Socio-economic correlates and determinants of cashew productivity: An analysis of Dakshina Kannada district

The study analyses the socio-economic correlates and determinants of cashew productivity in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state, as a prerequisite for developing and initiating effective extension interventions for combating low productivity and profitability from cashew cultivation. Results show that majority of the cashew farmers recorded medium to low productivity in cashew cultivation. Extension contact and participation were identified as significant correlates of cashew production and productivity along with level of education and primary occupation. Age of the farmer, primary occupation, years of experience in farming, cosmopoliteness, number of yielding cashew trees, yearly expenditure made in cashew farming and net income from cashew farming were identified as determinants of cashew productivity. The study suggests motivating farmers to take up cashew cultivation in high density mode, undertake cashew cultivation in better quality land with recommended management practices and proportionately increasing yearly expenditure for cashew farming in relation to net income from agriculture. The results clearly indicate that socio-personal and economic correlates and determinants along with policy environment have a larger contribution in explaining cashew productivity, while technology component alone cannot be expected to bring a positive impact

Technology impacts on area, production and productivity of cashew in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka

The study analyses the technology impacts on area, production and productivity of cashew in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state, for combating low productivity and profitability from cashew cultivation. Results revealed that highest area under cashew is occupied by the variety Ullal-3 followed by Bhaskara with similar trend in adoption levels. The ‘Ullal-3 + Bhaskara’ combination emerged to be the most popular one among farmers in the study area. Farmers realized highest yield from cashew varieties such as Bhaskara and Madakkathara-2 followed by Ullal-1 and Ullal-3. Productivity under normal density (8 x 8 m) as well as high density (5 x 5 m) planting was highest for Bhaskara and Madakkathara-2. Correlation analysis showed that four technologies; soil and water conservation, pruning and training, plant protection and harvesting and post-harvest technologies had highly significant relation with the cashew production achieved by farmers. Increased adoption of soil and water conservation techniques, development and popularization of user friendly plant protection measures and adoption of viable intercrops can contribute largely to increase cashew production while increased adoption of pruning and training in cashew orchards can significantly increase the per unit productivity of cashew orchards. The study concludes that socio-economic and bio-physical factors along with policy environment have a larger contribution in explaining cashew production and productivity and technology component alone cannot be expected to bring a positive impact. Understanding the above dynamics in technology impact can help researchers and extension agencies working in cashew sector to design better innovations and effective outreach strategies

Effect of Hall current on MHD mixed convection boundary layer flow over a stretched vertical flat plate

In this paper, the steady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mixed convection boundary layer flow of an incompressible, viscous and electrically conducting fluid over a stretching vertical flat plate is theoretically investigated with Hall effects taken into account. The governing equations are solved numerically using an implicit finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. The effects of the magnetic parameter, the Hall parameter and the buoyancy parameter on the velocity profiles, the cross flow velocity profiles and the temperature profiles are presented graphically and discussed. Investigated results indicate that the Hall effect on the temperature is small, and the magnetic field and Hall currents produce opposite effects on the shear stress and the heat transfer at the stretching surface

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Not AvailableChanges in proteins during exposure conditions which favour deterioration of mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and threadfin bream (Nemipterus japonicus) were investigated. Samples were drawn at regular intervals for quantifying protein solubility viz., sarcoplasmic proteins (SPP) and myofibrillar proteins (MFP). During the study period, both mackerel and threadfin bream showed a decreasing trend in solubility viz., 91 and 88% respectively whereas SPP did not show much change. Results showed that the change in solubility of MFP, in mackerel was more significant than in threadfin bream, indicating overall loss of protein solubility with exposure.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe present work was aimed to study the oxidative deterioration of lipid profile in Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) at an accelerated storage temperature. Fatty acid (FA) composition and oxidative changes were analyzed at regular intervals. Initially, the total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content was predominant followed by saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). With increase in storage period, the decrease in PUFA content was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than SFA and MUFA. Among the essential FAs, ù-3 FAs were more predominant and with the storage period they showed a decreasing trend whereas the lipid oxidation products viz., peroxides, malonaldehyde and free fatty acids (FFA) increased significantly. The decrease (P < 0.05) in PUFA compounds (82.5%) has been as follows: ù-3 , ù-3 / ù-6 ratio (66.65%), PUFA/SFA ratio (66.3%) and Polyene index (PI) (82.24%) at the end of storage period. In addition, the peroxides and malonaldehyde contents showed a negative correlation (r 2 = 0.98 and 0.96 respectively) with PUFA and FFA showed a negative correlation (r 2 = 0.98) with phospholipids indicating the overall loss of valuable lipid fractions with the storage period. The study provides strong evidence that, oxidation of lipid affects nutritional quality of mackerel.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableLeptospirosis, considered to be the most widespread zoonoses in the world, is caused by serovars belonging to 7 pathogenic species of the genus Leptospira, viz. L. borgpetersenii, L. inadai, L. interrogans, L. kirschneri, L. noguchii, L. santarosai, and L. weilii (Ramadass et al. 1992). This paper reports the development of molecular technique for detecion of pathogenic Leptospira species by PCR amplification of a partial fragment of the major outer- membrane lipoprotein LipL32 gene, whose protein appears to be an important virulence factor (Haake et al. 2000, Yang et al. 2002), confined to pathogenic strains of all Leptospira spp. The technique could detect majority of serovars of L. interrogans, viz. icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, autumnalis, javonica, pomona, pyrogenes, australis; L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjobovis, and L. inadai.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe technique could detect serovars of Listeriainterrogans, L. borgpetersenii serovar hardjobovis, andL.inadai. The higher sensitivity, specificity and rapidity ofthe assay to detect leptospira genome by routine agarose gelelectrophoresis make this assay an alternative of Real TimePCR. This rapid PCR assay will be a valuable tool for earlydiagnosis of leptospirosis across the species and in all possibleclinical samples. Further the assay can be automized for RealTime PCR due to high annealing temperature of the pair ofprimers used.Not Availabl