Recent Demand-Supply and Growth of Oilseeds and Edible Oil in India: an Analytical Approach

Oilseeds play an important role in providing a nutritionally balanced diet. These are the principal source of edible oil and protein in Indian diets. Oilseeds are boot edible oil processing industry, which are the most important industries of agriculture sector in India. India is a leading player in edible oil, with the World\u27s largest importer from Indonesia and Malaysia and third largest consumer. India is the fourth largest oilseeds producing country in the world after Brazil 100 MT, followed by Argentina 66 MT, China 59.6 MT and India 34.6 MT during 2014-15. Oilseeds are the second main sources of protein after cereals in Indian diet. India is the consumer and importer of edible oil. India accounts for 13-15 per cent of oilseed area, 7-8 per cent of oilseeds production, 6-8 per cent of oilseeds production, 4-6 % edible oil production, 12-14 per cent of vegetable oil import and 10-12 percent of the edible oil consumption. Basically the total oilseed area occupied 28.051 million hectares which contributed production 32.75MT during 2013-14. However, the annual compound growth rate of oilseeds 0.31 % area production 3.35% and yield 3.03 % recorded during recent year (2006-07 to 2013-14) however, it was accelerated growth in area 3.70 % production 6.97% and yield 3.15 % recorded during earlier years (1986-87 to 95-96) era of setup Technology mission on oilseeds during 1986 and the negligible growth were recorded in area 0.01 % production 1.08 % and yield 1.07 % during the middle period (1996-97 to 2005-06) due the peter out effect of oilseeds mission. The demand for edible oils in India has shown a steady growth at a CAGR of 4.96% over the period from 2001 to 2015. The growth has been driven by improvement in per capita consumption, which in turn is attributable to rising income levels and improvement of living standards. However, the current per capita consumption levels of India (at 15.91 Kg/year for 2015-16) were lower than global averages (25 kg/year). Furthermore, domestic consumption of edible oil is expected to increase with enhancement in income level and population. Indian agriculture to support oilseeds production to meet the vegetable oil needs of the Indian population has been considered in the context of available sources of oil from oilseed and non-oilseed origins. India needs to produce 17.84 Mt of vegetable oils to meet the nutritional fat needs of projected population of 1685 million by 2050

Efficiency in Indian Edible Oilseed Sector: Analysis and Implications

Reversing the declining trend in productivity of oilseeds and improving the efficiency of oilseed processing is a major challenge to the policymakers and researchers. The present study has analyzed technical inefficiencies and factors responsible for inefficiencies in production and processing of four major edible oilseeds, viz. groundnut, rapeseed and mustard, soybean and sunflower. Both primary and secondary data have been used to estimate the inefficiencies. Analysis has revealed the presence of 1/4 to 1/3 technical inefficiencies in oilseed production at the average level and even more at the farm/ processing unit level along with allocative and scale inefficiencies. The combined technical inefficiencies in the oilseed sector have been found to be 1/2 to 2/3, which are enormous. If prevented/ minimized, the oil production in the country could nearly be doubled. Soil quality, seed replacement and education have been found as determinants of technical efficiency in oilseed production, whereas availability of adequate raw material and higher oil recovery determine the technical efficiency in oil production. Lack of assured market for oilseeds and lack of timely and assured supply of quality seeds and raw materials for processing are some of the important factors for the poor performance of the oilseeds industry. Study has reported that the marginal return to water is one of the highest in oilseeds. Therefore, cultivation of oilseeds in irrigated land if they really compete with other crops for profitability, needs to be given due consideration.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Growth and yield responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to biochar

Saabunud / Received 19.06.2020 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 18.09.2020 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 18.09.2020 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Kalika Prasad Upadhyay e-mail: [email protected] response of five types of biochar (Lantana camara, Ipomoea carnea, rice husk, sawdust, no biochar) on growth and yield attributes of potato was evaluated. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with six replications in rainfed areas of two different environments (Jiri in 2018 and Pawati in 2019) of Nepal. The popular early maturing potato variety 'Desiree' was used in the experiment. The spacing was maintained 60 cm between rows and 25 cm between plants in the plot size of 7.2 m2. Seed tubers were planted in the 1st week of February and harvested in the 4th week of May. Recommended fertilizers (100:60:60 kg ha–1 NPK + 20 t ha–1 farmyard manure) and biochars at 2 t ha–1 were applied to the soil. Seed tubers were completely covered with an equal amount of biochar before covering with the soil. The results revealed that the total yield and marketable yield of potato varied with biochars types. The potato tuber yield was found higher and red ants infestation was lower in plots applied with biochars as compared to control plots (without biochars). The use of biochars derived from Lantana camera produced the highest number of tubers (6.1 tubers plant–1), the greatest weight of tubers (286.1 g plant–1) and the least damage of red ants on tubers (4.7%) followed by sawdust (6.0 tubers plant–1, 263.6 g tuber weight plant–1 and 7.8% damaged tubers by red ants). The findings provide new information on the understanding of biochar effect on increased marketable yield of potato in rainfed lands by reducing damage from red ants

Structural insights into the repair mechanism of AGT for methyl-induced DNA damage

Methylation induced DNA base-pairing damage is one of the major causes of cancer. O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) is considered a demethylation agent of the methylated DNA. Structural investigations with thermodynamic properties of the AGT-DNA complex are still lacking. In this report, we modeled two catalytic states of AGT-DNA interactions and an AGT-DNA covalent complex and explored structural features using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We utilized the umbrella sampling method to investigate the changes in the free energy of the interactions in two different AGT-DNA catalytic states, one with methylated GUA in DNA and the other with methylated CYS145 in AGT. These non-covalent complexes represent the pre- A nd post-repair complexes. Therefore, our study encompasses the process of recognition, complex formation, and separation of the AGT and the damaged (methylated) DNA base. We believe that the use of parameters for the amino acid and nucleotide modifications and for the protein-DNA covalent bond will allow investigations of the DNA repair mechanism as well as the exploration of cancer therapeutics targeting the AGT-DNA complexes at various functional states as well as explorations via stabilization of the complex

Structural and optical properties of ionic liquid based hybrid perovskitoid: a combined experimental and theoretical investigation

Herein, we report a novel layered lead bromide, (CH3CH2)3N+Br−(CH2)2NH+3)PbBr3, where bulky organic cations, (CH3CH2)3N+Br−(CH2)2NH+3), amino-ethyl triethyl ammonium [aetriea] were not only incorporated between the inorganic layers but also sandwiched within the inorganic [PbBr6]4− octahedral layered structure. The UV-Visible, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) result show that the new perovskitoid has a microrod shape with an estimated bandgap of ∼3.05 eV. The structural and optoelectronic properties of the [aetriea]PbBr3perovskitoid were further corroborated by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data show good stability of the [aetriea]PbBr3perovskitoid. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) decays from new [aetriea]PbBr3perovskitoid showing 6 ns average lifetime. These results suggest that doubly charged cation hybrid perovskite materials are potential candidates for optoelectronic applications

A Review on Ayurvedic Medicinal Herbs as Remedial Perspective for COVID-19

Introduction: Recent outbreaks in a new type of coronavirus, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease causing respiratory infection have significantly hampered the public health. Medicinal plants used in traditional practices provide enormous scope to bring out viable alternatives against viral diseases, considering non-availability of suitable drug and increasing resistance to existing drug as well as re-emerging viral diseases. The present review on use of plants and related phytochemicals for the treatment of viral diseases particularly COVID-19, preclinical and clinical information is increased concern Methods: The methodological activities involved during a literature review were; (1) designing the review concept, (2) conducting the review on review papers, research papers, bulletins, official websites, (3) analysis of previous publications and (4) writing up the review paper. The integrative literature review and paper preparation process was done from our own practical experience and influenced by various standards and guidelines suggested in the publications. Results: Herbal medicines and their active phytochemicals against some viral pathogens including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) the virus that causes COVID-19 pandemic, middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS-COV), rhinovirus, human herpes virus (HSV-I & II), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), coxsackievirus (CV), enterovirus 71 (EV71), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), herpes simplex virus, influenza A/H1N1 virus, coronavirus (CoV) etc were extensively reviewed. Ayurvedic herbal products could be useful to select as an alternative and integrated approach to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with coronavirus infection and enhance host immunity against viral attack in the context of treatment vaccine of COVID-19 could be years away. Conclusion: The traditional practices and scientific evidence of several medicinal herbs and their phytochemicals against lethal viral infections in-vivo and in-vitro studies could be useful for the future as a novel source of natural products in particular focus on COVID-19