Economics of Sugarcane-based Farming System in Western Uttar Pradesh

Amongst 38 farming systems prevalent in the western Uttar Pradesh region, sugarcane–livestock– cereals–fodder has been found the major system being followed by a majority of the farmers. It has been found that sugarcane farmer keeps in general two dairy animals, largely for household milk consumption. The major income source of farmers in the area has been found sugarcane (58 per cent), followed by livestock and cereal crops. The study has revealed that marginal farmers take highest credit, while large farmers take minimum credit. It has also been observed that facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) is being availed by only 21 per cent farmers. Farming activity-wise analysis has revealed that sugarcane provides maximum employment, followed by livestock and wheat. In terms of income, the study has observed that a family worker earns Rs 41,270 per year in the study area, which is much lower than that in Punjab (Rs 74,080/year). The study has suggested that a combination of technology, policy and institutional innovations is needed for improvement in productivity and profitability of crops and livestock in the area.Crop Production/Industries,

Economics of Farming Systems in Uttar Pradesh

Farming systems of households in the western Uttar Pradesh have been analyzed based on the primary data collected through a sample of 197 farmers in 2004-05. The sugarcane- based farming system has been found predominant in the study area. Livestock, vegetables, cereals and sugarcane have been observed to be the main sources of farm income. The study has indicated that cross-bred breeding programme has not become popular due to low demand for milk of cross-bred cows. Credit has significant impact on farm income and credit requirement of about 86 per cent farmers is met by the institutional sources. Fragmentations and sub-divisions of landholdings, scarcity of labour, low yield of crops, less reliable markets, scarcity of owned-fund, depleting natural resources, non-availability of good quality seeds and sheds for poultry, etc. have been identified as the major constraints to promote integrated farming system in this area.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Economic Analysis of Post-harvest Losses in Marketing of Vegetables in Uttarakhand

The study has examined the nature and extent of post-harvest losses in vegetable supply chain in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. Multistage cluster sampling has been used for selection of 80 vegetable growers, 40 farmers from the hilly region and 40 farmers from the bhabhar region. The sample has also included 25 market functionaries. Twelve major vegetables have been selected for the study. The maximum aggregate post-harvest losses have been found in tomato, followed by potato, brinjal, chilly, French bean and pea. The study has suggested that establishment of producer co-operatives to handle various activities relating to production and marketing of vegetables would help in reducing post-harvest losses.Post-harvest losses, Uttarakhand, Vegetable supply chain, Tomato, Potato, Brinjal, Chilly, French bean, Pea, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q13, Q12, Q18,

Shifting from Agriculture to Agribusiness: The Case of Aromatic Plants

This study has examined the agribusiness opportunities in medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), based on the field level information from the state of Uttarakhand. The financial feasibility of important aromatic plants has been studied. It has been found that the returns are substantially higher from these crops than the most profitable commercial crops like sugarcane. The study has identified the constraints that affect the spread of cultivation of MAPs; these include inadequate processing capacities, price risks and non-availability of planting material. It has been suggested that concerted efforts should be made to address these constraints and increase access to the world market.Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries,

Antifertility effects of Solanum xanthocarpum seeds on female albino rats

The effect of Solanum xanthocarpum seed powder as aqueous suspension on genital organs and fertility of female albino rats was studied at doses of 50, 100 & 150 mg/kg/day for 30 days.Tthe genital organ weight of albino rats was reduced significantly (P<0.05) after the treatment at 100 and 150 mg/kg doses of seed powder of S. xanthocarpum.for 30 days.The higher doses caused histopathological changes in the ovary and uterus leading to 100% control of fertility as no implants were recorded in treated female rats on the day 10th of pregnancy

Incentives for Soil and Water Conservation on Farm in Ravines of Gujarat: Policy Implications for Future Adoption

The issue of incentives has been studied for the adoption of soil and water conservation in the ravines of Gujarat in the context of holistic development of small and marginal farms and their profitability. It is hypothesized that poor economic condition of farmers impedes their ability to make large-scale investment in conservation agriculture, in general and improvement of land, in particular. The study is based on two groups of farms- with and without conservation history. The results have substantiated the argument that under the present price scenario, farm profitability makes the marginal farms susceptible to a vicious poverty circle. The input and output prices prevailing in the region do not favour the farming enterprise. Thus, this policy variable would have little impact on farm profitability and the incentive to adopt conservation on farm. Hence, such farms need an initial dose of state help. This fact has been clearly brought out in the study area. The farms benefiting from past conservation programme of the state government have done better than those who were deprived of it. The former group of farms has been able to lease-in better piece of land and take cash crop to raise their profit level. This has positively affected their investment decisions. While land tenure has shown weak relation with decision of farm investment, farmers’ credit worthiness might play a greater role in helping adoption of conservation on farm. Thus, financial inclusion of these marginal farms could be an important incentive policy variable for adoption of conservation measures in this region.Soil and water conservation, conservation agriculture, credit worthiness, land tenure, farm investment, Gujarat ravines, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q25, Q28,

Prevalence of Multidrug Resistant Bacillus cereus in Foods and Human Stool Samples in and Around Pantnagar, Uttrakhand

.A total number of 63 samples out of 505 samples were found to be positive for Bacillus cereus. The positive samples comprised of 29 samples of human stool, 10 of milk, 23 of meat and meat products origin. These positive isolates were tested against 13 different commonly used antibiotics by the disc diffusion method. Antibiogram pattern of these 63 isolates indicated multidrug resistance. B. cereus isolates showed a high rate of resistance to Carbenicillin, Kanamycin and Ampicillin and intermediate frequency of resistance to Amoxicillin and Cephalothin. All the isolates irrespective of their source were resistant to Bacitracin and Penicillin G and sensitive to Aminoglycosides (Gentamycin, Neomycin and Streptomycin) and Chloramphenicol. However, variable resistance patterns were also recorded in B. cereus isolates obtained from different origin, which is suggestive of source-associated resistance. It can be inferred from the above study that presence of multidrug resistant B. cereus in animal-origin food and environment in such high proportion is of public health significance

On transformation formulas for theta hypergeometric functions

Using an identity and certain summation formulas for truncated theta hypergeometric series, we establish transformation formulas for finite bilateral theta hypergeometric series.За допомогою однiєї тотожностi та формул пiдсумовування скорочених гiпергеометричних тета-рядiв встановлено формули перетворення для скiнченних двостороннiх гiпергеометричних тета-рядiв

Bianchi Type-I Wet Dark Universe in Bimetric Relativity

In  this paper , we have investigated the role of Wet Dark Fluid in Bianchi Type-I cosmological model within the framework of bimetric theory of relativity proposed by Rosen N. Here we have used a new equation of state for the matter dark energy component of the universe known as Wet Dark Fluid given by = ?( - )  which can describe a liquid for example water. It is further observed the non existence of Wet Dark Fluid in bimetric relativity. Keywords: Bianchi Type-I Universe , Wet Dark Fluid , Bimetric Relativit

Solar Passive Features of the Heritage Building: the Case of the Gohar Mahal, Bhopal

The heritage buildings are examples of a sensitive approach to energy consciousness for indoor comfort conditions, by using solar passive techniques in the building. The study case taken in to account is the Gohar Mahal-a Heritage building of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The building was built in 1820 by Gohar Begum the first women ruler of Bhopal .The inbuilt passive concepts applied by our ancestors to this  Gohar Mahal, a palace besides Bhopal upper lake are analyse by taking all the solar passive elements. This study demonstrated that the thermal mass and building envelope of this structure mainly affect the indoor microclimate, stabilizing the inside temperatures and thus give the thermal comfort. The results of the measurements taken in summer and winter confirmed that the seasonal thermal storage of these structures allows comfortable temperatures. during the summer season, with values below 26°C, and stabilizes the indoor temperatures during the winter season. Keywords: thermal comfort, solar passive techniques, indoor temperature, heritage building, microclimate