Impacts of Climate Change on Agricultural Yield: Evidence from Odisha, India

This paper explores the impact of climate variables such as temperature and rainfall on yields of seven selected crops such as rice, maize, groundnuts, rapeseed & mustard, chickpea, Pigeonpea and sesame during the period 1970-2014. We used panel data for 45 years to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture yield. In the presence of auto-correlation and Heteroscedasticity we estimate the panel corrected standard error with a fixed effect panel regression. The regression results reinforce that crop yields of the selected crops are susceptible to climate change. The relative magnitude of rainfall and temperature changes appears to play a pivotal role in determining the direction of change in the yield. It is also observed that the rainfall has significant positive effects on the yields of all the selected crops under study. In case of temperature, we observed mix results for the selected crops under study. However, the extent of increase in the temperature appears to be more harmful for the crop yields. Further, the non-climatic factors like irrigation and fertilizers were found to be very instrumental in increasing the yields of the selected crops. In the light of negative effects of climate change, appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies are required to delve with the deteriorative effects of climate change. Keywords: Climate Change, Crop Yield, Agriculture JEL Classification: Q18, Q51, Q5

Effect of intra row spacing, dates of haulm cutting and fertilizer dose on disease free quality seed tuber production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under new Alluvial Zone of West Bengal

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)  is the most popular tuber crop in West Bengal, India. Seed tuber is the single most important factor in potato cultivation and if the seed is not of good quality, then optimum production could not be achieved. Unavailability of good quality seed, high price and untimely supply of seed at the village level are the main limiting factors in potato production. Field experiments were conducted during rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal to determine the effects of intra row spacing, dates of haulm cutting and fertilizer dose on disease free quality seed grade tuber production of potato. The experiment was laid out in a split split plot design with three replications having twelve treatment combinations. The results revealed that with the decrease in intra row spacing from 20cm to 15cm seed grade size (< 75g) tuber yield and numbers and total tuber numbers were significantly increased but marketable grade (> 75 g) tuber yield and numbers were significantly reduced. Haulm cutting at 65 DAP increased the seed grade size tuber yield and numbers over 75 DAP. With the decrease in fertility levels from 100% RDF of NPK to 50% RDF of NPK the seed grade tuber production and number were significantly increased at 5% level of significance. Disease incidence and intensity of Phoma leaf spot decreased and early blight increased with decreasing doses of fertilizers. No viral disease was observed. Dehaulming at 65 DAP was found safer so far as infestation and chances of viral disease transmission by the sucking pests were concerned. From the present study it may be concluded that, for quality seed tuber production of potato and to get highest net return under New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, use of 50cm X 15cm spacing along with haulm cutting at 65 DAP, when planting is done on first week of November and grown with 50% RDF of NPK was found best

Vulnerability of Agriculture to Climate Shocks in Odisha, India

This paper explores the vulnerability of agriculture to climate shocks in Odisha, India and also shows the loss of agricultural crops and productivity due to extreme climate events like droughts, floods and cyclones. Climate change and climate shocks affect different sectors, and livelihoods of population differently depending on the adaptive capacity. Using secondary data, the study analyses the agricultural vulnerability to the increasing climate shocks and present a historical picture of climate shocks that took place in the state of Odisha during last few decades. It is observed that climate shocks are increasing and it is affecting agriculture sector to a large extent leading to the vulnerability of agricultural dependent communities. Analyzing the vulnerability of agriculture to climate shocks, the study also explored the possibility to adapt the shocks and suggested some adaptation strategies to reduce the agricultural vulnerability. Keywords: Climate Change, Vulnerability, Agricultur

A rare triad of diabetic ketoacidosis, hypertriglyceridemia and acute pancreatitis: a case report

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), Acute Pancreatitis and Hypertriglyceridemia are an unusual and infrequent presentation of Diabetes. Hypertriglyceridemia leading to acute pancreatitis is most commonly encountered in poorly controlled Diabetics. In this case report we have described a young Type 1 Diabetic female presenting with Diabetic Ketoacidosis and hypertriglyceridemia induced Pancreatitis (HTIP). The proposed mechanism is triglyceride excess is hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase resulting in the formation of excess free fatty acids. Excess free fatty acids cause acinar cell injury and capillary leakage in pancreatic vascular beds. Hyperlipasemia frequently occurs in DKA without an underlying acute pancreatitis. Half of the patients with HTIP have falsely low or normal serum Amylase. Imaging is required to confirm the diagnosis of pancreatitis. So, high degree of suspicion is required to diagnose this unusual presentation of diabetes

Energy: An Exploratory Study on the Experience of Developing Countries in the Context of Development and the State of the Environment

  Energy is required for development because it facilitates production and makes day to day activity less cumbersome. The industrial revolution and the progress after that would not have been possible without increased energy use. Issues related to energy use in developing countries are complicated. These countries use energy derived mostly from non-renewable sources such as petroleum, coal and inefficient fuels like firewood, and biomass. Thus, energy use leads to environmental pollution. Hence, policy measures aimed at the development imperative may conflict with policies relating to conserving the environment. Against this background, the paper tries to examine the relationship between energy use and development at the macro and micro levels and how energy use affects the environment. This study is exploratory and relies on traditional literature review. Our study relates to nonrenewable energy sources in the context of developing countries. We find that there is no uniformity of results in the relationship between energy use, development and the state of the environment. We recommend further studies to ascertain the causes of such inconclusiveness. At the household level, people are deprived of the assured and adequate supply of efficient fuels for domestic use. Hence, policy measures should strive to ensure ease of access to reliable and affordable energy sources as development proceeds. &nbsp

MICROSPHERE A DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM–A REVIEW

The targeted drug delivery is designed for endeavoring to concentrate the drug in the tissues of curiosity while reducing relative concentration of medication in the remaining tissues. There for drug is localized on the targeted site. Hence, surrounding tissues are not affected by the drug. Controlled drug delivery system can overcome the problems of conventional drug therapy and gives better therapeutic efficacy of a drug. Microspheres are characteristically free flowing powders consisting of proteins or synthetic polymers having a particle size ranging from 1-1000 µm. The range of Techniques for the preparation of microspheres offers a Variety of opportunities to control aspects of drug administration and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of a given drug. There are various approaches in delivering a therapeutic substance to the target site in a sustained controlled release fashion. Microspheres has a drug located centrally within the particle, where it is encased within a unique polymeric membrane. In future various other strategies, microspheres will find the central place in novel drug delivery, particularly in diseased cell sorting, diagnostics, gene and genetic materials, safe, targeted and effective in vivo delivery and supplements as miniature versions of diseased organ and tissues in the body

An Economic Appraisal of Composite Carp Culture in West Bengal

Aquaculture sector is gaining momentum through its contribution towards Indian as well asworld economy in terms of nutritional and livelihood security. Carp farming is one of the most widely adopted technologies in aquaculture sector. The study was carried out in randomly selected South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The study aims at assessing economic viability of composite carp culture through analyzing the cost and returns of the technology. Data were collected from 142 fish farmers through personal interview. The average pond area of the farmers was found to be 1.9 acre and mean fish yield was 3.6 t/ha/yr. Rate of return on total investment (ROI) and Benefit-Cost ratio (B: C ratio) for adopters and non-adopters were worked out as 85.84%; 1.86 and 63.03%; 1.63 respectively. Supplementary feed constituted the maximum share in cost of production of fish followed by lease value of pond and pond preparation cost. The study implies composite carp culture technology as economically feasible with impressive benefit-cost ratio

Digital library research in BRICS countries during 2000-2019: a scientometric analysis

127-134The study examines 1220 digital library research papers published by BRICS countries during the period 2000 to 2019. Bibliographic data on the research papers were collected from Web of Science database. It is found that maximum number of publications (225) were two-authored. The Degree of collaboration is 0.84, collaborative index is 4.14, the collaboration co-efficient is 0.59 and the modified collaboration co-efficient is 0.61. Among all the BRICS countries, China has contributed the most number of papers [690 (56.58%)] followed by India with 205 (16.80%) contributions. Lotka's law was not found to fit with the observed author's productivity of the study. The study concludes that there is increased research on digital library in BRICS countries

Digital library research in BRICS countries during 2000-2019:scientometric analysis

The study examines 1220 digital library research papers published by BRICS countries during the period 2000 to 2019. Bibliographic data on the research papers were collected from Web of Science database. It is found that maximum number of publications (225) were two-authored. The Degree of collaboration is 0.84, collaborative index is 4.14, the collaboration co-efficient is 0.59 and the modified collaboration co-efficient is 0.61. Among all the BRICS countries, China has contributed the most number of papers [690 (56.58%)] followed by India with 205 (16.80%) contributions. Lotka's law was not found to fit with the observed author's productivity of the study. The study concludes that there is increased research on digital library in BRICS countries

Allelic diversity of butyrophilin (BTN1A1) gene in Indian bovines

Indian milch bovines comprises of 58.56% of total livestock population (512.05 million) in the country and primarily includes native and crossbred cattle (37.28%) and water buffaloes (21.28%). Milk and milk products are essential food items of Indian diet especially in children, old and senile. Milk fat is an important constituent of milk and has an economic value and its percentage in milk varies betweem species and breeds within species. Butyrophilin (BTN1A1) a membrane protein regulates secretion of lipids and size of a fat globule in milk. Present study was conducted in 538 bovines of 11 breeds/populations adapted to different parts of India, with an aim to screen and determine the major allele of BTN1A1 gene using PCR-RFLP based test. Results indicate that exon 8 of BTN1A1 gene is polymorphic in Tharparkar, Sahiwal, Jhari and Belahi populations of native cattle and Holstein Friesian and Jersey crossbreds where as the same exon was monomorphic in Murrah, Chilika, Gojri, Chhattisgarhi and Bargur populations of water buffalo. We conclude that variations in BTN1A1 gene can serve as an excellent genetic marker while selecting cows for higher milk fat and can be applied while formulating their breeding plans