eChapters

Life on Earth is rooted in soil. Soil is not just a substratum anchoring the plants and giving a base for all terrestrial animals. It is the largest terrestrial ecosystem, and one of the most wonderful ecosystems on Earth. It inhabits most microorganisms. Microbial populations flourishing within the soil have greater biomass than all the human beings, elephants, and whales put together. It is due to the microorganisms that the soil constitutes the most active ecosystem on Earth.

The health of the soil is crucial for the health of all the plants growing on it and for all the animals dependent on it for their inhabitation and nourishment. Soil health is also critical for the well-being of numerous microorganisms, detritivores, and several other organisms. Soil is composed of all essential nutrients/ minerals, air, water, and organisms in a proportion that strikes its ecological balance and maintains its structure and functions revealed through its productive potential.

Soil, like all other ecosystems, is itself a dynamic ecosystem. Its composition keeps changing but natural inbuilt mechanisms help strike a balance and recover 

A sound is a form or energy. Therefore, it has to have an impact on life in one way or the other. Most of the organisms of Kingdom Animalia communicate with each other creating a peculiar sound. Creating sound is inevitable for performing various life activities. Every animal species has the characteristic sound it reflects through its behavior. Whatever all the animals communicate through creating specific sounds is all-natural. Nature, as such is a stupendous repository of a diversity of sounds, all being specific characteristics of life.

Human behavior, however, is highly evolved in terms of creating a variety of sounds. Communication, entertainment, and many behavioral activities are expressed through creating distinctive sounds. There is a difference between natural sounds and the ones human beings create or can create. Humans often generate sounds, not just in a natural manner, but also with various technical aids, that often become unpleasant what we call noise. Creating noise, or noise pollution, seems to be an exclusive characteristic of the human species. Of course, there could be some natural sounds that might occasionally cause havoc to life. Examples are the sounds generated at the time of the volcanic eruption, during an earthquake

Radioactive pollution is largely attributable to radioactivity, a natural property of certain elements, such as radium, uranium, thorium, etc. of spontaneously emitting protons (alpha particles), electrons (beta particles), and gamma rays (short-wave electromagnetic waves) through the disintegration of their atomic nuclei (nuclides).

An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, which is akin to a helium nucleus. Alpha particles travel at a very slow speed, whereas gamma rays propagate at the speed of light. The alpha particles have less penetration power than the beta and gamma rays. In human tissues, alpha particles can penetrate up to a depth of about 0.005 to 0.008 cm. The gamma rays, on the other hand, are the most penetrating and can easily pass through a human body without striking anything in between. The high penetration power of gamma rays is because they have no charge; therefore, they do not interact with anything as the charged alpha particles would do

When it comes to the fow of goods and services from the point of production till they reach the hands of fnal consumers, marketing is defned as “the performance of all business operations involved in that fow.”

Market structure is defned as “those aspects of the market’s organisation that appear to strategically infuence the nature of competition and pricing inside the market.”The market structure is decided by the following factors in general.

1. Number and size of the frms.
2. Degree of product differentiation.
3. Conditions for entry and exit.
4. Flow of market information.
5. Degree of integration.

The term “entrepreneur” was coined in America in the late 70’s. A few executives of major corporations in the United States left their jobs to start their own small businesses because the top executives in these companies were not accepting new ideas. Managers who have become entrepreneurs find amazing success in their new businesses. Some of them were dangerous to companies they left a few years ago. This type of businessman came to be known as entrepreneurs. Such a brain drain is a global phenomenon and is not limited to the United States. Industrialists around the world began designing routes and suspending the flight of their most prominent officers. In 1976 Norman Macras wrote to the London Economist that large successful companies should become ‘business partners’’.

Important Points to be Remember

• Father of Indian plant pathology – E.J.Butler
• Father of Plant virology – Beijerinck
• Wheat rust is associated with Indian scientist – K.C.Mehta
• Kresek phase of rice is due to – Bacterial leaf blight
• Bakanae disease of rice is also known as – Foot rot and Foolish seedling disease

Abstract

Rural indebtedness is an old problem in India. In the 19^th century commercial banking was absent in rural areas and farmer were entirely in the hand of usurious moneylender. Since the British rule, the central government has been trying to extend institutional lending to the rural agriculture sector. To provide credit to the agricultural sector, a multi-agency approach involving co-operative banks, scheduled commercial banks, and RRBS has been used in India. Adequate and timely loan availability at reasonable rates is the basis for agricultural finance policy. The institutional structure for agricultural lending has improved over time in terms of scope and reach. India’s higher education institutions have been focusing their efforts on advancing agricultural finance.

Climatic Factors and Crop Growth

Crop growth depends on internal and external factors. Internal factors are mostly genetic or hereditary factors which include high yielding ability, resistance to lodging, tolerance to adverse conditions such as drought, flood and salinity, tolerance to insect pests and diseases, and grain quality. The external factors include climate, edaphic, biotic, physiographic and socio-economic factors.

Agriculture and Food Security

Food security refers to a situation when people gain physical and access to enough food to meet the dietary requirements for a healthy life for all times. A household can have food security when all the members lead a hunger free life. It is estimated that nearly 800 million people in the world go to bed hungry every night. Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life (World Food Summit, 1996). This definition gives rise to four dimensions of food security: availability of food, accessibility (economically and physically), utilization (the way it is used and assimilated by the human body) and stability of these three dimensions.

Need for climate-smart agriculture strategy

Climate change has long-lasting and potentially detrimental consequences on the agriculture sector. Changes in weather events cause perturbations across agricultural ecosystems and have impact on farm productivity. Adopting the climate-smart agriculture approach has thus, become inevitable in order to build resilience in agriculture systems and cope up with climate change. With a view to implementing climate-smart agricultural practices to ensure climate resilience, certain broad strategies have to be adopted. The CSA approach is designed to identify and operationalize sustainable agricultural development within the explicit parameters of climate change (Climate Smart Agriculture Sourcebook.FAO.2013). It integrates the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) by jointly addressing food security and climate challenges.

Application of Climate-Smart Agriculture

Agricultural production systems are expected to change in response to climate change and ensure food security in different countries. Climate variability may further affect the agricultural production in future. To meet such challenges, there are many options to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on agricultural systems, make them resilient to climate change, and reduce emissions. Many technologies and practices can increase crop yields, farm income, and input-use efficiency, and may reduce GHG emissions (Khatri Chhetri et al. 2017). Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is suggested to address the adverse effects of climate change and ensure food security. It is intended to achieve the three objectives of ensuring productivity, adapting and building resilience and reducing emission of GHG.

The key genetic parameters available with the animal breeder to attain improvement are heritability, repeatability and genetic correlation. This chapter will mainly deal with the theoretical considerations of these parameters.

The goal of an animal breeder is to bring about permanent improvement in different economic traits, either individually (univariate) or simultaneously in multiple traits (multitrait). The phenotypic value available from the animal is a combination of genotypic value and environmental deviation. By permanent improvement in a trait, we mean the improvement in genotypic value, which could be carried over to future generations. The environmental deviations are spatially and temporally specific, and thus will not be the same over generations. The genotypic value, itself is made up of additive effect, dominance deviation and interaction deviation. The additive effect is a value of genes (the sum of the average effect of genes) and hence is more important for the breeder as only the genes are passed on to the next generation.

Agribusiness is a term used to describe the sector that encompasses all economic activities that are related to farming, i.e., breeding, crop production/farming, farm machinery, distribution, marketing etc. It relates to industries that are engaged in farming or that produce farm inputs. Examples of agribusiness include farm machinery manufacturing, seed supply, and agrichemicals. It also is used to describe businesses that are involved in the marketing and distribution of farm products. These businesses include warehouses, wholesalers, processors, retailers, and more. Any company that participates in the production, marketing, safety, and distribution of food is involved in agribusiness. More precisely it is defined as a sector that supports the growth of the agricultural industry, which is pivotal to economic growth. It also continues to play a crucial role in the growth of developing countries. Agribusinesses can potentially improve agricultural productivity, which is why governments often offer subsidies to agricultural businesses. Agricultural activities also contribute to an improved system of food security and sustainable food production, as well as income for a majority of the poor in developing countries. However, the activities increase the emission of greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming – which is why innovation is important in the sector to address such problems.

Introduction

The use of drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in the agriculture sector has ushered in a new era of precision farming. These versatile flying machines equipped with advanced sensors and cameras have the potential to transform various agricultural activities, resulting in increased productivity, reduced costs, and more sustainable practices.

This chapter explores the history of drones, their components and functioning, the numerous agriculture activities where drones can be employed, the benefits they offer, real-world use cases, challenges in adoption, and possible solutions to fully realize their potential in the agriculture sector.

Abstract

This chapter examines cost concept, which refers to the sacrifice made by the producer in the form of payments, such as wages for laborers, rent for tractor and land use, and expenses for raw materials, etc. Furthermore, it explains seven cost concepts and CACP cost concept with graphical presentation

Introduction

The fruit is recognized as the fourth most important global food commodity.

It is used as a staple fruit in most African countries and is used as ripe (table)

or raw fruit (cooking). This fruit is available throughout the year. All the plant parts are being used. Banana is a tropical, herbaceous, monocotyledonous and monocarpic fruit crop.

Introduction

Grapes are a delicious, refreshing, and nourishing fruit. It was introduced into India by the in values of Iran and Afghanistan. 50% of the total production of fruits in the world is contributed by grapes. Cultivation of grapes is called “viticulture”. Easily digestible and rich in energy-giving sugars, certain minerals and vitamins. Grape juice is a refreshing drink a stimulant to kidenys and laxactive. In India, 80% of the production is used for table purposes, 10% for raisins and 10% for wine production, while in western countries 80% is used for winery, 10% for raisins, and 10% for table purposes. The area of the same is increasing fast in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Mizorum, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are grape growing.

Pollination is a keystone process in both human managed and natural terrestrial ecosystems. Pollinators are an input of crop cultivation and associated biodiversity, and provide an essential ecosystem service to both natural and agro- ecosystems. In agro-ecosystems, management of pollinators can maximize the pollination and thereby enhance the crop productivity and yield quality. Pollination is the best example of mutualism between plant species and their pollinators which results into intricate relationships between plant and animal - the reduction or loss of either affecting the survival of both.

Approximately 80 per cent of all flowering plant species are dedicated to pollination by animals and mostly by insects. The negative impact of pollinator deficit is strongly felt in reduction of fruit set seed productivity and agricultural biodiversity. The role of pollinators is transfer of pollen from anther to stigma of the same species to ensure reproduction, seed set, fruit set development and multiplication of plants, both in agro ecosystems and natural ecosystems.

Abstract

Carbon is the backbone for the life of all living beings. Carbohydrates are metabolic currency of plants as they provide building blocks for energy and biomass accumulation. Carbohydrates include both structural and Nonstructural carbohydrates. Structural carbohydrates like cellulose and lignin are long chain molecules for the building of plants reserves and structural support. These are main constituents of plant cell wall, stem, stalks etc. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) like monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, sugar alcohols are important constituents in plants metabolism. The Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) pool is very important for plant to meet the inadequate carbon requirement under night and stressful conditions. The quantity and distribution ratio of NSC in different tissues is an ecophysiological feature to understand the adaptive strategies of plants. Substrate for biosynthesis of NSC produced from photosynthesis. Sucrose and starch majorly involved in transport, energy metabolism, osmoregulation of plants.

Insects and mites that damage crops, pathogens that cause diseases in plants, weeds that compete with field crops for nutrients and water, plants that choke irrigation channels or drainage systems, rodents that eat young plants and grain, and birds that eat seedlings or stored foodstuffs are all crop pests. As plants were domesticated and grown, increasingly in monoculture, the potential damage caused by their co-evolved pests and disease pathogens were realised.

High-pressure processing (HPP) is a novel method for non-thermal preservation technique of food that inactivates harmful pathogens and vegetative spoilage microorganisms. HPP is an alternate, non-thermal food processing method, wherein the food is subjected to a very high pressure range from 100 -800 MPa (1MPa = 145.03 Psi or 10 Bar). HPP is also referred as High hydrostatic pressure processing, Ultra high-pressure processing, Hyperbaric processing and Pascalization (Rao et al., 2014).

Moringa oleifera Linn. belongs to the family Moringaceae, that consists of only one genus with about 13 species of deciduous trees (Keay, 1989). It is believed to be the native of India-Pakistan-Nepal borders, but now is becoming widely distributed and grown in several countries, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions (Satti et al., 2013).

Elephant foot yam, Amorphophallus campanutatus Blume (= Arum campanulatum Roxb.) belongs to the family Araceae. It is also known as elephant yam, Elephant bread, Suran, Sweet yam etc. It is a native to Tropical Asia and is found throughout the plains of the Indian sub-continent and some other parts of South East Asia and Africa growing both wild as well as cultivated.

To reduce the dependence on hazardous pesticides in modern agriculture, one of the most promising ways is to use insect-resistant cultivars. When available, planting resistant cultivars is one of our most effective, economically viable and environmentally sound tactics. The underlying concept of using host resistance to our advantage comes from the knowledge that most plants and animals are resistant to most potential insect attackers.

As the population of the world rises, there is an increase in the demand for food production. Agricultural packaging helps farmers and makers to deliver food in the handiest approach with no loss. It eliminates unnecessary wastage of food during post-harvest treatment procedures, production process, storage, and transportation. It ensures short and long-term stability between the farmers and the consumers. Pesticides are completely toxic and reactive and thus need correct packaging. In agricultural packaging of pesticides, pouches with excellent quality standards are used that improve sealing and handling issues and avoid any malfunctioning. Ventilation is very important in agricultural packaging that permits the warmth and to cool quickly. Loss of water of the products should be minimized to let them stay fresh for a longer time.

Learning outcomes

• understand the functioning of community radio in dissemination of from technology.

Introduction

Radio is the oldest type of media, and via radio the information revolution saw the green revolution. Farmers listen to the radio for weather, market price, and pestilence updates. Government began to encourage citizens by establishing radio rural forums (RRF). The primary purpose of a rural radio forum is to discuss and act. Here, a group of twenty individuals debate cultivation-related concerns and provide questions for the subsequent Radio rural forum. This allowed radio forum to get widespread popularity.

Learning outcome

• To learn writing for print media such as newspaper, magazine, books.
• To have in knowledge about script writing in electronic medium such as using mobile apps- LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Podcast

What is Print Media?

It’s a sort of mass media that publishes news and information. Print media is the oldest way to reach a large audience. It exclusively distributes information in physical copy

Books, magazines, and newspapers are popular print media. These may consist of chapters or themes, pictures, advertising, printed journals, pamphlets and so on. Print media cannot do live reporting, discussions, or shows.

Learning outcomes

• You should know how to make an audio or video script.
• Describe the differences between the different kinds of programmes.
• Examine the different script development stages. Before we start, please complete the following activity.

Reflect on the programmes you watch on TV or any other programme using Over the top (OTT) platforms like amazon, prime video, Netflix etc. How many of it you classify as

1. Entertainment
2. Educational
3. Informational

“Mostpeople spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.”
 

- Henry Ford

A problem can be defined as a situation that prevents us from achieving the goals we have set for ourselves. It can be anything from financial, personal to work-related. Problems can arise anywhere, and any activity that helps to end our problem results in problem-solving. Being a part of an extension organization we have to come across different kinds of problems. Every job role has its problems. But how well do we cope up with the everyday problems that we often face? Some people are good at problem-solving. Others may think they are not. Most are somewhere in between.

Good problem solving skills empower managers in their professional and personal lives. Good problem solving skills seldom come naturally; they are consciously learnt and nurtured. The selection of good problem solving skills includes:

India is one of the few countries in the world, which has contributed richly to the international livestock gene pool. Small animal particularly sheep and goat biodiversity in India is characterized by high degree of endemism in different agro climatic regions, and has led to the development of various breeds/strains that are well adapted to specific set of environmental conditions. These breeds have generally been named after their place of origin and some based on their prominent characteristics. Indigenous sheep and goat contribute greatly to the agrarian economy, especially in areas where crop and dairy farming are not economical, and play an important role in the livelihood of a large proportion of small and marginal farmers and landless laborers. Sheep and Goat rearing and production has been the important source for sustainable livelihood of the rural people mainly in arid, semi-arid and temperate regions of India as it serves their various needs and provides an unceasing source of income round the year.

Introduction

Farmers work hard to earn a living. However, not all farmers make money, especially small family farmers. There is very little leftover after they pay for all their inputs (seeds, livestock breeds, fertilizers, pesticides, energy, feed, labour, etc.). However, the Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) has enabled farmers to develop a framework for an alternative development model to improve the feasibility of small sized farming operations. The ‘’modern’’ technologies have been widely used to enhance the productivity per acre of land to ensure that there is enough food for the increased global population. Due to the indiscriminate and erratic use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, our food and ecosystems have been poisoned. On the contrary, the integrated farming system uses the integrated approach to farming compared to monoculture approaches. It refers to agricultural systems that integrate agriculture with horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry, etc. and known as integrated bio-systems. In this system, an inter-related set of enterprises is used so that the “waste” from one component becomes an input for another part of the system. This reduces costs and improves production and/or income. 

Introduction

Strategic planning is how an organisation determines how to allocate its resources to pursue its strategy or direction. Based on an assessment of the internal and external environments within which an organisation operates, strategic management is concerned with developing and implementing an organisation’s long-term goals for its stakeholders.

When it comes to strategic planning and management, the SWOT analysis (or SWOT matrix) is a tool that can be used to determine a company’s competitive advantage by analysing its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Situational assessment or situational analysis is another name. TOWS and WOTS-UP are two other acronyms based on the same components.

Introduction

Entrepreneurship refers to the capability and willingness to develop, establish and run an enterprise and manage uncertainties to profit. It can also be defined as a process concerned with the creation and extraction of economic value. Entrepreneurship is more than just starting a business purely to make money. The person who bears the risk of starting a new enterprise is an entrepreneur. In this chapter, we will discuss entrepreneurship and its development in detail.

Entrepreneurship development is a process involving several phases and steps. The process has been viewed at the level of individual-developing entrepreneurial quality in an individual and the group of community-creating an environment in which entrepreneurship activities can grow.

1. Sample: One or more units selected from a population of units, or a portion of material selected from a larger quantity of material
2. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should contain full working instructions as well as information on applicability, expected performance, internal quality control (performance verification) requirements and calculation of results. It should also contain information on any hazards arising from the method, from standards or from reagents.
3. Analytical Samples: The quantity of the analytical sample to be used is usually indicated in tests and assays. Unless otherwise specified, the quantity used may deviate by 10% from that stated. All quantitative determinations should be conducted on triplicate test portions and in these cases, the amount actually taken should be accurately weighed or measured and the result of the analysis calculated on this exact quantity. When substances are to be “accurately weighed” in a test or assay, the weighing is to be performed in such manner as to limit the error to ± 0.1% or less. Quantities smaller than 100 mg should be weighed to the nearest 0.1 mg.

1. Proteins in solution absorb ultraviolet light with absorbance maxima at 280 and 200 nm. Amino acids with aromatic rings are the primary reason for the absorbance peak at 280 nm. Peptide bonds are primarily responsible for the peak at 200 nm.
2. Aromatic amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan give proteins their characteristic ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 280 nm, which is routinely used to estimate protein concentration. Phenylalanine and disulfide bonds also contribute to absorption at 280 nm, albeit slightly.

13.1 Introduction

Beet root or garden beet or table beet is an important home and market garden crop of India grown during winter season for its fleshy enlarged roots. It can be eaten raw as salad, and cooked with other vegetables. Beet root is rich in minerals and vitamin C. The garden beet, sugar beet, swiss chard, mangel and palak, all belong to the same genus and species Beta vulgaris. Beet root (Chukandar) is not so popular vegetable crop in India. Its root contains high percentage of sugar.

14.1 Introduction

Turnip is quick growing root vegetable. It is a herbaceous biennial for seed production and an annual for use as a vegetable. Both roots and leaves are edible in turnip. Turnip produces napiform types of roots. Turnip is a popular root vegetable of North India grown during winter months. In young stage, it can be cooked but when it is mature, it may become fibrous and hard. It can be eaten raw but, for making palatable pickles, only desi types are the best. European cultivars of turnip are sweeter than Indian ones. The turnip greens are rich in vitamin A and C and contain appreciable amount of vitamin B, and also good source of Ca, P and Fe. 

1. Introduction

Refrigeration may be defined as the process of achieving and maintaining a temperature below that of the surroundings. The aim being to cool some product or space to the required temperature. Refrigerated system or a room system is maintained at a temperature which is lower than the atmospheric temperature. Due to higher temperature of atmosphere, heat enters the system. To keep the temperature of the system constant, heat must be removed continuously from the system. Heat removed must be equal to the heat transferred to the system. One of the most important applications of refrigeration has been the preservation of perishable food products by storing them at low temperatures. Refrigeration systems are also used extensively for providing thermal comfort to human beings by means of air conditioning.

1. Introduction

Cleaning and grading are the first and vital post harvest operations undertaken to remove foreign and undesirable materials such as crop seed, chaff, mud, stones, straws, immature grains, dust, husk and even iron and steel particles from grains as well as fruits and vegetables and to separate the products into various fractions. Generally, the hand threshing and the traditional handling used in most developing countries cause a larger percentage of foreign matter with these crops. Thus, more cleaning is required. Cleaning is essentially a separation process, in which some difference in physical properties of the contaminants and the food units is exploited. 

1. Introduction

Size reduction is applied to all the ways in which particles of the solids are cut or broken into smaller pieces. Size reduction operation of solids is referred to as 'Comminution", some of the common comminutive processes are - crushing, grinding, milling, mincing, and dicing. Breaking down of large sized particles of food substances into smaller particles is a common unit operation in many food processes, e.g. wheat flour, turmeric powder, spices, etc. are mostly used in powdered form. Some ofthe common objectives that are fulfilled by size reduction are:

1. Introduction

To maintain good quality of product & shelf life, it is very important & essential to concentrate on Cleaning & Sanitization process at plant level & to follow the CIP process properly. An attempt is made in the current chapter to present details pertaining to cleaning in fluid milk and milk products manufacturing & processing plants. This chapter will be helpful the students of Food & Dairy Technology for better understanding the process milk plant cleaning & sanitation technology.

1. Introduction

Thermal processing used extensively in the food industry for preservation and shelf life extension of the products (Arnoldi 2001). Heat treatments remain most important in food processing unit operations, not only to achieve desirable changes in eating quality but also for preservative effect by inactivation of microorganisms, destruction of enzymes and insects.Heat is applied in various unit operations through adifferent mode of heat transfer such as conduction, convection, and radiations. 

Introduction

A planer machine is a commercial machine tool hired for transforming the metal blocks or metal workpiece into the desired calculated shapes by generating the flat surfaces on a workpiece. Similar to a shaper machine, a planer machine is used for forming flat surfaces on the work piece using the single-point cutting tool.Planer machines are generally hired for operation on the larger workpiece or metal structure (blocks) that cannot be achieved by the shaper machine. They generally have larger beds and larger reciprocating movements covering a greater working length and surface area as compared to shaper machines.

Duck farming in India is characterized by nomadic, extensive, seasonal, and is still held in the hands of small and marginal farmers. Traditionally Assam, West Bengal and Kerala are the major consumer states for duck egg and meat and one of the reasons is that duck egg and meat highly suits and impart taste for their fish based culinary preparations.

Different housing system for Duck rearing

In general, ducks do not require elaborate houses. The house should be well ventilated, dry, and rat proof. In semi-intensive system of rearing, the house should have easy access to outside run as the ducks prefer to come out during the day time, winter and rainy time. 

Protozoa are single celled eukaryotes which are either parasitic or free living belonged to family apicomplexa. These protozoan affects the different birds like chickens, turkey, ducks, pigeons, game birds and also various pet birds. The infection caused by protozoan diseases may affect one system or more than one system of the body depending on the causative agents involved. The common protozoan diseases like leukocytozonosis, chochlosomiasis, cryptosporidiosis, coccidiosis, histoplasmosis causes infection in the ducks. The protozoan diseases cause severe economic loss to the poultry industry due to death of birds, expenditure on the treatment and prevention of disease and loss of egg and meat production.

Division of PHT & Agricultural Engineering, IIHR, Hessaraghatta Lake Post Bangalore – 560 089, Karnataka

Food processing is the transformation of agricultural products into food, or conversion of foods of one form into other forms. Food processing includes various operations viz. grinding grain to make raw flour to home cooking to complex industrial methods used to make convenience foods. The processes and procedures used to transform one or more raw ingredients into a consumable product are all included in food processing units. Animal husbandry, horticulture, plantations, agriculture, and fisheries include the use of food processing facilities. It also includes other sectors that produce finished food goods using agricultural inputs.