Exploring Market Potential and Developing Linkages – A Case of Underutilized Fruit Products in India

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India, under the aegis of International Centre for Underutilized Crops (ICUC), trained the officials of Bharathiya Agro-Industries Foundation (BAIF), a nongovernmental organization (NGO), on small scale processing and marketing of underutilized fruits in August 2004. As a result, small scale processing units were established at the community village level in the state of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat in India for processing of underutilized fruits like aonla, tamarind and jackfruit into different products. Later, a survey was undertaken to ascertain the processing and market potential of underutilized fruit products. The market survey in the Hassan district of Karanataka has indicated the presence of underutilized fruit products like citron pickles, tamarind paste and jackfruit chips, which are sold by the retailers in small quantities. The market survey of underutilized fruit products in Pune (Maharashtra) has indicated the trading of underutilized fruit products like aonla pickle, aonla squash, aonla supari and tamarind products like concentrate, pani puri masala in the market, though in small quantities. The market survey in the Dharmapur and Valsad markets, Gujarat has indicated the presence of underutilized fruit products like pachan aonla (digestive aonla), ber powder, salted ber and tamarind under different brand names like Oswal, Khelkar, Frootlet, etc. The share of the underutilized fruit products is small but these products have made their presence felt in the market. By and large, consumers have accepted the quality and price of the products of the small scale community processing unit. However, label needs improvement and is to be made more attractive. Thus, market research has helped in identifying the potential markets for the underutilized fruit products of the community level processing units. The institutional arrangements in the form of IIHR-BAIF have benefited the community at large and the women SHGs in particular.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Marketing Losses and Their Impact on Marketing Margins: A Case Study of Banana in Karnataka

The explicit evaluation of the post-harvest losses at different stages of marketing and their impact on farmers’ net price, marketing costs, margins and efficiency have been presented. It has been found that the existing methods tend to overstate the farmers’ net price and marketing margins of intermediaries. In fact, the margin of the retailers’ after taking into account the physical loss during retailing has been found to be negative (loss), which otherwise, was positive (profit) in the conventional estimation. Similarly, the producers’ net share and wholesalers’ margins also decrease substantially. It has been shown that marketing efficiency is inversely proportional to the marketing losses. The co-operative marketing has been found to be a more efficient system in terms of both operations and price. Marketing cost has been identified as the major constraint in the wholesale marketing channel and bringing down the costs, particularly the commission charges as demonstrated in the co-operative channel, will help in reducing the price-spread and increasing the producers’ margin. The need for specialized transport vehicles for perishable commodities has been highlighted.Crop Production/Industries, Marketing,

Effect of eight weeks land and sand based plyometric training on selected physical and physiological variables

The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of eight weeks land based and sand based plyometric training on selected physical and physiological variables among inter collegiate level sportspersons pursuing their graduation under Kuvempu University. Subjects for the study were thirty (30) intercollegiate level sportspersons pursuing their graduation in Shivamogga. Their age ranged between 20 to 25 years. Purposive random sampling was observed in order to ascertain minimum levels of fitness of the sportspersons. Fifteen students each were placed randomly into plyometric training groups namely Land (N=15) and Sand (N=15) surfaces. In order to examine the efficacy of plyometric training on different surfaces following tests were conducted on all the subjects under the study. The subjects underwent these tests twice during the course of study i.e pre-test and post-test. The variables selected for the study were speed, dynamic strength, lower body explosiveness, agility, body composition and resting heart rate. Suitable standard tests were selected for assessing attributes. Paired sample ‘t’ test was used as a statistical technique apart from descriptive statistics. Within the limitations of the present investigation it is concluded that the speed aspect of physical fitness can be significantly enhanced through sand based plyometric training as compared to land based plyometric training

Integrated Pest and Disease Management in Tomato: An Economic Analysis

The adoption of IPM technology in tomato using African marigold as a trap crop, root dipping of seedlings in Imidacloprid, soil application of neem/pongamia cake, spraying of botanicals like pongamia soap and biopesticide like Ha NPV has been found effective in both insect as well as disease management. The IPM technology has been found economically viable as the yield on IPM farms has been found higher by about 46 per cent, cost of cultivation has been less by about 21 per cent and the net returns have been higher by 119 per cent. The technology can be considered environment-friendly as it uses more of eco-friendly inputs and less of chemicals. The constraints like non-availability of botanicals and bio-pesticides should be addressed on priority basis to make the technology sustainable and more popular.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Cell formation in flexible manufacturing systems.

Dept. of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1986 .N336. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-07, page: . Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1986

A controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Kulatthadi Ghrita in the management of Mutrashmari vis-à-vis Urolithiasis

Mutrashmari is one of the most common conditions of Mutravahasrotas. The word Ashmari in Sanskrit denotes the stone or calculi and Mutra means urine. Mutrashmari is characterized by formation of stones anywhere in urinary tract. It is a dreadful condition and has potential to disturb the anatomy and physiology of the urinary system. Once it formed in the body it tends recurrence thus get difficult to cure. Hence it is included under Ashtamahagada. In modern medical system it is correlated with urinary calculi or Urolithiasis based on their signs and symptoms. Factors such as diet, water, climate, geographical conditions will also play major role in causing Mutrashmari. Ayurveda basically aims at prevention of formation of Mutrahmari along with braking and flushing of existing calculi. In Ayurveda texts administration of oral medication in different forms such as Ghrita, Kshara, Kashaya and other Shamanousadhi, Shodhana Karma and Shastra Karma are emphasized for management of Mutrashmari. Snehapana is the basic principle in the management which is to be adopted in primary stage of Mutrashmari. In the present study Kulatthadi Ghrita having properties such as Ashmaribhedana, Ashmari Patana and Mutrala activities has been taken up as indicated in Chakradatta for Ashmari, along with Nagaradi Kashaya and Badarashma Pishti

Marketing and Post-Harvest Loss Assessment in Sapota

A study was undertaken in the Kolar district of Karnataka to assess the losses in post harvest handling and marketing of sapota. The analysis of data collected at the field level, market level, procurement centre of HOPCOMS and at the retail level indicated post harvest loss (PHL) of 15.98% in the wholesale marketing channel (WSM) and about 14.07 per cent in the HOPCOMS channel. Marketing system for sapota was found to be inefficient as the efficiency index was found to be less than 1. However, between WSM and HOPCOMS, the latter was found to be more efficient in terms of lower marketing cost, higher price realization by farmers and lower margin of the intermediaries. Use of mechanical harvester, pre harvest management of fruits against fruit borer and opening of procurement centres of HOPCOMS in the producing region are suggested in order to reduce the PHL and also to improve the efficiency of the marketing system

Nonclassical Celiac Disease in an Adolescent Male with Vague Abdominal Pain: A Case Report and Literature Review

The abdomen, often referred to as the "Pandora\u27s Box", presents diagnostic challenges, especially in cases of chronic pain. This report details a perplexing case of chronic, vague abdominal pain accompanied by nonspecific laboratory findings, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of atypical celiac disease through duodenal biopsy and serological investigations. The presented case highlights the significance of a thorough and methodical work-up in managing chronic conditions, emphasizing the importance of considering celiac disease in cases of ambiguous abdominal pain.&nbsp

Irradiation tests on InP based Mach Zehnder modulator

Particle detectors in High Energy Physics experiments contain various types of mixed-signal integrated circuits and demand data rates of multiple Gigabits per second per chip and several Terabits per second for the whole detector. Optical transmission by external modulation of a continuous wave laser is a possible solution to solve the problem of high data rates. The detectors have to operate in a high radiation environment and particles passing through the circuits alter the properties of the circuits giving rise to performance issues. In this paper, we investigate the radiation hardness performance of Indium Phosphide (InP) based Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZM). The modulator circuit has been irradiated with a 24 GeV/c proton beam at CERN up to various fluences. The irradiated samples have been characterized and compared against measurements of non-irradiated devices. Also, a design of an optical integrated circuit using the Generic Integration philosophy is presented

Post harvest loss and marketing of fruits - economic analysis of pink flesh guava in local and distant markets in India

Guava produced in Bengaluru in Karnataka is also transported to distant markets like Cochin in Kerala and Chennai in Tamil Nadu. An assessment of post harvest loss (PHL) was done in these markets. The main marketing channel followed was:Producer PHC Distant Market WS Retailer ConsumerMarketing practices followed in marketing of pink flesh guava and losses occurring at the wholesale (transit) and retailers’ level (storage) in the distant market - Kerala were studied from wholesalers and retailers. The PHL at the wholesalers’ level was observed to be 3.6 per cent mainly due to pressed and crushed fruits during transit. The retail level loss was 4.59 per cent which was mainly due to storage for more than two days resulting in decaying, rotting, yellowing etc. Average price received by the wholesaler was Rs.29.92/kg with a margin of Rs.6.21/kg (20.75%). The retailers received a price of Rs.46.54/kg with a margin of Rs.16.35/kg (35.13%). Marketing practices followed in marketing of pink flesh guava and losses occurring at the wholesale (transit) and retailers’ level (storage) in the distant market - Chennai (Tamil Nadu) were studied with wholesalers in Coimbeedu market and retailers in different parts of Chennai. The PHL at the wholesalers’ level was observed to be 4.62 per cent mainly due to pressed and crushed fruits during transit. The retail level loss was 6.09 per cent which was due to pressing of fruits during handling. The wholesaler received a margin of 22.91 percent in trading of guava fruits. The retailers received a margin of 45.72 per cent. The Karnataka farmers can take advantage of the higher prices prevalent in the distant markets and increase their income. Pathological investigation indicated that losses occurred at different stages of handling due to Styler end rot, Anthracnose, Canker, thrips attack etc., which needs to be addressed. The storage losses of pink flesh guava were estimated as 5.89 % after 4 days of storage at room temperature (24-32°C) that constituted mainly the physiological loss in weight (PLW). Spoilage started after 5 days of storage (10.5 %) and reached to 28.31 % by 6 days of storage. After 4 days of storage, guava fruits lose weight to the extent of 6 per cent and the spoilage starts after 5 days. Hence, care should be taken to dispose of the fruits within five days of harvest