eChapters

Fertilizer N has been the key input in increasing cereal production throughout the world. In India, it made possible to achieve the yield potential of high-yielding dwarf varieties of wheat that led to ‘Green Revolution in 1968’. Nitrogen fertilization also increases protein content in wheat grains (Rajeswara Rao and Prasad, 1987) and leads to increased production of proteins in cereals (Prasad and Shivay, 2015). Cereal production in India increased from 42.4 million tonnes (Mt) in 1950–51 to 259.6 Mt in 2017–18, while fertilizer N application increased from 0.05 Mt to 16.96 Mt. However, the average agronomic ef?ciency of N (AEn) in India for cereals is only 9.5 kg grain kg–1 N (Sharma and Batra, 2011) as compared to global average of 24 kg grain kg–1 N for maize, 22 kg grain kg–1 N for rice and 18 kg grain kg–1 N for wheat (Ladha et al., 2005). Besides this, more disturbing is the fact that in irrigated areas the AEn declined from 13.4 to 3.4 kg grain kg–1 N during 1970–2005 (Biswas and Sharma, 2006). This is due to poor N management. Bulk of fertilizer N is applied broadcast on surface in most crops.

As compared to total N soil total P is present in much smaller amounts in soil; it is roughly about 10% of total N. Further, while N in soil is in the largest amount in surface 0 to 15 cm layer, soil P may be the same or in larger amounts in the sub-soil. Again, organic P constitutes only a small portion of total P. Thus, the Chemistry of soil P is generally centered on inorganic P. Total and organic P in some Indian soils is given in Table 8.1; hill soils had the highest and the desert soils the least total as well as organic P.

FRACTIONS OF INORGANIC P

All P in soils has originated from apatites [3 (Ca₃ (PO₄)₂.Ca×₂, where ×₂ could be F, Cl, (OH) or CO₃). Large deposits of apatites form phosphate rocks, which are the major materials for making phosphate fertilizers. As the soil weathering proceeds, P in apatite reacts with Al, Fe and other cations and forms compounds of different solubility. A knowledge of these can help in understanding the P-supplying capacity of soils. A number of chemical extractants and resins are used for determining different fractions. In general, 7 fractions of inorganic soil P are mentioned. These are: saloid-P (soluble and loosely bound P extractable by NH₄Cl), labile P (determined by using anion-exchange resins), Al-P (NH₄F extractable), Fe-P (NaOH extractable), Ca-P (H₂SO₄ or HCl extractable), reductant-soluble- P (CDB or sodium citrate-sodium dithionite-sodium bicarbonate extractable) and occluded P (CTB followed by NaOH extractable)

Out of the three primary plant nutrients (NPK), potassium (K) is taken up by crop plants in the largest amount, yet as compared to N and P, only a tiny fraction of it goes in the grain or seed. For example, Shivay et al. (2015) reported from a study on rice that about 20 kg N, 6 kg P (13.7 kg P2O5) and 46 kg K (55.2 kg K2O) was taken up by the crop to produce each Mg or tonne (1,000 kg) of rice kernel; however, only 4.3% of K taken up by the crop was found in the rice kernel as compared to 44% of N and 66% of P taken up by the crop. Some information on N, P and K removed per tonne of grain/ seed for some crops is given in Table 9.1.

Secondary nutrients is a triad of three essential plant nutrients namely, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Sulphur (S). Of these three, Ca and Mg are taken up by plants as cations, while S is taken up as anion SO4 2–. Among the secondary plant nutrients, sulphur is emerging as a major plant-nutrient de?ciency in crops grown in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, spread over 13 million ha in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh (Khurana et al., 2008). From the Indian point of view, S de?ciency has emerged in a large part of the country and needs to be attended. Uptake of Mg and S by some crops is given in Table 10.1.

There are nine essential micronutrients, namely, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), boron (B), molybdenum (Mo), chlorine (Cl), vanadium (V) and nickel (Ni). Out of these, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Ni (Dominic et al., 1978) are taken up by plants in their ionic form X²⁺, Mo as MoO^2-, chlorine as Cl^– form and boron as boric acid (H₃BO₃) or as its ionic form B (OH)₄ ^–. The absorption of vanadium by plants has received only limited attention (Lepp et al., 1983); it may be absorbed as cation V or vanadyl (VO²⁺) and anion vanadate (VO₄ ^3–). Bulk of the information is available on Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, because of the acceptability of the single DTPA (Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid)–CaCl₂ extraction test of Lindsay and Norvell (1978) for availability of all these four nutrients followed by their estimation on Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Available B is estimated by hot 0.15 M CaCl₂ extraction method (Saha and Singh, 1997). Molybdenum data base is poor, because its determination is dif?cult and Mo de?ciency in crops has not been much noticed in India. Chloride is available in plenty in irrigation water and soil in India and has not received much attention in India.

Internationally maize (Zea mays) and citrus (Citrus sp.) are reported to largely suffer from Zn de?ciency, for which these are considered as marker plants. Zinc de?ciency in maize results in pale or whitish top young leaves and the de?ciency is referred to as 'white bud' (Camberato and Maloney, 2012). In citrus, Zn de?ciency results in ‘rosette’ (cluster of stiff leaves at the end of young shoots) formation (Brennan, 1993). Zinc de?ciency in India was ?rst reported in rice by Nene (1966) at the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, and given the name ‘khaira’ disease due to dark-brown-coloured spots resembling kattha (Acacia catechu extract used in paan – the betel leaves) on the leaves of zinc de?cient plants. Soon All India Coordinated Project on Micronutrients was launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with headquarters at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, which was later shifted to the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. About half of the cultivated soils in the India are de?cient in available zinc. Zinc de?ciency is most in Maharashtra and Karnataka and rice-growing states of north and northeast (Table 12.1). A good response of cereals to Zn fertilization has been reported (Rattan et al., 2008).

Boron (B) de?ciency has been realized as the second most important micronutrient constraint in crop production after that of Zn in the world (Ahmed et al., 2012). However, in Nepal, B de?ciency is more wide-spread than Zn de?ciency, as 80 to 90% of soil samples were de?cient in B, 20 to 50% in Zn and 10 to 15% in Mo (Anderson, 2007). In India, B de?ciency has increased from 2% of the soil samples de?cient in B in 1980s (Katyal and Vlek, 1995) to 52% soil samples in 2000s (Singh, 2012). Total B content in Indian soils varies from 7 to 630 mg kg^–1 soil (Kanwar, 1976); being the highest in arid regions of the country and the lowest in wet humid regions of the country (Behera et al., 2009; Prasad et al., 2014). Boron de?ciency is most in the heavy rainfall areas of Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Karnataka and the eastern states of Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh states of India (Fig.13.1). The wide-spread de?ciency of B in India can be seen from the fact that B fertilization recorded the highest bene?t : cost (B : C) ratio in rice–wheat cropping system at Palampur (Himachal Pradesh), Ludhiana (Punjab), Faizabad, Modipuram and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) and in rice–rice cropping system at Maruteru (Andhra Pradesh), Karjat (Maharashtra) and Jorhat (Asom) (Singh and Goswami, 2014). Response of wheat to B fertilization is also reported from Bangladesh (Halder et al, 2007).

Before the discovery of chemical fertilizer in early 20^th century, organic manures and growing of legumes were the ways of replenishing soil fertility. The only other way was leaving land fallow for a few years before its re-cultivation, a practice followed in shifting cultivation (jhuming) (Garbyal, 1999). This was also true for India, where although the ?rst single superphosphate plant was set up in 1906 in Ranipet (Tamil Nadu), the real use of fertilizer started with the manufacture of urea, the ?rst plant for which was set up in 1959 at Sindri (Bihar) (Tandon, 2014). Organic manures could meet crop-nutrient needs in early days because the average grain yield of most cereals was about 1.5–2.0 t ha^–1, while the average yield of pulses was 0.5–0.75 t ha^–1. However, the crop production scenario changed rapidly after the introduction of dwarf, high-yielding varieties of wheat from Mexico, which led to the “Green Revolution” (Swaminathan, 2013). This was followed by the development of semi-dwarf, high-yielding varieties of rice and hybrids of maize, sorghum and pearl millet. These varieties/ hybrids of cereals needed 100–150 kg N ha^–1 in one growing season, and this could be met only by urea or other N fertilizers; organic manures had no chance and their use became almost nil over a period of next 25 years or so. Well-off young farmers cannot even think of making manure heaps or compost pits, the job is too hard and not a clean one. However, what is ignored is the fact, that organic manures not only supply plant nutrients but also build up soil organic matter, which improves soil physical properties, helps in storing moisture and is the elixir of life for the soil biota (Lal, 2014). A large numbers of reports are available on the effect of adding organic manures and crop residues on improving soil physical (Hati et al., 2007; Brar et al., 2015) and chemical and biological properties of soil (Prasad et al., 1999; Prasad and Mishra, 2001;Sharma et al., 2009; Prasad et al. 2014). Thanks for the organic farming (Prasad, 2005), the interest in organic manures and composts has increased in India and it is now a sought after material. However, it has not entered the main stream of crop production.

Soil-rejuvenation power of legumes in crop rotations has been known in several parts of the world since ages. It is mentioned in the Indian agriculture of the Chalcolithic period (ca 1000 BC) (Raychaudhuri and Mira, 1993), in Chinese agriculture in the Han dynasty (ca 2nd century) (Hsu, 1980) and in Roman agriculture (White, 1970). Legumes can be ?tted in cropping systems in India in a number of ways, such as, a crop in a cropping system, a catch crop in an intensive cropping system, an intercrop and as a green manure. A brief discussion on these follows.

Fertilizer recommendations are generally made on the basis of soil test. Recommendations of fertilizer for top-dressing are best made on tissue testing.

SOIL TEST

A number of approaches have been adopted to increase the precision of soil-test values in making fertilizer recommendations. Four most important ones are discussed.

Low-Medium-High Approach

Making fertilizer recommendations based on soil test for a nutrient involves conducting a large number of ?eld experiments on soils similar to those which are intended for making recommendations. For an individual nutrient (say P for example) experiments are conducted with graded doses of P on a crop for which the fertilizer recommendations are to be made. Thus, agronomic experiments are to be conducted for each crop on each kind of soil. The response curve can then be divided into three sections: a, low soil-test value and high response to fertilizer zone; b, medium soil-test value and medium response to fertilizer zone; and c, high soil-test values and no response to fertilizer zone. In India, this was done

The introduction of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, the development of intensive cereal–cereal rotations (rice–wheat, rice–rice, hybrid maize–wheat), application of high doses of N (above 100 kg N ha^–1 to each crop) without adequate P and K application, increased use of high-analysis fertilizer (urea and diammonium phosphate in place of ammonium sulphate and superphosphate) and ignoring the application of organic manures led to heavy depletion of P, K, S, Zn and other plant nutrients, which led to wide-spread de?ciencies of P, S and Zn in Indian soils. These de?ciencies of nutrients led to focus on integrated nutrient management.

Plant nutrients are important for increased production of food for the ever-increasing world population. Of the plant nutrients, primary nutrients N, P and K are applied to ?elds each season in fairly large amounts. In addition to increasing crop yields, they also impact the environment. This is briefly discussed in this chapter; only main points are made here.

NITROGEN

Nitrogen is blamed the most for environmental degradation. It contributes to eutrophication of inland and sea-waters, enrichment of air with NH₃ and N₂O and even with global warming. However, it is almost impossible to grow more food without additional nitrogen. It is estimated that by 2050 about 250 million tonnes (MT) of fertilizer nitrogen may be needed to meet global increased food demands as against an estimated current consumption of 116 MT

1.1 Introduction

Fungi are chlorophyll-less thallophytic plant. Due to absence of chlorophyll, they are heterophytes which depend on other form of life for food. They grow in various habitats and show much diversity in their structure, physiology and reproduction. They evoloved long back from the ancient time.

Their existence was recorded from Pre-cambrian period. Information from ancient literature indicates that the fungi were used as food by men. At present, the fungi are used in medicine as well as food in addition to other aspects. The fungi cause diseases in crop plants (spots, rusts, smuts etc.) and on human beings (Aspergillosis, Blastomycosis etc.).

At present biologists use the term fungus (fungus mushroom, from Greek, sponagos = sponge) to include eukaryotic, spore bearing, achlorophyllous organism that generally reproduce sexually and asexually and whose usually filamentous, branched somatic structure are typically surrounded by cell wall containing chitin or cellulose or both of these substances, togather with many other complex molecules

More than 1.5 million species (Hawksworth 2001; Kirk et al., 2001) of fungi have been recorded, but their number may be much more than the actual record. The subject which deals with fungi is known as Mycology (mykes — mushroom; logos—study) and the concerned scientist is called mycologist. The various definitions of fungi as proposed by mycologists are:

Alexopoulos (1962) defined fungi as “nucleated, spore-bearing, achlorophyllous organisms which generally reproduce sexually and asexually and whose usually filamentous, branched somatic structures are typically surrounded by cell walls containing cellulose or chitin or both”.

Alexopoulos and Mims (1979) defined fungi as eukaryotic spore bearing, achlorophyllous organisms that generally reproduce sexually and asexually, and whose usually filamentous, branched somatic structures are typically surrounded by cell walls containing chitin or cellulose, or both of these substances, together with many other complex organic molecules.

According to G.C. Ainsworth (1973) the fungus is free-living, parasitic or mutualistic, saprotrophs, necrotrophs or biotrophs and devoid of chlorophyll. Cell wall composition very variable, majority contain chitin and glucans, reserve materials glycogen, oil and mannitol, characteristic disaccharide and trehalose. Some yeast-like but majority with thread-like filaments, hyphae, branched profusely to form the vegetative mycelium on which spores are produced, asexually or sexually, free on hyphae or enclosed in complex reproductive structures. Separated mainly on morphology of the latter.

2.1 Divisions: Myxomycota

These are wall-less and quite unusual organisms only included in the fungi as mostly studied by mycologists. Possess either a plasmodium, a mass of naked, multinucleate protoplasm, which feeds any ingesting particulate matter and moves by amoeboid cells. Both of slimy consistencies hence slime molds. Four classes:

2.1.1 Class: Acrasiomycetes (Cellular slime molds)

Assimilative phase, free living amoebae which aggregate to form a pseudoplasmodium before reproduction.

Fungi are achlorophyllus so they have to depend on other organisms hence heterotrophic nutrition. Depending on the nutrition, fungi are classified as Saprophytes, Parasites and Symbionts.

3.1 Saprophyte (sapros = rotten; phyton = plant)

Fungi which get their nutrition only from dead organic are called saprophytes ex: Saprolegnia, Rhizopus, Mucor, Alternaria etc.

3.1.1 Facultative saprophyte (Facultas = ability)

Ability of a fungus to become saprophyte. It is a parasite ex. Ustilago

3.1.2 Obligate saprophyte (obligate = to bind itself)

When they strictly get their food only from dead organic matter and can never become parasites are called obligate saprophyte ex. Mucor.

Reproduction in fungi is the formation of new individuals having all the characters of species. It is of two types. Asexual, somatic, or vegetative reproduction does not involve the union of nuclei of sex cells or sex organs. Sexual reproduction is characterized by the union of two opposite nuclei. During reproduction entire thallus is converted into one or more reproductive units. It is called holocarpic fungi (holo = whole, korpos = fungi) ex. Plasmodiophora and Synchytrium. In Plasmodiophora vegetative body is plasmodium, which is transformed into reproductive structure. In some fungi only a part of thallus is transformed into one or more reproductive structures. (eu = true, good, carpus = fruit). These fungi are known as eucarpic. Both somatic and reproductive structures coexist. Ex. Rhizopus, Puccinia and Helminthosporium.

There are great variations in the life cycles of fungi. Raper (1954, 1966b) recognizes seven basic types.

5.1 Asexual cycle

In which sexual reproduction apparently lacks and diploidy is restricted to somatic diploids. The entire groups known as Fungi Imperfecti and numerous other species which clearly belong to various groups of the perfect fungi such as Penicillium notatum have this life cycle. Certain benefits of sexuality are provided here in many of the sterile forms by para sexual recombination.

In the classification given below only those groups have been given emphasis which contain plant pathogenic fungi or which are important from taxonomic point of view. The description includes only critical features.

For growing fungi, a wide range of media are used. Media affect colony morphology and color. For utilizing different carbon sources some fungi lack the necessary enzymes. For growth and reproduction all fungi require several specific elements. The requirements for growth are generally less specific than for sporulation, so it is often necessary to try several types of media when attempting to identify a fungus in culture. Sporulating cultures should be used because repeated transfers of a pathogen on artificial media usually result in loss of sporulation or pathogenicity or both. Transfer should be made using spores and cultured alternately on nutrient rich and poor culture media. Most fungi thrive on potato dextrose agar (PDA), but in some fungi excessive mycelial growth is obtained at the expense of sporulation. Similarly, wood-inhabiting fungi and dematiaceous (dark pigmented) fungi often sporulate better on Corn meal agar (CMA) or Oat Agar, both of which have less easily digestible carbohydrate than PDA. Cellulose-destroying fungi grow on a weak medium such as Water Agar (WA) or Potato Carrot Agar (PCA). By adding pieces of tissue, such as filter paper, wheat straw, rice, grains, leaves or dung, often produces good sporulation dependent on the organism grown. Some special methods of inducing sporulation in fungi.

Diagnosis of plant diseases require some knowledge of light microscopy to examine infected tissues for the presence of plant pathogens. Most of the pathogens and the diseases caused by them can be identified quickly by using different methods such as section or cutting of infected tissue, squashes of scrapping of plant surface. Homecare, the detail study enquires ultrastructural examination of the pathogen.. Electron microscope rely on a beam of electrons produced from a hot filament (e.g. tungsten) and its power of resolution is much greater than light microscope. Electron microscope are of two type

When any serious work is undertaken involving the use of living cultures it is necessary to keep these alive for use during the work and for future reference.

This can be done either by growing on a suitable substrate and transferring to fresh media, as the nutrient is used up or by treating the cultures in some way, which halts metabolism until they are revived for use. The former method is time consuming and cultures are at risk whenever they are handled, so various means are devised which can lengthen the periods between sub culturing. The latter methods tend to be complex and expensive.

1.1. Prologue

In present era, agriculture is a cause of global concern in the context of price volatility with a rising trend growing concerns for food security and resultant trade restrictions, global economic conditions in the recent past, the forecasted rate of reduction of growth of agricultural land over the next two decades, increasing mismatches between supply of agricultural products in relation to growing demand and the climatic changes which are wielding pressures on agricultural production. Thus, enhancing agriculture production and productivity have emerged as a global challenge. India, with 2.4 per cent of the world’s geographical area, is the largest producer of pulses, tea, and milk and second largest producer of fruits, vegetables, wheat, rice, groundnut and sugarcane in the world but supports about 16.2 per cent of the world’s population. Coupled with small scale land holdings and deep rooted poverty in rural areas, the magnitude and dimensions of challenges for agriculture policy-makers have increased manifold. So far as the agriculture sector in Odisha is concerned, it contributes only 15.6 percent in 2013-14 towards State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP), but provides employment and sustenance to more than 60 percent of the total workforce of the State. In this sense, the agriculture sector is still the mainstay of the economy of Odisha. According to the Economic Survey 2013-14 of Odisha, despite wide annual variations in its growth, the agriculture sector had grown at a rate of 12.72 per cent in 2012-13. However, a negative growth of 3.53 percent is anticipated during 2013-14 due to cyclonic storm Phailin and flash floods in the State in October 2013. The real per capita income of Odisha was Rs. 25,891 in 2013-14 which was around 65 per cent of All-India real per capita income of Rs.39, 961. According to the 68th round of National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), the monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE) for rural and urban Odisha is below the respective national averages. In the food and non-food consumption behaviour, an average Indian spends more than an average person in Odisha. In short, the above parameters pinpoint that the State of Odisha has been lagging behind the national economy & highlights the necessity of achieving higher growth on a sustainable manner across the sectors particularly the agriculture sector in order to uplift the society from underdevelopment & poverty. Though the contribution of agriculture to Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) has declined, the percentage of workforce engaged in agriculture has remained somewhat unchanged. This implies that there has been an overcrowding in agriculture without any noticeable increase in production.

2.1. Introduction

There are few studies on the performance and efficiency of Indian commodity derivatives market. Despite a considerable amount of empirical literature, there is no general consensus on whether or not the markets are efficient. As far as the role of futures contract in agricultural commodity is concerned, several studies have been attempted to examine their contribution towards agricultural development of any state and/or country. This chapter presents the review of existing literature on the concerned topic based on interrelationship among the spot and futures market in agricultural sector, role of futures market in discovering spot prices, futures market and commodity price volatility etc.

3.1. Introduction

This chapter intends to examine the economic importance of cotton, turmeric and castor seed in the agricultural economy of Odisha. Given the fact that Odisha is one of the major producing states of the country for these three crops, their physical markets have national level relevance in terms of determining prices. The chapter presents a brief profile of the agricultural economy of Odisha with a focus on these three crops and their supply conditions including cropping season, pattern, area under cultivation and productivity. Secondly, it tries to investigate the market structure, supply chain and marketing practices in cotton, turmeric and castor seed based on the data obtained from the secondary sources.

Indian economy is agro-based and agriculture is its mainstay as it constitutes the backbone of the rural livelihood security system. Agriculture has been and still continues to be the life line of the Indian economy since economic security is essentially predicted upon the agricultural and allied sectors. The agriculture sector encompasses crop production, animal husbandry, fisheries, agri-business, etc. Crop production depends upon crucial inputs such as good seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, human labour, machinery and management.

As the largest private enterprise in India, agriculture supports more than 60% of the population, contributes nearly 19% to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 11% to the total exports. Around 51% of the geographical area in India is already under cultivation as compared to 11% of the world average¹. Agriculture is also a social sector where non-trading concerns like food and nutritional security, employment and income generation, poverty alleviation, ecological and environmental concerns play a significant role.

4.1 Introduction

The present chapter starts with a brief description about the history of commodity futures market and emergence of commodity futures market in India. There after it highlights various functions of commodity futures market and their impact on farmers and various other stake holders in the supply chain. Finally, it tries to evaluate the utility of futures from the platform of commodity exchanges especially from MCX and NCDEX of India.

A simple definition of a commodity is a physical substance that can be extracted directly from the environment, processed and sold commercially. Natural resource is another term often used to describe commodities which occur naturally in or on the ground. Commodities fall into three main categories such as energy, metals and agriculture. As commodities can be sold, they have a price which is governed by supply and demand. Compared to many manufactured items, for example flat screen TVs, the question of supply and demand is paramount to how commodities are priced. The commodities that have always been a part of our day-to-day existence are also one of the finest investment avenues available. The wheat in our bread, the cotton in our clothes, our gold jewels, the oil that runs our vehicles etc are all traded across the world in major exchanges. Commodities can be traded on either spot markets, or in the form of futures. Spot markets are those in which the commodity is traded immediately in exchange for cash or some other good. In the form of futures (or options), what is traded is not the goods itself, but a contract to buy or sell the commodity for a certain price by a stated date in the future. Over the ages, commodities have been the basis for trade and industry. They have prompted commerce, encouraged exploration and altered the histories of nations. Today, they play a very important role in the world economy with billions of dollars of these commodities traded each day on exchanges across the world. Commodities today have become an attractive investment vehicle. In the current investment scenario, it is increasingly getting difficult for individuals and institutions to create a well-balanced investment portfolio. With uncertainty in interest ratio, it is tough for the investor to beat the ever-rising inflation. Averse to being over exposed to equity markets, the investors are left with limited choices… well no more!

5.1. Introduction

This chapter deals with the sample survey conducted on cotton, turmeric and castor seed farmers and RMC traders and Officials and recorded the awareness level about futures, user status, the reason for not using futures and perception about futures.

The research work was planned to understand the level of awareness of agri-commodity futures market among the farmers, RMC traders and Officials of Odisha. The methodology adopted for the awareness assessment was to collect related answers to the questions which helped to evaluate the level of awareness among the beneficiaries i.e. farmers, RMC traders and officials. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected from sample respondents. The study has been completed by collecting data from farmers, RMC traders and officials of Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts which are the highest producers of three sample commodities i.e. cotton, castor seed and turmeric in Odisha. The research was conducted with 150 farmers (50 each for cotton, turmeric and castor seed), 30 RMC traders and 30 RMC officials of Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts of Odisha. The profile of sample farmers is depicted below.

6.1. Introduction

This chapter deals with the sample survey conducted on cotton, turmeric and castor seed farmers and recorded various benefits observed by them by using Futures market as a platform for price information. Further, it tries to examine the price discovery efficiency of commodity futures market with the help of secondary data.

It is often believed that future price is a forecast of the price of a commodity during the maturity month of its futures contracts. It is far from true. The futures price of a commodity traded at an exchange market is not so much determined by the anticipated supply of and demand for that commodity in the maturity month of its futures contracts as by the cost of carrying the commodity till the maturity of such contract. That means the spot and future prices of any commodity are always determined by the same basic forces of the present and prospective demand and supply. The difference between the two prices represents merely the cost of carrying the commodity from the present to the future. Such cost may be positive or negative depending on whether the current (not the future) supplies are abundant or scarce respectively when the price of futures contracts of any commodity is in reality relied upon by the physical market functionaries in that commodity as a “reference” price for executing their forward transactions in either the domestic or export market, that price may deem to be “discovered” in the true sense. The application of such reference price for transacting a forward transaction in the physical market in that commodity, in fact facilitates the use of the same future contract for managing price risk for such forward transaction. Hence, the price discovery and price risk management are the two sides of the same coin and efficiency of price discovery is directly related to the price risk management. A commodity exchange or a derivative market is not a mechanism for controlling prices. An efficient futures market is one that discovers prices and provides effective mechanism for managing price risk arising from unavoidable price variations owing to shifts in demand and supply schedule. Prices are determined by the basic demand and supply forces and not the market. Markets reflect the supply and demand conditions from time to time through variation in prices.

7.1. Summary of Findings

This study dealing with the examination of various advantages of commodity futures market to farmers, RMC traders and RMC officials along with the level of awareness about this market among these selected beneficiaries is presented in brief. This chapter summarizes the findings. It begins with the interpretation of the significant findings derived from both secondary and primary analysis. This is followed by suggestions, the section on major contributions of the present study to the existing body of knowledge, on the role of commodity futures market in agricultural development of the state.

Microbiology is the branch of science which deals with the diverse minute forms of life such as bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, prions, protozoa and algae. The study includes structure, classification, growth and nutrition, natural habitat, genome, antigenic characteristics, virulence determinants, types of toxins produced, pathogenesis, diagnosis and ways to combat the infection caused by the microbes.

Taxonomy (biological systematics) is the branch of science which deals with classification of units or individuals on the basis of similarities and differences. The classification, nomenclature, and identification are three interrelated components of bacterial taxonomy (Cowan, 1965).

Classification: Classification is the arrangement of bacteria into groups (taxa) based on the similarities of certain characteristics. Presently 11,000 bacterial species is classified. At the current rate of 600 bacterial species / year it is estimated to take 1000 years to classify all the bacteria!

Nomenclature: It is the assignment of specific names to the taxonomic groups following the regulations mentioned in ‘International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria’ (Euzeby, 1997). International committee on systematic bacteriology (International committee on systematics of prokaryotes, ICSP) standardizes the code. The committee is helped by a number of taxonomic subcommittees on different groups of bacteria. The Code can be amended by the Judicial Commission. The Code contains general considerations, principles, rules and recommendations on the naming of prokaryotes (bacteria) up to the rank of ‘Class’.

Microscope is the primary instrument of a microbiology laboratory and it produces enlarged images of small objects which are invisible by naked eye. With a microscope the operator can get a close view of minute structures which helps in examination and analysis. Examination of minute objects with a microscope is called ‘microscopy’. In microbiology, measurement of the microbial dimension observed under microscope is known as ‘micrometry’.

Types of microscopes

There are two types of microscopes i.e. light / optical and electron microscope depending on the sources of energy to create the image. The optical microscopes use the lenses and light (artificial or sunlight) to make an image. Following types of optical microscopes are available.

Bacteria can be defined as a group of diverse and ubiquitous prokaryotic single cell microorganisms. The size of bacteria varies with genera/species. In cocci the diameter varies between 0.5-1 µm. The measurement of bacillus / rod shaped bacteria is 4-8 µm ? 1-1.25 µm. The surface area and volume ratio of bacteria is very high. The nutrients are absorbed through a large surface area and it is rapidly distributed into a small volume. So the growth rate and metabolism of bacteria is very high. The bacterial cell mass is packed near the surface and no circulatory system is required to distribute the nutrients. The growth and metabolism rate of bacilli are more than cocci because surface area and volume ratio of a sphere (cocci) is lowest among all the geometrical forms.

Shape of bacteria

The shape of bacteria is mostly regulated by the rigid cell wall covering the bacteria. Different shapes of bacteria are observed.

Growth of bacteria can be defined as change of total population mass, not individual increase in size or mass. Macroscopically visible growth of bacteria on the solid medium is known as ‘colony’. It is estimated that if Escherichia coli are allowed to grow, a single bacterial cell can produce a daughter population with the mass of the whole earth within 2 days! In the environment the bacteria are not actively growing all the time. The mechanisms behind the growth-arrested states of environmental bacteria are not well understood.

Bacterial reproduction

Bacterial reproduction is an asexual process which occurs by binary fission, budding, fragmentation and condiospore or sporangiospore formation. There is no possibility of genetic exchange (reassortment) as it is originated from a single parent cell. Bacterial gene transfer occurs by transformation, transduction and conjugation methods (discussed later in details). These are one-directional DNA transfer methods and are not associated with reproduction. The donor bacteria can give the genetic material to the recipient and the vice-versa does not occur.

Binary fission: In binary fission, bacterial DNA is replicated first and then the parent cell separates. Each daughter cell receives a complete genome, identical to the parent cell. Bacterial DNA replication begins when the cells reach a specific mass. If the cell diameter is constant, longer cells will begin DNA replication earlier than the shorter cells. The shorter cells need time to reach a critical mass required for the initiation of DNA replication. The ugtP proteins were identified to be associated with shorter cells and delayed DNA replication in Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis). It was confirmed later that the ugtP act as inhibitor for Z-ring formation.

Normal bacterial flora is the bacteria which live on another living being (human or animals) or inanimate object without causing infection

Opportunistic bacteria are part of normal bacterial flora which can produce infection during lowered immunity (immunosuppression) of host or when transferred into other parts of the body

Saprophytic bacteria live on dead or decaying organic matter Infection

Infection can be defined as a pathological condition occurred due to multiplication of microbes.

Intoxication can be defined as pathological condition due to ingestion of microbial toxin (e.g. aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus fungus).

Mycetism is the pathological condition due to ingestion of fungus (e.g. toxic mushroom) which produces toxicity within the body of the host

The genetics is the study of inheritance and variability of organisms. Bacterial genetics is a sub-field which specifically studies transmission of genetic information from one bacterium to its progeny or between the interbreeding bacteria and the expression of genetic information.

Mutation

Hugo de Vries (1848-1935, Dutch botanist) coined the term ‘mutation’. It is originated from a Latin word which means ‘to change’. The heritable change in bacterial DNA sequences is known as bacterial mutation. The mutation will generate a new type of bacteria with altered genotypical and phenotypical characteristics, known as ‘mutant’. The parent bacterial cell from which the mutants are generated is known as ‘wild type’. In nature bacterial mutation is a rare incidence. The spontaneous mutation occurs at a rate of 1 in 10⁵ to 10⁸. The phenotypical expression of mutation occurs quickly as the bacteria are haploid with shorter generation time.

Sir Alexander Ogston, a physician from Scotland, first elucidated the role of Micrococcus in formation of pus. He proposed the name ‘Staphylococcus’ (In Greek ‘staphyle’ means bunch of grapes and ‘kokkos’ means berry). Anton J. Rosenbach isolated two different species of Staphylococcus and named them according to the pigmented appearance of colonies i.e. Staphylococcus aureus (in Latin ‘aurum’ means gold) and Staphylococcus albus (in Latin ‘albus’ means white). The studies of Bumm (1885) established the relationship of Staphylococcus with human infections. Nocard (1887) and Guillebeau (1890) isolated Staphylococcus from mastitis in sheep and cattle, respectively and established its pathogenic role in animals.

Rivolta (1873) first described the chain forming cocci in pus collected from the equine infection. Rosenbach (1884) established the genus Streptococcus’ Nocard and Mollereau (1887) first observed the relationship between the bovine mastitis and Streptococcus agalactiae. Lancefield (1933) classified beta-haemolytic streptococci on the basis of group specific-carbohydrate antigens.

Properties of genus

1. Morphology: Streptococci are gram positive cocci, capsulated, non-sporing and non-motile. Each coccus cell is 1µm in diameter. They are arranged in a pair or chain of cells as the cell division occurs in one plane(Figure 1 & 22). The chain formation and the chain length are variable. Streptococcus equi ssp. equi is a constant chain producer. Young cultures are gram positive whereas bacteria present in the pus and older cultures in the laboratory are often stained as gram negative.

Corynebacterium diptheriae was first observed by Klebs in 1883 and was described in details by Loeffler in 1884. So it is also known as ‘Klebs- Loeffler bacillus’. In 1888, Nocard isolated a similar type of bacteria from cases of bovine farcy. In 1894, Preisz described it completely and revealed its similarities with the diphtheria bacilli. Later it was named as Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Preisz-Nocard bacillus). Bollinger (1890) first reported C. renale from the cases of pyelonephritis in cows.

The genus Trueperella was proposed by Yassin and others (2011) to describe T. pyogenes previously known as Arcanobacterium pyogenes or Actinomyces pyogenes or Corynebacterium pyogenes. The genus Arcanobacterium was first described (Collins and others, 1982) to include the bacteria originally isolated as Corynebacterium haemolyticum from the wounds of American soldiers. On the basis of 16S rRNA comparisons and menaquinone and phospholipid compositions it is proposed that the species Arcanobacterium pyogenes should be reclassified as members of the new genus Trueperella.

The genus Rhodococcus was first introduced by Zopf (1891) as a soil bacterium used in horticulture. Magnusson (1923) described C. equi (Rhodococcus equi) from suppurative pneumonia of a foal.

Murray (1926) and Pirie (1927) first described Listeria independently. In India, animal listeriosis in sheep was first reported by Mahajan (1936) in Andhra Pradesh.

Robert Koch first isolated Erysipelothrix in 1876 from a mouse he inoculated with putrefying blood. Koch initially named the bacterium “Bacillus of mouse septicemia”. Pasteur and Dumas (1882) first isolated Erysipelothrix from the infected pigs. Friedrich Loffler (1886) first experimentally produced the infection in pigs. Rosenbach (1909) first described human erysipeloid. The nomenclature of the bacterium is changed several times and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was finally accepted by the scientific community in 1966. The name is originated from Greek words such as ‘erysipelas’ (red skin), ‘trix’ (hair), ‘rhusius’ (reddening) and ‘pathus’ (disease).

In 1850, Bacillus anthracis was first reported by three individuals in two different countries i.e. Delafond and Davaine in France, and Pollender in Germany. They could not establish the relationship of the bacterium with the infection. Absolute proof of the anthrax etiology as B. anthracis was established by Robert Koch during 1876-77. The name Bacillus anthracis was first coined by Cohn (1875) and the disease ‘anthrax’ was first named by Hippocrates (5th century B.C.). In Greek language meaning of ‘anthrax’ is ‘coal’ referring to the black coloured skin or blood in affected animals.

In 1882, Robert Koch first isolated the bacterium, stained with alkaline methylene blue and vesuvin as counter stain and showed its etiologic relationship with tuberculosis. Ehrlich first developed acid-fast stain in 1882 and used for better staining of the bacteria which was adopted by Robert Koch. The acid-fast staining technique was modified later by Franz Ziehl and Friedrich Neelsen, accordingly, it is known as Ziehl-Neelsen (Z-N) staining. In 1890, Koch prepared a glycerine broth extract of the tubercle bacillus, known as ‘tuberculin’. He tried to prepare it as a curative agent; but it was used later in diagnosis. In 1895, Johne and Frothingham described the first case of paratuberculosis in cattle which became known as ‘Johne’s disease’. The causative bacterium was later isolated by Twort and Ingram in 1910.

In India, bovine tuberculosis is reported from several states since 1959 (Dhanda and Lall, 1959). The bovine paratuberculosis in India was first reported by Nanda and Singh (1940) from Haryana.

The genus Clostridium belongs to the family Clostridiaceae. The genus name was originated from the Greek word ‘klo ster’, which means ‘spindle’ referring to their individual rod shape. Clostridia are gram positive, large, sporulating anaerobic rods (except C. piliforme which is gram negative). At present, there are more than 200 numbers of species under the genus Clostridium. Among them, 15 species can produce potent toxins and are considered as pathogenic for animals and human. The animal pathogenic clostridia can be classified as neurotoxic, histotoxic and enteric.

Cohn (1875) first observed and described a branching filamentous microorganism in the ‘concretions’ (coagulated mass) taken from a lacrimal canal, later identified as Actinomyces israelii. Bollinger first reported the yellow granules in jaw tissues of the cattle in 1877 and established the significance of the bacteria as the etiological agent. In 1878, Israel described the first human case. In 1879, Hartz observed the microscopic appearance of granules of Actinomyces and suggested the name Actinomyces bovis. Mosselman & Lihnaux (1890) and Wolf & Israel (1891) first isolated the bacteria in artificial laboratory media from lumpy jaw cases of cattle and human actinomycosis, respectively.

Edmond Nocard (French veterinarian) first isolated filamentous aerobic bacteria from clinical cases of ‘bovine farcy’ in 1888. In 1889, the genus Nocardia was formed by Trevisan and the bacterium originally described by Nocard was named as Nocardia farcinica. In 1891, another similar bacterium (Nocardia asteroides) was isolated by Eppinger from a human brain abscess. Initially it was thought that they are the same bacteria. On the basis of the genetic differences the separate entity was established later.

The re-examination of Nocard’s original isolate revealed the existence of two different filamentous bacteria i.e. Mycobacterium and Nocardia. The cause of ‘bovine farcy’ has been subsequently attributed to Mycobacterium. Later, it is proved that Mycobacterium farcinogenes is the actual causative agent of ‘bovine farcy’.

Streptomyces are soil-borne bacteria known for production of several antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antitumoral, anti-hypertensives and immunosuppressives. Krainsky (1914) first described S. griseus and named the species Actinomyces griseus. Waksman and Henrici (1948) changed the name to Streptomyces griseus.

Dermatophilus congolensis was first described from clinical case of exudative dermatitis in cattle in Congo by Van Saceghem (1915). It is primarily known as an animal pathogen causing acute, sub acute or chronic skin disease. The first cases of human infection with D. congolensis were reported in 1961 in four people who developed skin infection after handling an infected deer in USA.

The family Enterobacteriaceae belongs to the order Enterobacterial. The family comprises 25 genera such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Yersinia, Proteus, Providencia, Shigella, Enterobacter, Morganella, Edwardsiella, Budvicia, Cedecea, Citrobacter, Ewingella, Hafnia, Kluyvera, Leclercia, Leminorella, Moellerella, Pantoea, Rahnella, Tatumella, Trabulsiella, Serratia and Yokenella, out of which the first 10 genera are consistent pathogenic in humans, animals and birds.

Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli were first isolated by Theodor Escherich in 1885 from the faeces of infants. It was named in honour of the German pediatrician and its major natural habitat (colon). Previously it was also known as Bacillus coli or Bacterium coli (B. coli).

Lucke (1862) first described that the bluish green discolouration of surgical dressing is associated with the presence of small vibrio like organisms. Gessard (1882) first isolated the bacteria as Pseudomonas.

Identification of the etiologic agent of glanders was performed in 1882 by isolating a bacterium from the infected liver and spleen of horse. Since its discovery, the pathogen has been classified as Loefflerella mallei, Pfeifferella mallei, Malleomyces mallei, Actinobacillus mallei, Corynebacterium mallei, Mycobacterium mallei, Pseudomonas mallei, and currently as Burkholdria mallei. The genus Burkholderia was created to accommodate former rRNA group II (Pseudomallei group) Pseudomonas bacteria. It was based on the 16S rRNA sequences, DNA-DNA homology values, cellular lipid and fatty acid composition.

Louis Pasteur (1881) first isolated the bacterium from fowl cholera outbreak and attenuated the bacteria to develop a vaccine for the chicken. Trevisan (1887) coined the generic name ‘Pasteurella’ in honour of Louis Pasteur. Lignieres (1900) proposed the name of the species according to the animals acted as the major hosts such as Pasteurella aviseptica for fowls, P. suiseptica for pigs, P. boviseptica for bovines, P. oviseptica for ovines and P. leptiseptica for rabbits. Rosenbuch and Merchant (1939) proposed the name of single species Pasteurella multocida which is in use till date.

Mannheimia is an exclusive animal pathogen and is associated with ‘shipping fever’ or bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in cattle. Kitt (1885) first described the bacterium as Bacterium bipolare multocidum isolated from shipping fever in cattle. The nomenclature was further changed into Bacillus boviseptica and finally into Pasteurella haemolytica. Based on fermentation capability of arabinose and trehalose, P. haemolytica was subdivided into two biotypes (A and T) and several capsular serotypes. The biotype A (with 12 capsular serotypes) was classified under a new genus Mannheimia due to disparities in 16S rDNA sequence, cultural and pathological characteristics.

Lignieres and Spitz first isolated Actinobacillus from the cattle with actinomycosis like condition in Argentina in 1902. The findings were also confirmed by Nocard in 1902. Later the isolated bacterium from the cattle was named as Actinobacillus lignieresii in memory of Lignieres.

Pfeiffer (1892) first isolated Haemophilus influenzae as a cause of human influenza and it is also known as ‘Pfeiffer’s bacillus’. Other workers isolated and described different species of the genus Haemophilus from animals and birds. In 1903, Friedberger, a research assistant of Pfeiffer, isolated similar kind of bacteria from prepuce of dogs which was described later as Haemophilus canis. In 1925, Mitchell isolated Haemophilus ovis from the respiratory tract of sheep. Lewis and Shope (1931) isolated and illustrated Haemophilus suis from the infected pigs. Glasser found the association between fibrinous serositis, polyarthritis in pigs (Glasser’s disease) and a small gram-negative rod as early as 1910, later became known as Haemophilus parasuis. The bacteria was first isolated by Hjarre and Wramby in 1943. De Blieck (1931) isolated a hemophilic bacterium from the birds suffering with ‘infectious coryza’ and named the bacteria as Bacillus haemoglobinophilus coryzae gallinarum. Later it became known as Haemophilus paragallinarum (Avibacterium paragallinarum).

Clinical conditions similar to brucellosis have been described since the time of Hippocrates (450 BC). J. A. Marston (1861) first described brucellosis as gastric remittent fever in Malta, the Southern European island country. Sir David Bruce (1886) first isolated small coccobacilli from an infected soldier’s spleen and purified the culture in 1887, and named Micrococcus melitensis. Later the genus was renamed as Brucella in his honour. Similarly, Bang and Stribolg (1897) first isolated Brucella abortus from abortion material of a cow. Traum in 1914 isolated Bacillus abortus suis, currently known as Brucella suis. In 1953, Brucella ovis was firs isolated in New Zealand by Budlle and Boyes from the aborted material of sheep. Carmichael and Bruner (1968) first isolated B. canis from the aborted placenta of a dog.

In India first report of ‘contagious abortion’ associated with Brucella was found in annual report (1918) of imperial veterinary research institute (presently Indian veterinary research institute), Mukteswar, Uttarakhand and later in 1942 by Polding.