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Reasons and awareness levels of farmers on residue burning in Indo-Gangetic Plain of India : An exploratory researchThe study examines reasons for the burning of crop residue, awareness of the impact of the burning of crop residue and government approaches to mitigating the burning. Data from 180 farmers from three districts of the state of Haryana was sought. Rank Based Quotient method was used to identify reasons. At the same time, awareness was assessed by direct questioning. The study concludes that the short window time between paddy harvesting and showing wheat was a primary reason for stubble burning. Research also shows that harvesting is expensive and time-consuming, causing farmers to burn. Most farmers were aware of the various adverse effects of burning on soil health (73.89%), air health (100%), and human health (81.66%). Everybody was aware of the ban on crop residue burning and other government measures, but they have no other viable options other than burning. Policymakers, therefore, must focus on feasible options that are acceptable in farmers' socio-economic conditions.Not Availabl

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Research PaperThe present study was conducted to study the perceived constraints faced by victims of the national calamity, i.e., Kosi flood that occurred in Bihar state of India way back on 18th August, 2008. Eight independent constraints were taken for the study based on secondary data and reconnaissance, which were later classified as 4 broad constraints. The study revealed that most severe constraint perceived by dairy farmers was ‘lack of knowledge regarding preparedness of natural calamity for livestock protection’. Asymptotic significance obtained from the Friedman test was 0.000 (p<0.01) with chi-square value of 84.457 with 3 degrees of freedom. Significance value showed, Monte Carlo Significance at 99 per cent confidence interval (CI) and hence, it could be interpreted that there was significant difference among the broad constraints faced by the dairy farmers. Friedman test identified that the most severe broad constraints perceived by dairy farmers was technical constraints followed by ‘economical constraints’, ‘physical constraints’, and ‘social constraints’. The study concluded that capacity building of the farmers regarding preparedness for the natural calamity is quintessential and in order to provide better and ensured remuneration of the milk and milk products, village co-operatives should be established soon.Not Availabl

Adapting to climate change: Traditional coping mechanism followed by the <i>Brokpa </i>pastoral nomads of Arunachal Pradesh, India

752-761Transhumance system of livelihood of the Brokpa pastoral nomads inhabiting in the yak tracts of Arunachal Pradesh with special emphasis on climate change adaptation was assessed in the present study. A representative sample of the 240 Brokpa pastoral nomads from all the yak rearing tracts of Arunachal Pradesh was selected randomly. The Brokpa pastoral nomads mainly depend upon livestock, like yak, yak-cattle hybrid etc, rearing for their livelihood. They perceived that season cycle has been changed in lower and mid altitude. They also perceived that onset of summer is getting started 1-2 month(s) earlier than before and also extended by 2-3 months. Therefore, Brokpa pastoral nomads of Arunachal Pradesh have expanded their migration duration by 2-3 months in searching of congenial environment for their livestock specially yak and yak-cattle hybrid. They adopted 10 coping mechanisms to cope up with negative impact of climate change. Among the coping mechanisms, ‘duration of migration has expanded by 2-3 months’ and ‘change in pasture utilization practice’ were found to be mostly adopted

IL-4 dependent resistance to the tapeworm Mesocestoides corti (Cestoda) in mice

Three-week Mesocestoides corti infections of C57BL/6 mice showed significantly raised parasite counts in animals with a targeted knockout of the IL-4 gene. By contrast, antibody neutralization of IL-5 and inhibition of eosinophilia had no effect on parasite numbers. In SV/129 mice, knockout of the interferon gamma receptor and inducible nitric oxide synthase genes had no significant effect on parasite counts. In IL-4(-/-)mice the dominant IgG1 antibody response was dramatically reduced, with a concomitant increase in IgG2a/b responses and a partial twofold reduction in IgM and IgE responses. We conclude that murine resistance to M. corti is dependent on IL-4, but occurs independently of IL-5 and eosinophils. This provides the first direct evidence for IL-4 mediated immunity of mice to infection with a tissue-dwelling platyhelminth