley et al., 2005; Williams, 1999).Due to economic losses caused by Eimeria, prophylactic use of anticoccidial drugs and live parasitic vaccine are used in poultry industry (Blake and Tomley, 2014).

The thermal range ideal for poultry rearing is 130C to 240C and is known as thermo neutral zone. Any temperature on either side of this zone falls in the critical range (240C-380C and 0-130C) and is detrimental to birds. Heat stress (HS) happens when the amount of heat produced by a bird exceeds the bird’s capability to dissipate the heat from the body to its surrounding environment both by sensible and insensible heat loss. The imbalance between heat production and dissipation result due to variations in a combination of various factors viz. sunlight, temperature of the air, humidity etc. and individual variations at bird level viz. sex, breed, species and physiological status (Lara and Rostagno, 2013). During heat stress, the birds reduce their heat production by decreased feed intake and increased water consumption.

Introduction

The rare-earth elements (REEs) consist of a group of 17 elements that have atomic numbers between 57 (lanthanum) and 71 (lutetium). They are also known as lanthanides. The European Union banned all in-feed growth promoting antibiotics in 2006 because of public fears about the transmission and development of multi-resistant bacteria, which pose a threat to human health. Such restrictions have prompted the need to explore new safe, efficient, and inexpensive feed additives as alternative sources of growth promoters. Rare earth elements (REEs) have been used as feed additives for the last few decades due to their effectiveness in improving the body weight, feed conversion rate (FCR), and milk and egg production in various farm animals, including cattle, poultry, and swine.

1. Colt, a dwarfing rootstock of cherry is a cross between:

 a) P. avium × P. cerasifera b) P. avium × P. mahaleb

 c) P. avium × P. pseudocerasus d) P. avium × P. cerasoides

 2. GF-677 is a cross of:

 a) Almond × Peach b) Peach × Almond

 c) Peach × Apricot d) Apricot × Peach

 3. Coat protein mediated resistance has been developed in:

 a) Papaya b) Banana

 c) Citrus d) All the above

Electrocardiogram is a visual record of electrical activities going on in the heart during depolarization and repolarization (cardiac cycle). It is one of the simplest and fasted non-invasive diagnostic test available to evaluate cardiac function. Though the heart of large mammals have many similarities, difference in shape, size, positioning in thoracic cavity and innervation of Purkinje f ibers exists in different species of the animals making the electrocardiogram peculiar for that species of animal. Peculiar characteristics that distinguish the electrocardiograms of different species of animals are given in this chapter.

Introduction

The sacred chank, scientifically known as Turbinella pyrum (Xancus Pyrum - Linnaeus, 1758), is an extraordinary marine mollusk found in the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean and surrounding areas. Revered for its captivating beauty and symbolic significance, this large sea snail holds a prominent place in the rich tapestry of Indian culture and religious traditions. Devotional side and stories of sacred chank Turbinella pyrum is not new to Indian culture. It is as significant from a biodiversity standpoint as it is from a cultural perspective. 

11.1. Fruit Rots

11.1.1. Alternaria

Please refer “Alternaria” section in Chapter 10.

11.1.2. Colletotrichum

Please refer “Colletotrichum” section in Chapter 9.

11.1.3. Fusarium

Please refer “Fusarium” section in Chapter 10.

Introduction

A thematic layer is defined as a layer with a set of logical feature data placed under single theme such as soil type, pH level, salinity, and water table. The features in these layers determine real world objects and are created using geometries such as points, lines and polygons (Tickoo 2017). Thematic layering is the spatial representation of analyzed data of elements that belong to the same type. Thematic maps are used to create these layers, which show how one or more specific data themes vary across different geographic areas.

• General considerations

 • First hand information and constitution of a team

 • Gathering the disease information from records and the owner

 • Animal data

 • Previous illness

 • Present disease

 • Proforma for animal examination report

 • Observation of team

• Logical clinical examination of animals

 • Disease investigation kit

Effectiveness of spray mixtures can be increased by addition of adjuvants. Weed Science Society of America (WSSA1994) have defined adjuvant as a material in a herbicide formulation or added to the spray tank to modify herbicidal activity or application characteristics. Adjuvants enhance activity of a herbicide in different ways viz., wetting, spreading, deposit building, emulsifying or deflocculating the active ingredient. In many cases cost of adjuvant will be less than that of active ingredient. In such cases it helps to reduce the cost of the final product.

Survival strategies of some plants help them to thrive in any adverse environmental conditions. We classify them as weeds or ruderals. Such weedy species have developed unique and effective physiological traits to withstand various stresses, and unique mechanisms to regulate growth under adverse environments. Climate change is a harsh reality observed in different parts of the world which brings new challenges in crop production and weed management.

Introduction of biotechnological tools in weed science and management has given new dimensions to weed research.

20.1 Introduction

Physiological adaptations for air-breathing in bony fishes have fascinated researchers for well over a century. The metabolic rate of some fish is so high that dissolved oxygen in water becomes insufficient. Prolonged drought causes some f ish to develop devices to survive in the absence of water for a short period. To overcome these challenges, fishes have developed accessory respiratory organs that can function in both aquatic and aerial environments.

As an adaptation to specific environmental conditions, accessory respiratory organs develop in addition to the gills. The development of these organs is dependent on the availability of extra oxygen. The development of an accessory respiratory organ is most common in tropical freshwater fishes.

32.1 Introduction

Development or embryogenesis refers to the events that occur after fertilisation. Embryogenesis in fish includes the formation of stages up to fingerlings. The process is similar in all fishes, but there are some differences between teleosts and elasmobranchs. The development of telolecithal eggs in fish begins soon after sperm fertilisation.

Introduction

Rural development programmes are designed as an integral part for socio economic development, especially of developing country like India. These rural development programmes connotes greater social transformation which has recognized as a sine qua non. Since from independence, rural development programmes mainly focusing on poverty reduction (Dev, 1995). The number of public and private organizations focus on rural development as a way to poverty1 reduction has grown up with the comprehension that most impoverished people lives in rural and tribal areas.

Introduction

The interest in technology transfer traces back to the colonial era, which began by disseminating knowledge about the core industries of mining, plantations, and agriculture, which was seven decades ago. Technology has had a significant impact on human development and life growth throughout history. People’s life are constantly changing due of technology, whether or not they are ready for it. There has been so much change brought about by technology, and it has occurred at such a rapid pace that many times people lose their capacity to handle it successfully and pleasantly. In this scenario, more ideas are being created in the smaller globe, and technology’s residence time is getting much shorter.

Evaluating the Evaluation

To present clarity, representation of components of program, stake holders, senility, needs of target group, sample, data, technical adequacy, data collection methods cost, recommendation the steps have been described below as per syllabus contents prescribed by ICAR.

Evaluating the Evaluation

Introduction

It is impossible to overestimate the crucial impact that plant breeding, a fundamental branch of agricultural science, has played in determining the course of societies throughout history. The foundation of agricultural advancement throughout history has been the creation and spread of improved crop varieties, which have a profound effect on farmers’ socioeconomic conditions everywhere. This effort involves strategically enhancing crop types to meet the evolving demands of communities and farmers.

Introduction

Two-thirds of the population make their living from agriculture, which also supplies raw materials for other businesses. To feed the growing population and decrease hunger and poverty, agricultural output must be increased. Various farming systems coexist in India depending on the resources available, agricultural methods, and location-specific demands of people to meet their needs for food, fuel, and fibre. An intricate, interconnected matrix is the integrated farming system (IFS) of soil, plants, animals, tools, equipment, labour, capital, and other inputs that are partially controlled by farming families, with varied degrees of political, economic, and institutional power and resting elements that affect farms. In India, the size of farm holdings has dropped over time.

Introduction

Plant growth regulators are defined as small, simple chemicals produced naturally by plants to regulate their growth and development and are essential for regulating their own growth. They act by controlling or modifying plant growth processes, such as formation of leaves and flowers and elongation of stems.

In modern forest nursery raising, the benefits of extending the use of plant hormones to regulate the growth of economically important plants have been established. There are two possible goals in inducing trees to form floral buds, in particular, female buds. The first is to achieve precocity. Precocious flowering in normally immature trees can provide advantages in breeding and seed production because it overcomes a substantial seed production delay intrinsic to late-maturing conifers. The second reason is the phase change from juvenile growth to mature growth. The induction of either precocity or increased male flower and female cone formation are generally the result of applied treatments. A few studies have focused on the intrinsic physiological differences between high and low producing clones.

Introduction

Biofertilisers are defined as preparations containing the living cells or latent cells of efficient strains of microorganisms that assist in the uptake of nutrients in crop plants by their interactions in the rhizosphere, when applied through seed or soil. They accelerate certain microbial processes in the soil, which augment the extent of the availability of nutrients in a form easily assimilated by plants. The increasing pressure of human and livestock population, indiscriminate extraction of forest produce, regular forest fires and mining activities have resulted in soil erosion, loss of fertility and moisture content and decreasing productivity of forests, which pose manifold problems for the restoration of the ecosystem.

Nephrology

Nephritis and renal calculi are the two major problems leading to renal failure in canine and feline nephrology. Chronic renal failure may occur at any age but it is more common in geriatric dogs. Congenital renal diseases may also lead to renal failure at any age. Chronic renal disease or chronic renal failure is a progressive deteriorating condition as compensatory mechanism (glomerular hypertension and hyper filtration) further deteriorate the condition. Hence chronic renal disease remains lifelong. For quality life, an early diagnosis of renal failure is very important. The following techniques are used to diagnose chronic renal failure.

Antipathogen Chemicals

Anti-pathogen chemicals are chemical substances that serve to slow the activity of pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and nematodes.

Purpose of Using Chemicals in Plant Disease Management

The goal of application of chemicals in plant disease control are

• To form a toxic barrier between the pathogen and the host surface or tissue.

• To eliminate the pathogen from a specific place on the host, such as seed, leaves, roots, and so on.

Role of Chemicals’ in Plant Disease Management

• Reducing inoculum density or removing inoculum from the source of growth, multiplication, and survival.

• Pathogen inactivation or annihilation when it lands on the treated surface.

• Treatment of the diseased plant.