Building human capital of small scale farmers: a Coalition approach

Small and marginal farmers benefited from the coalition approach in accessing some of the resources such as technology, credit and markets. Improvement in their livelihood through enhanced production and higher margins in bulking, storing and selling their produce solely depended on the strength of collective action

Farmer Enabled Village Seed Banks as the Edifice of Integrated Seed System for Improved Access, Production and Supply of Groundnut Seed in India - A Case Study

Seed is an important basic input for the enhancing the productivity of any crop species. The availability of quality seed of improved cultivar is the foundation for food production security. A goal perceived by many governments in the semi-arid tropics (SAT ) of Andhra Pradesh was to meet the groundnut seed requirements of small-scale farmers, but was never met successfully to meet their requirements. National agricultural research institutes and International research centers have worked together to develop new, stress tolerant varieties that are well adapted to smallholder farmers conditions, especially open pollinated varieties. Private seed sector is reluctant to produce open pollinated varieties and market the varieties of groundnut crop because, varieties do not fetch good price and it is not feasible for commercial sector. Even if they produce, it may not reach to small farmers in the remote rural areas. The baseline studies in the project area have identified key problems related to groundnut seed supply system. These' encompass timely availability of good quality seeds of high-yielding varieties, lack of storage facilities, problem of pod borer (storage pest), and farmers believe that using their own seed repeatedly year after year is detrimental and that repeated use of their own saved seed

Village Seed Banks:An integrated seed system for improved seed production and supply – A case study

Quality seed of improved varieties is an important basic input for enhancing productivity of any crop species. Existing mechanisms to meet the groundnut seed requirements of small-scale farmers are not adequate and have serious limitations. Private seed sector is reluctant to produce and market seed of open pollinated varieties/ self pollinated crops such as groundnut for economic consideration. A joint venture project between the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Department of Rural Development (DRD), Government of Andhra Pradesh was launched in Mahbubnagar district in 2009 with the objective to improve access to and availability of good quality seed of farmer-preferred improved groundnut varieties particularly to smallholder farmers at affordable prices and at the right time to enhance crop productivity income and household food security. Efforts to improve the performance of the agricultural sector should include seed production, storage and delivery system at village level rather than in urban centers. The baseline studies in the project area identified key problems related to groundnut seed supply system. Lack of timely availability of good quality seeds of high-yielding varieties is one of the major constraints contributing to stagnant yields of groundnut crop in the project area where it is grown in postrainy season under irrigated conditions. The other constrains include lack of proper storage facilities at farm/household level, storage insect pests, and farmers’ perception of better performance of seed obtained from outside over locally produced seed. The project devised alternate seed systems, which ensure availability of quality seed of improved varieties at local level and integration of informal seed enterprises and farmers in the seed production and supply systems to enable timely availability of quality seed at the door-step of farmers. The concept of village seed banks was promoted and successfully validated in the project villages in Mahbubnagar district in Andhra Pradesh. It not only ensured timely availability of quality seed of farmer-preferred varieties at affordable price at local level but also enhanced crop productivity and local seed enterprises leading to higher incomes to farmers. The village seed model can be replicated elsewhere and to other crops as well

New drugs and vaccines for drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections

Tuberculosis remains the most common cause of death due to a single infective organism. Despite the availability of a vaccine and chemotherapeutic options, the global disease burden remains relatively unaffected. The ability of the mycobacterial etiological agents to adopt a semidormant, phenotypically drug-resistant state requires that chemotherapy is both complex and lengthy. The emergence of drug resistance has raised the possibility of virtually untreatable tuberculosis. Furthermore, the currently used bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccine has had mixed success in protecting susceptible populations. Given this backdrop, the need for novel anti-infectives and more effective vaccines is clearly evident. Recent progress, described herein, has seen the development and entry into clinical trials of several new drugs and vaccine candidate

Determination of genotoxic alkyl methane sulfonates and alkyl paratoluene sulfonates in lamivudine using hyphenated techniques

Two highly sensitive methods for the determination of genotoxic alkyl methane sulfonates (AMSs) and alkyl paratoluene sulfonates (APTSs) in lamivudine using hyphenated techniques have been presented. AMSs were determined by GCâMS method using GSBP-INOWAX (30 mÃ0.25 mmÃ0.25 μm) column. Temperature program was set by maintaining at 100 °C initially for 3 min, then rised to 220 °C at the rate of 15 °C/min and maintained at 220 °C for 16 min. N,N-dimethyl formamide was used as diluent. APTSs were determined by LC-MS using Zorbax, Rx C8, 250 mmÃ4.6 mm, 5 μm column as stationary phase. 0.01 M ammonium acetate is used as buffer. The mixture of buffer and methanol in 75:25 (v/v) ratio was used as mobile phase A and mixture of buffer and methanol in 5:95 (v/v) ratio was used as mobile phase B. The gradient program (T/%B) was set as 0/28, 16/50, 17/100, 23/100, 27/28 and 40/28. Both the methods were validated as per International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Limit of quantitation was found 1.5 μg/mL for AMSs and was in the range of 1.0â1.5 μg/mL for APTSs. Keywords: Genotoxins, Alkyl methane sulfonates, Alkyl paratoluene sulfonates, Lamivudine, Hyphenated technique

Perceptions of HIV positive adolescents about the disease and its manifestations: A cross sectional study in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Telangana India

Introduction: The lack of information on knowledge, perceptions, and behaviours regarding HIV risk and preventive behaviours among Indian adolescents is alarming. Objective: To assess the perceptions of HIV Positive adolescents about disease and its manifestations. Materials and Methods: 101 HIV positive adolescents were randomly selected into the study.  study populations were given a questionnaire in Telugu and English containing questions regarding the 1) knowledge on HIV disease, 2) attitude towards life,3) perceptions and feelings about disease, 4) issues relating to treatment 5) impact of counselling, 6) attitude towards the other HIV positive people. The questions were explained to them, and they were asked to write answers. Results: More than 64% of adolescents have an idea about HIV transmission. More than 44% ,84%, 64% have an idea that HIV is a manageable disease, concept about the disease, good hope about their future respectively. More than 40% adolescents preferred HIV positive person as their partner. More than 90% of adolescents felt that many things are there to live happily. Conclusion: From the results it can be concluded that study gave a general idea about few perceptions of HIV positive adolescents about the disease and its manifestations

Case Report- Small bowel metastasis of malignant melanoma

Malignant melanoma shows an unusual predilection to metastasize to small intestine. A patient with metastatic spread of malignant melanoma to small intestine is reported. This patient was operated for intestinal obstruction. Metastatic melanoma should be suspected in patients with malignant melanoma who develop gastrointestinal symptoms