Knowledge and Adoption Level of Improved Technology among Rural Women owing to Extension Programmes

The study has assessed the impact of extension programmes on the adoption level of improved technologies in agriculture and animal husbandry in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh for the agricultural year 2002-03. A significant difference has been observed in the knowledge and adoption levels among SHG-beneficiary and non-beneficiary groups. The study has revealed that the importance or ranking attached to various agricultural practices has been almost the same by both the groups, though with a significant gap in the extent of their adoption. In cereals, timely harvesting, followed by seed selection and seed treatment are the most adopted practices by beneficiary group while seed selection, followed by timely harvesting and timely sowing are the preferred practices by non-beneficiaries. Chemical weed control, pre-sowing soil treatment, sowing in lines at proper spacing have been the most ignored practices, although the level of their adoption has been found higher among beneficiaries than non-beneficiaries. In the case of vegetables, use of HYVs and sowing in lines are commonly practised by both the groups. Seed treatment, soil treatment and proper spacing are the practices where maximum chasm has been observed among the two groups. Similarly, in the case of animal husbandry, a significant gap in the adoption level of various practices has been observed among both the groups. The study has inferred that the extension programmes organized by various extension agencies for SHGs constitute appropriate educational tools for the transfer of technology and raising the socio-economic status of rural people.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Land Degradation – Its Extent and Determinants in Mountainous Regions of Himachal Pradesh

The study has been undertaken with the objectives of finding the extent of land degradation and its determinants in the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh by dividing the state into four zones. Multistage random sampling technique has been adopted to select the sample farmers from each zone. Logit analysis has been carried out to find the probability of different factors affecting land degradation. The factors whose effect on land degradation has been reported are: total owned land, land fragmentation, family labour, non-farm income, farm income, migration, leasing-out of land and education level of members in a household. The study has suggested some measures to minimize land degradation and consequently increase production and income levels in this difficult terrain of the country.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Technical Efficiency in North-Western Himalayan Region: A Study of Himachal Pradesh Agriculture

The technical efficiency of Himachal farmers, studied using the frontier production function, has been found to vary widely across cereal crops in the state. It has been found that the average yield of all the major cereal crops is below the national average, except the maize crop, which has been found in surplus in the state. Maize → wheat and paddy → wheat have been noted as the major crop rotations being followed in the study area. The analysis of cross sectional data has revealed inefficiency in terms of inputs application. The mean technical efficiencies have revealed that a considerable portion of frontier output is left untapped, it is 35-42 per cent in maize, 44-50 per cent in paddy and 61-67 per cent in wheat. The ratio of marginal value productivity (MVP) and marginal factor cost (MFC) has been found to be more than one in case of 50 per cent inputs for all the crops. However, the female labour for most of the crops has values less than one and with negative signs as most of the work (agricultural operations) in the hills is being performed by women. The results have indicated that there is a scope to increase the returns from wheat production by using more farmyard manure, chemical fertilizers, male labour, female labour and bullock labour in zone I. Similarly, in the case of maize (local) in zone I, the yield could be increased by increasing the use of more of farmyard manure, chemical fertilizers, male labour and seeds. The analysis has also revealed that a majority of the farmers operate at low level of efficiency due to practising of traditional cultivation methods. It is felt that there is a need to educate females in resource management, preferably through female extension workers.Farm Management, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

A Fixed Point Result in Banach Spaces

In the present paper we establish some fixed point theorems in Banach space taking rational expression. Our Result Generalize the result of many authors. Key words: Fixed point, common fixed point, rational expressions, Banach space

Fixed Point Theoremsrelated To Compact Metric Spaces

In the present paper we established a fixed point theorem in compact metric space and another result is proved for pseudo compact tichnov space. Our results are generalization form of many known results. Keywords: Compact metric spaces, Pseudo compact tichnov spaces, fixed point AMS subject classification: 47H10, 54H2

Improving Characteristics of Clayey Soil Using Basalt Fibre, Construction and Demolition Waste and Calcium Carbide

When exposed to changes in moisture, highly compressible clay soils usually show the characteristic of swelling and shrinking and have very poor strength properties. The infrastructures standing on such soil produce fractures as a result of this feature, making the buildings unstable and liable to collapse. By enhancing  the characteristics of clayey soils using soil stabilization can improve their engineering properties. The purpose of this paper tends to investigate the use of construction and demolition waste (C&D), basalt fibre (BF) and calcium carbide (CCR) for stabilization of highly compressible clayey soil. Several laboratory experiments including differential free swell (DFS), Atterberg limits, standard proctor and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) are conducted on soil alone and in combination with admixtures used. Based on UCS result, optimum percentages of C&D waste, basalt fibre and calcium carbide obtained were further tested for California bearing ratio (CBR). The findings show rising UCS and CBR values with addition of 21% C&D waste, 0.3% basalt fibre and 4% calcium carbide in combination to each other with clayey soil. The thickness for flexible pavement was developed using IITPAVE software for CBR values based on specifications of IRC: 37-2018. The software results revealed a decrease in pavement thickness for all combinations of commercial vehicle daily counts of 1000, 3000, and 5000. When clayey soil is combined with C&D waste (21%), BF (0.3%), and CCR (4%) in combination, the greatest reduction in subgrade layer thickness and cost is observed. This method not only improves the geotechnical characteristics of the subgrade layer, aids in decreasing the thickness of the pavement, is highly cost-effective, and resolves the issue of disposal of C&D waste and environmental degradation due to CCR.   &nbsp

EFFICACY OF BRODIFACOUM (TALON) BAIT AGAINST THREE RODENT SPECIES

Brodifacoum was fed to three rodent species, viz., M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti, using a no-choice feeding trial for 7 days at various concentrations--0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125%. The compound was found effective, palatable, developed no sign of poison bait-shyness but indicated a slight aversion of poison. The death of the animals was due to pulmonary distress and hemorrhage

Performance Enhancing Drugs and Methods of Doping: Mode of Action and Dope Testing Methodologies

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) monitors each sport worldwide to ensure freedom from drug abuse. Abuse of Drugs or procedures specifically which are banned by WADA to artificially enhance the efficiency of sports-person is called DOPING.  The ban is imposed due to the side-effects of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), lack of fairness in sports, and the deterioration of sport for the public. The use of PEDs damaging the spirit of sport, and therefore banned, by WADA and the International Olympic Committee. Fair play is a prerequisite to promote clean and safe sports. Doping is the intentional use of banned PEDs by athletic competitors that may be overtly or covertly assisted by Athlete support personnel. Besides, athletes (or athletic programs) taking unambiguous actions to escape exposure make worse the fair disobedience with dishonesty and cheating. Immunoassay, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS), Gel Electrophoresis, and Bio- /Chem-iluminescence technologies have been traditionally used in dope testing. There is a strong continuous requirement for further improving the quality of dope testing setups, processes, and procedures. Adoption of emerging technologies like metabolomics and the use of other omic technologies shall play a big role in continual improvements in dope testing. The present system in Doping Control is required to function in a more globally competitive, coordinated, and proactive manner. This review will outline a brief overview of the PEDs, their health impacts, history of their use, and their pharmacological impact. It also analyses comprehensive information on the Dope Testing Technologies available and in the offing