In vitro Regeneration of Corchorus olitorius var. O-4

The aim of this study was to determine how several plant growth regulators, such as 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), indole acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), affected the tossa jute plant's ability to regenerate in vitro. However, the most calluses and shoots were produced when the cotyledon-attached petioles of Corchorus olitorius var. O-4 were utilized as explants and inoculated in Murashige Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 2.5 mg/L BA + 0.5 mg/L IAA. Two weeks after induction (WAI), the 2.5 mg/L BA + 0.5 mg/L IAA treatment generated five leaves. The IBA therapy at 2.0 mg/L resulted in the regeneration of the majority of roots. The treatment 0.6 mg/L IBA produced the longest roots and the highest proportion of root induction. Regenerated plantlets have a 68.4% survival rate in shaded conditions and an 87.2% survival rate in full sunlight. Thus, in order to genetically alter the organism, an effective technique for Corchorus olitorius var. O-4 in vitro regeneration has been established

Assessment of Crop Water Productivity and Efficiency of Paddy Systems: A Comparison between Alternate Wetting and Drying and Conventional Flooding Methods

Water scarcity is still among the major challenges facing rice production as the gap between available water supply and water demand is increasing in many parts of the world, limiting future expansion of irrigation. Crop water productivity for rice was evaluated using the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and continuous flooding irrigation (CF) methods to come up with the best method with higher productivity (WP) and water use efficiency (WUE). An experiment was carried out at Hembeti irrigation scheme, Morogoro region in Tanzania to investigate WP and WUE of paddy systems comparing the AWD and CF methods. The experiment was done in 2 seasons starting from July to September 2023 and from September to November 2023 using a rice variety locally known as SARO MALOLO (cross of YY and Super) with 90 day-growing duration from nursery to harvest. Two treatments namely, AWD and CF were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications to form 6 experimental plots each with 1m2 area separated by a 1 m buffer zone to prevent lateral movement of water. Plant spacing used was 20cm x 20cm forming 25 plants per square meter (1 seedling per hill). Several growth variables were monitored and data collected on daily and weekly basis. The growth parameters monitored were plant height, canopy cover, number of tillers and productive tillers, number of panicles and grain number. Findings show that WP was 4.05kgm-3 for AWD plots and 1.21kgm-3 for CF. It also shows that AWD achieved 75% of WUE compared to 41% in CF. Furthermore, AWD gave higher dry yield of 1.52 t ha⁻¹ than 1.33 t ha⁻¹ of dry yield in CF. This indicates that AWD performed much better compared to CF in terms of water use and yield. The results also showed that there was no significance difference in the number of productive tillers and panicles for both treatments at p=0.05, but with slight variation (significance difference) between the seasons and between the replicates. Results also showed significance difference in the amount of water applied and consumed for both treatments at p=0.05, where AWD managed to save 65.8% of irrigation water meaning AWD is the best method for regions with water scarcity as it can maintain or improve yield but with an advantage of less water input

Physico–Chemical Characterization of Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Milk as Influenced by Parities and Seasons under Pastoral Production System in Katsina State, Nigeria

The study was conducted in order to come-up with the various physico–chemical characterization of camel (Camelus dromedarius) milk under pastoral production system in Katsina State, Nigeria. It was conducted using twelve (12) lactating camel cows under three different parity levels (1, 3 and 5). The feeding and watering regimes of the camels were the same and all the animals were managed under pastoral production system. The animals for the study were carefully examined before the selection especially for calving and health status. Milk samples collected were studied under the guide of various prescribed methods using local kits available. Results obtained indicated higher values of acidity (0.35%) and specific gravity (1.008%) both under parity five in hot dry season followed by titerable acidity with higher values (0.015g) in parity three under cold dry season. Vitamin C was higher (4.71 mg/100ml) in parity five under wet season respectively. In conclusion, the study also confirmed that camel milk is full of evenly balanced nutritional constituents that plays a variety of roles despite the level of management, feeding and watering regimes

Adaptation of Coastal Farmers to Increasing Salinity in Selected Coastal Area of Bangladesh

The present study evaluated the adaptation measures taken by the coastal farmers of Bangladesh to cope with the increasing salinity. Mixed method including key informant interview, household survey was used to collect data from 80 respondents who were selected as a sample following disproportionate random sampling technique. The study exhibits the poor socio-economic condition of the respondents in the study areas. Disappearing of agricultural land with diminished productivity was the major challenge they faced due to increasing salinity. Around 82.0% of the respondents adopted medium to high-level adaptation strategies in response to salinity management. Among the selected characteristics, only age and family size showed significant and positive contribution to adaptation. Adopting adequate adaption mechanisms will assist coastal farmers’ sustainability in the changing climatic situation and environmental hazards. The current research is important for the relevant policymakers formulating policy for the coastal farmers

Molecular Characterization of Four (4) Accessions Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Cultivated in Different Localities of Central Africa and the Pakréssaya Variety (of Burkinabe Origin)

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L) is probably the oldest oilseed crop known and used by humans. In the Central African Republic, sesame remains an “orphan crop” due to the lack of scientific data on the genetic diversity of local accessions. Genetic diversity is the extent of genetic variability measured at the level of individuals, a population, a metapopulation, a species or a group of species. It is ensured by the genetic variability between individuals within the species. This study aims to contribute to a better knowledge of the genetic characteristics of sesame accessions in the Central African Republic. Analyses included genome sequence analysis and genetic polymorphism. Total DNA was extracted using the Zymo Research Kit, taking for each accession or variety a pool of five seeds constituting an individual. The results obtained showed the effectiveness of the 28S gene for the differentiation of sesame accessions (Sesamum indicum) because it showed a significant polymorphism between the different accessions studied and the Pakréssaya variety. The phylogenetic trees allowed us to structure sesame seeds according to their locality of origin

Empirical Analysis of the Growth Dynamics and Instability of Cotton, Jute, and Mesta in India

The present study focuses on exploring the scenario of instability and growth rates in area, production, and yield of commercial crops viz., cotton, jute and mesta in India, on utilizing Cuddy-Della Valle (CDV) instability indices and compound growth rates (CGRs). For the empirical analysis, secondary time series data pertaining to area, production, and yield of the concerned crops have been collected for the period 2000-2021. Furthermore, to carry out the comparative assessment, the concerned period has been classified into period-I (2000-2010), period-II (2011-2021), and the pooled (or overall) period (2000-2021).The statistical coefficients viz., coefficient of variation (CV) and coefficient of determination  have been evaluated. The key findings of the investigation reveal that, during the overall period, cotton reported highest instability in terms of production (i.e., 17.89 %) and yield (i.e., 17.12 %) as compared to the area (i.e., 7.36 %). Moreover, jute and mesta reported low instabilities in area (i.e., 3.30 %), production (i.e., 5.05 %) and yield (i.e., 3.07 %). Furthermore, in terms of growth rate of cotton, the period-I witnessed significant growth in area (i.e., 2.80 %), production (i.e., 13.24 %) and yield (i.e., 10.16 %), as compared to the period-II. However, jute and mesta witnessed negative growth rates in terms of area and production during the period-I, period-II and the overall period of investigation. Hence, focus of attention is required for enhancing the production of cotton, jute and mesta, and future policy formulation

Agricultural Transformation and its Contribution to Economic Development in South Asian and African Countries

Agricultural transformation is central to economic development, driving modernization, productivity enhancement, and integration into broader economic systems. This study compares South Asia and Africa, analyzing their distinct trajectories influenced by sustainable practices, policy reforms, and technological advancements. In South Asia, agricultural employment declined sharply, with Bangladesh dropping from 80% in 1973 to 35% in 2023, and India from 70% to 37%. Africa saw a more gradual decline, from 70% to 48% during the same period. Productivity improvements highlight regional progress, with agricultural productivity growth rising in Bangladesh (3.3% to 4.1% by 2023) and Kenya (3.3% to 4.1%), while manufacturing productivity surged in Kenya (6.6%) and India (5.2%). South Asia's growth leverages high-yield crops and market integration from the Green Revolution, while Africa focuses on climate-smart agriculture, diversification, and community-based solutions to address climate vulnerabilities and infrastructure gaps. Both regions emphasize sustainability as a resilience strategy. Using a four-stage paradigm of agricultural transformation, the study underscores the significance of transitioning from subsistence to high-value, technology-driven agriculture for economic diversification and resilience. By analyzing labor productivity, GDP per capita, and crop production indices, the research demonstrates agriculture's critical role in fostering sustainable development and economic growth across both regions

Effect of Goat Breeds on the Milk Composition under Climatic Conditions of Bhandarej Tahsil of Dausa District, Rajasthan, India

The aim of the study is to assess milk composition at specific location. The study was designed as per the resources available at local situation. The research has conducted at the Bhandarej tahsil of Rukmani Devi College of Agriculture, Dausa district of Rajasthan during 2021-23. The specific gravity of Jamunapari goat breed’s milk was greater than that of Sirohi animals. 05 milk samples of Jamunapari Goat and 05 milk samples were collected from Sirohi goat breed during the lactation at different villages of dausa tahsil of dausa district throughout two years. The overall fat per cent in the both breeds during 2021- 23 of all the 1200 samples was found to be 4.68±0.021, Solids Not Fat (SNF) 8.45±0.030 per cent and total solids percentage was found to be 13.32 ± 0.035. The protein per cent during 2021 - 22 conditions was significantly (p <0.01) greater than that of farm rearing goat milk in both the breeds. The statistical analysis also revealed that the lactose content in 2021 – 22 has significantly higher than that of 2022 -23 in Sirohi as well as Jamunapari goat breeds at p <0.05.The overall average ash content in both breed’s milk during 2021 - 23 of all samples was found to be 0.815±0.007 per cent. Breed had conspicuous effects on milk quality of goats under study

Evaluating the Efficiency of Microorganism-enriched Vermicompost on Potato Yield and Growth Parameters in Bahadurpur, India

An effort was made to compare the efficiency of the microbiologically treated vermicompost with conventionally prepared vermicompost through an on-farm trial. All the beneficial microbiological management practices, identified were put together to produce a microbially enriched vermicompost and the results of applications of this vermicompost was compared with those of traditionally prepared vermicompost under integrated plant nutrition system using potato as the test crop. It has been revealed that the study will help in developing a clear concept about the efficiency of such microbially enriched vermicompost in producing crops and maintaining soil fertility

Evaluation of Seed Health Status of Some Selected Podded and Root Vegetables in Bangladesh

Evaluating the seed health status of selected vegetables in Bangladesh is crucial for sustainable agriculture and food security, as seed-borne pathogens can significantly reduce crop yield and quality. Identifying and mitigating these pathogens at the seed level helps prevent their spread, protect genetic resources, and reduce reliance on chemical interventions. It provides valuable insights into pathogen prevalence and diversity, supporting the development of effective management strategies for healthier crop production. The seed health status of podded vegetable crops, such as yard long beans and country beans, and root vegetables, including bottle gourds, sweet gourds, and sponge gourds, was examined in 2015 at the Seed Health Laboratory (SHL) of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Loose seeds from each crop were collected from various wholesale seed markets in Dhaka. Two seed health assessment methods recommended by ISTA were employed: dry seed examination and the blotter method. The prevalence of seed-borne fungi varied significantly across different vegetable seeds, depending on the seed category and source. Six seed-borne fungi were identified in the examined seeds of three vegetable crop groups: Rhizopus spp., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium sp., Chaetomium sp., and Alternaria spp. All six fungi were detected in the seeds of podded vegetables, while five were found in the seeds of leafy vegetables. Using the blotter method, seeds from Alo Bij Vander exhibited the highest level of fungal infection, whereas seeds from Bismillah Seed Store showed the lowest level. Among the crops, radish seeds displayed the highest frequency of seed-borne fungi, while yard long beans had the lowest. Based on the findings, it was evident that the health condition of loose vegetable seeds was substandard. However, further research with more representative seed samples from various markets across Bangladesh is necessary to provide a comprehensive understanding of seed health in relation to different seed sources