Kharif Sorghum in Karnataka: An Economic Analysis

Sorghum, which once occupied more than 18 M ha of area in the country, has been on a continuous decline during the past two decades and has fallen down to 10.39 M ha. Most of the decline in area has occurred in kharif sorghum. This warrants critical examination of the changing scenario of kharif sorghum and identification of the reasons thereof. For the macro analysis, secondary data on various aspects of kharif sorghum have been used, whereas the farm survey data have been used to draw the inferences at the micro level with respect to changing scenario of kharif sorghum. The growth rates in area, production and productivity of kharif sorghum have been computed. The Herfindahl index has been computed to find out crop diversification in the sample districts of Dharwad and Belgaun. The deceleration in the kharif sorghum area in the overall period 1970-71 to 1997-98 and different sub-periods has been found due to the diversion of kharif sorghum area to more remunerative crops like oil seeds (groundnut and sunflower), and pulses. Belgaum district displayed a moderate degree of crop diversification compared to that of Dharwad district. Unfavourable prices, declining yields, inadequate credit and adverse climatic conditions have been identified as the major reasons for the replacement of kharif sorghum crop in the two sample districts. The net returns and benefit-cost ratio have been found low in the cultivation of kharif sorghum compared to those of its competing crops, viz. cotton, green gram and groundnut.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Self-assembly of particles via controlled evaporation

Evaporation of solvent from a dispersion is a simple and effective method to direct the self-assembly of colloidal scale materials. In particular, the drying of particle laden sessile drops has received considerable attention since pioneering work in the late 1990’s. Upon evaporation, suspension drops leave a distinct ring-like deposit of particles at the periphery of the drop. It is widely accepted that physics of pattern formation in drying of drops containing in-soluble material is identical to that observed in drying of a coffee drop. Both the formation and suppression of coffee-stains are fundamentally and technologically important. There is need for the design of strategies to prevent coffee stains, which are unwanted in several applications. However, there are several reports where the desirable consequences of coffee-stain formation are exploited – especially in the field of separation technology and in the detection and diagnosis of diseases. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Study of Vibration Behaviour of Stiffened Polymer Composite Shells for Underwater Structural Applications

This paper presents vibration behavior of ring stiffened polymer composite thick shells used for underwater structures. Filament wound shells stiffened with internal and external rings and with hemispherical ends were tested for vibration in air and water in free-free boundary condition using roving hammer and fixed response method. Modal testing of the shells was performed under hydrostatic loading in a custom designed buckling tester for determining natural frequency at higher sea depths. Accelerometer was mounted on the inner surface of the shell. It was excited using a plumbob, rope and pulley arrangement. Experimental results were validated by modal analysis using Hyperworks and ANSYS. Vibration behavior in water was simulated by Fluid structure interaction approach. Experimental first natural frequency in water was lesser than that in air. With increase in hydrostatic pressure, the shell showed moderate variation in natural frequency. The experimental and numerical results of natural frequency and mode shapes were in good agreement with each other. Natural frequencies were lower in long and thick shells

A ternary PEDOT-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for supercapacitor applications

A ternary composite of PEDOT was prepared with TiO2 via emulsion polymerization method adjusting various weight ratios of TiO2 to PEDOT and synthesized rGO was then blended with this composite. The FTIR, UV–Vis and XRD analysis displayed characteristic features of PEDOT and TiO2. The morphology of the nano-hybrid structure was additionally investigated by SEM analysis. Pore size and surface area analysis of particles were characterized by BET method. The electrochemical analysis showed that the specific capacitance (Csp) for PEDOT-TiO2-15-rGO was 18.9 F.cm-2 at 0.1 mA g-1 current density

Economic Analysis of Post-harvest Losses in Food Grains in India: A Case Study of Karnataka

The post-harvest losses have been estimated at different stages in two major food grains, viz. rice and wheat in India. The time series data from 1982-83 to 2001-02 on area, production and productivity of the selected food grains have been subjected to growth rate analysis. The post-harvest losses have been estimated using the survey data collected from 100 farmers, 20 wholesalers, 20 processors and 20 retailers in each crop in Karnataka for the year 2003-04. Tabular analysis has been used to estimate the post-harvest losses at different stages, and functional analysis has been used to assess the influence of socio-economic factors on postharvest losses at the farm level. The increase in rice production in the study district of Shimoga has been mainly from increased area under rice. The increased rice output at the state level is the result of increased productivity and area, while at the national level it is the rise in productivity. The increased wheat output in the country has been due to increased wheat productivity. The postharvest losses at the farm level have been estimated to be 3.82 kg/ q for rice and 3.28 kg/q for wheat. The losses have been highest during storage in both the crops. The factors that influence the post-harvest losses significantly at the farm level have been identified and some policy implications have been highlighted

INVESTMENTS IN REGULATED MARKETS VIS-A-VIS THEIR PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN KARNATAKA— FACTOR ANALYSIS APPROACH

The paper analyses the investments made in the regulated markets in Karnataka and their impact on the performance of these markets. Principal components analysis was employed to analyse performance indicators during pre- and postinvestment periods. Variations in amounts invested between markets indicated that only some markets have been developed. Comparison of factor loadings indicated that competition, commodity arrivals and number of notified commodities in regulated markets had increased during post-investment period. Grading activity showed reduced importance during post-investment period indicating the need to strengthen this function. Secretary cadre staff should also be increased to have more effective regulation

<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">Norethindrone-induced masculinization and progeny testing in guppy, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Poecilia reticulata</i> (Peters 1859) </span>

232-236Norethindrone(NE) was evaluated for its efficacy on alteration of sex ratio of P. reticulata. Either the young fry or the brooders and the resultant fry were fed a commercial diet incorporated with NE at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg kg-1 diet (ppm) for 30-40 d in rectangular glass aquaria; this was followed by 40-60 d rearing on NE-free diet in out-door concrete tanks. In general, the androgen treatment altered sex ratio, leading to the production of a dose dependent increase in the percentage of males. The oral administration of the steroid at 75 ppm for 40 d or 100 ppmfor 30 or 40 d to first feeding fry, yielded 100% males. On the other hand, NE administration to brooders before parturition and the resultant fry also produced an all-male population of guppy. The sex ratio of the untreated control was almost 1:1. The survival of fish in all the trials was high, ranging between 67 and 100%. Mating masculinized males (“XX” male) with normal female resulted in an all-female progeny, while crossing normal male (XY) from treatment groups with normal female sired normal sex ratio (1:1), elucidating XX-XY sex determination system in the guppy