Menace of Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta absoluta [Meyrick,1917]): Its Impacts and Control Measures by Nepalese Farmers

A multi-site study was conducted in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Kavre, and Pokhara, Nepal, to assess the impact of Tuta absoluta and identify effective control measures from the farmers\u27 perspective. A total of 480 tomato-growing households were randomly selected for the study. The pest posed a significant threat to tomato production, resulting in increased labor requirements (29.96%), increased expenditures on crop protection and control measures (62.18%), and significant yield losses of up to 85%. The results showed that the pest was ranked as the most important pest of tomatoes by the majority of respondents (88%), with the flowering stage being highly susceptible (99.73%). The study highlighted that the overuse of chemical pesticides disrupts integrated pest management practices, while all the respondents affected by T. absoluta used chemical and cultural control methods without using biological control methods due to a lack of knowledge. About 77.27% of the respondents used physical control methods. Among the control methods used, tomato leaf miner (TLM) bait (0.764) was rated as the most effective, followed by chemical pesticides (0.586) and sanitation (0.502). The research highlights the importance of raising awareness of integrated pest management strategies, including the use of biological control methods, for effective and sustainable management of T. absoluta. These findings will help improve pest management practices and support the long-term sustainability of tomato production in Nepal

Adoption of Post-Harvest Handling Practices by Ginger Farmers in Palpa District, Nepal

Ginger has the potential for export and increased income for farmers in Nepal. Proper post-harvest handling practices has led to low market prices and significant post-harvest losses of ginger. The study was conducted in Palpa district to examine the post-harvest practices and technology adoption among ginger farmers. Data from 66 farmers in Bagnashkali, Purbakhola, Nisdi, and Rampur municipalities was collected through interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Descriptive analysis was performed using MS Excel and SPSS. Results showed that 72.7% of farmers practiced storage, with Bhakari (60.41%) and Pit (39.59%) being the common storage types. Storage molds affected 72.2% of respondents, while 28.8% reported wrinkling during storage. Washing was practiced by only 7.6% of farmers. Manual grading was reported by all respondents, with no commercial grading observed. Black sutho production was carried out by 65.2% of farmers. Value addition activities such as sorting were practiced by 65% of respondents, while 25% engaged in transportation and packaging. Respondents' awareness of ginger post-harvest practices varied, with 75.76% having low awareness, 16.66% medium awareness, and 7.58% high awareness. Farmers' general precautions during harvesting, such as avoiding rhizome injury and minimal trimming and sorting, were not accompanied by specific precautionary practices, contributing to their challenges. The findings emphasize the importance of adopting modern post-harvest practices to increase production, improve product quality, and command higher market prices.  Implementing these measures will enable ginger farmers in Palpa district to enhance their income and contribute to the growth of the ginger industry in Nepal

Evaluation of Spring Season Local and Improved Rice Genotypes on Growth, Yield, and Yield Attributing Characters in Gorkha District, Nepal

Rice cultivation faces challenges related to varietal selection, limiting the potential yield of spring rice crops. This study was conducted in the Rice Zone of Gorkha, Nepal during the spring season of 2022 with aim to evaluate the growth, yield, and yield attributing characters of different rice genotypes. The study hypothesized that significant differences exist among different rice genotypes in terms of their growth, yield, and yield attributing characters. The experiment employed a one-factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with seven genotypes, including local varieties (Hardinath Hybrid 1, Chaite-5, CH 45, Salijudi) and pipeline genotypes (IR16L1919, IR10N118, IR86515), and replicated three times. Results indicated significant variations among genotypes in response to similar growing conditions and nutrient availability. Notably, CH 45 exhibited the highest plant height (113.50 cm), while IR16L1619 demonstrated the longest panicle length (28.56 cm) and the highest number of effective tillers (23.10). IR16L1619 also displayed the highest number of leaves (97.27 leaves) and leaf area index (8.00). Chaite-5 had the longest flag leaf (33.13 cm), while IR16L1619 recorded the highest panicle length (28.56 cm) and number of grains per panicle (270.10). Salijudi exhibited the lowest sterility percentage (7.52 %), and CH 45 displayed the highest thousand grain weight (26.40). Moreover, IR16L1619 demonstrated superior performance in terms of grain yield (8.19 t/ha), straw yield (7.12 t/ha), and biological yield (15.25 t/ha). The findings underscored the genotype-specific responses to environmental conditions, highlighting the importance of tailored varietal selection for optimal productivity

Grain Yield Stability of Rice Genotypes

Stability analysis identifies the adaptation of a crop genotype in different environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate promising rice genotypes for yield stability at different mid-hill environments of Nepal. The multilocation trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018 at three locations viz Lumle, Kaski; Pakhribas, Dhankuta; and Kabre, Dolakha. Seven rice genotypes namely NR11115-B-B-31-3, NR11139-B-B-B-13-3, NR10676-B-5-3, NR11011-B-B-B-B-29, NR11105-B-B-27, 08FAN10, and Khumal-4 were evaluated in each location. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The rice genotype NR10676-B-5-3 produced the highest grain yield (6.72 t/ha) among all genotypes. The growing environmental factors (climate and soil conditions) affect the grain yield performance of rice genotypes. The variation in climatic factors greatly contributed to the variation in grain yield. Polygon view of genotypic main effect plus genotype-by-environment interaction (GGE) biplot showed that the genotypes NR10676-B-53 and NR11105-B-B-27 were suitable for Lumle; NR11115-B-B-31-3 and NR11139-B-B-B-13-3 for Pakhribas; and 08FAN10 and NR11011-B-B-B-B-29 for Kabre. The GGE biplot showed that genotype NR10676-B-5-3 was stable hence it was near to the point of ideal genotype. This study suggests that NR10676-B-5-3 can be grown for higher grain yield production in mid-hills of Nepal

A Comprehensive Assessment of Apple Production in Jumla District, Nepal: Status, Economics, Marketing and Challenges

Apple production is a vital sector of agriculture in Nepal, significantly impacting local livelihoods and the regional economy. This study, conducted in Jumla District, Nepal, from January to July 2022, aims to comprehensively assess apple production, including its existing conditions, economic implications, marketing and challenges. The research hypothesizes that while apple production in Jumla District contributes significantly to the local economy, it faces challenges related to pest and disease management, marketing, and adoption of modern practices. Using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), descriptive statistics were computed based on data collected from a sample of 80 respondents selected through simple random sampling. The result revealed that agriculture constituted the primary source of income for 73.75% of the population, with an average landholding size of 0.3428 ha and an apple-growing land area of 0.3164 ha. Income from apple production, along with vegetables and fruits, was a major income source. The average annual sales of apple production were 7.291 t/ha. Labor costs accounted for 45.67% of the total cost of apple production, with an average total production cost of NPR 238,097.2 and average gross returns of NPR 485,500. Apple productivity was 9.71 t/ha, demonstrating its economic viability with net returns of NPR 247,402.80 per ha and benefit cost ratio of 2.039. However, the study found that farm produce only sufficed for 6-9 months, with pest and disease incidence and marketing issues as major challenges. Interventions should address pest and disease management, marketing strategies, and modern practices adoption to enhance sustainable and profitable apple production in Jumla. Efforts to extend farm produce sufficiency should also be explored, highlighting apple production's potential and the need for targeted support to overcome challenges and foster sector development

Trends and Outcomes of ST-Segment-Elevation MI in Hospitalized Patients Without Standard Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Mixed results were seen in hospital outcomes comparing the first episode of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs) than with risk factors. To understand whether the first episode of STEMI SMuRFs has worse in-hospital outcomes than patients with risk factors and to identify confounders that contribute towards worse results. We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of STEMI but no prior coronary disease from 2016 to 2019. Our study population was divided into 2 comparative cohorts, SMuRFs and SMuRFless STEMI, based on cardiovascular risks. We assessed demographics, in-hospital mortality, complications of the 2 groups. SMuRFless patients were statistically more likely than those with SMuRFs to be younger, white, male, and underweight (BMI \u3c 20) and were significantly less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention (85.8 vs 90.7%, P \u3c 0.001) or cardiac bypass (3.8 vs 5.9%, P \u3c 0.001). SMURFless patients were more likely to have in-hospital mortality (15.7 vs 7.1%, unadjusted odds ratio: 2.41, 95% confidence interval: 2.27-2.56, P \u3c 0.001), a finding that persisted when adjusted for all factors found significant in univariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio: 2.48; 95% confidence interval: 2.30-2.67, P \u3c 0.001). Incidence of cardiac complications, including cardiogenic shock, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, were significantly higher in the SMuRFless patients, even after statistical adjustment and sensitivity analysis. SMuRFless patients represent a sizable minority of patients presenting with STEMI and have higher mortality, complications and receive fewer invasive procedures. Patient-level studies may be necessary to understand better how to treat this subset of myocardial infarction patients. SMuRFless STEMI were statistically more likely than those with SMuRFs to be younger, white, male, and underweight (BMI \u3c 20) and were significantly less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention. SMURFless patients were more likely to have in-hospital mortality, a finding that persisted when adjusted for all factors found significant in univariate analysis. Incidence of cardiac complications, including cardiogenic shock, ventricular arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, were significantly higher in the SMuRFless patients, even after statistical adjustment and sensitivity analysis. SMuRFless patients represent a sizable minority of patients presenting with STEMI and have higher mortality, complications and receive fewer invasive procedures

National Yearly Trend of Utilization and Procedural Complication of the Watchman Device in the United States.

Background Complication from the Watchman device (Boston Scientific Corp, Marlborough, Massachusetts) is operator-dependent, with the latest EWOLUTION trial showing low complication rates (1.8%) thought to be due to maturing physician experience. Objectives The objective of this study is to understand the yearly trend of utilization and complication rates of the Watchman device in hospitalized patients. Methods The national inpatient sample (NIS) was queried for all hospitalization with primary atrial fibrillation or flutter from 2016 to 2019 with percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). The frequency of peri-procedural complications, including death, stroke, major bleeding requiring blood transfusion, pericardial effusion, post-op hypotension, cardiac arrest, postprocedural CHF, implant displacement/leak, systemic embolism, and requiring repeat procedures, were assessed. Results From 2016 to 2019, an estimated 60,350 LAAO procedures were performed. The majority of the procedure was done in white (84.88%), males (58.40%), with a mean age of 76, at teaching hospitals (88.27%). Complication rates were around 5.72%, with no change from 2016 to 2019 (annual percentage change, APC: 6.23; p-value: 0.170) despite rapid increase in yearly utilization of Watchman from 1.12% in 2016 to 5.45% in 2019 (APC: 62.30; p-value of 0.013). Pericardial effusion (3.41%) was the most common complication, followed by bleeding requiring transfusion (1.40%) that had no significant change over time. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that trend of complications with the Watchman device implantation in the real-world practice didn\u27t improve over time, possibly due to characteristics inherent to the device and patient population. Hence, we expect a further drop in nationwide complication rates with the improved design of Watchman-FLX and increased placement experience

National Yearly Trend of Utilization and Procedural Complication of the Watchman Device in the United States.

Background Complication from the Watchman device (Boston Scientific Corp, Marlborough, Massachusetts) is operator-dependent, with the latest EWOLUTION trial showing low complication rates (1.8%) thought to be due to maturing physician experience. Objectives The objective of this study is to understand the yearly trend of utilization and complication rates of the Watchman device in hospitalized patients. Methods The national inpatient sample (NIS) was queried for all hospitalization with primary atrial fibrillation or flutter from 2016 to 2019 with percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). The frequency of peri-procedural complications, including death, stroke, major bleeding requiring blood transfusion, pericardial effusion, post-op hypotension, cardiac arrest, postprocedural CHF, implant displacement/leak, systemic embolism, and requiring repeat procedures, were assessed. Results From 2016 to 2019, an estimated 60,350 LAAO procedures were performed. The majority of the procedure was done in white (84.88%), males (58.40%), with a mean age of 76, at teaching hospitals (88.27%). Complication rates were around 5.72%, with no change from 2016 to 2019 (annual percentage change, APC: 6.23; p-value: 0.170) despite rapid increase in yearly utilization of Watchman from 1.12% in 2016 to 5.45% in 2019 (APC: 62.30; p-value of 0.013). Pericardial effusion (3.41%) was the most common complication, followed by bleeding requiring transfusion (1.40%) that had no significant change over time. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that trend of complications with the Watchman device implantation in the real-world practice didn\u27t improve over time, possibly due to characteristics inherent to the device and patient population. Hence, we expect a further drop in nationwide complication rates with the improved design of Watchman-FLX and increased placement experience