Farming System Approach for Sustainable Development of Agriculture in Mountain Regions — A Case of Himachal Pradesh

This paper has examined the emerging issues, extent of transitions and their implications for the sustainable and balanced development of agriculture in the mountain areas of the country. The study undertaken in low and mid-hill regions of Himachal Pradesh is based upon the data collected during the period 2002-03 from 200 sample households selected from 10 villages, representing five major mountain farming systems (MFS), viz. maize-based, paddy-based, vegetable-based, fruit-based and livestock-based. It has been found that over a period of time lot of changes have taken place in the socio-economic milieu and agricultural practices in mountains. The cropping pattern, extent of diversification and commercialization have been found to vary considerably across different MFS. A high degree of externalities has developed particularly under vegetable- and fruit-based farming systems. The proportion of purchased inputs has increased while the share of farm-produced inputs (own seeds, FYM, family labour, bullock labour, feed and fodder, etc.) has decreased. Thus, the system interlinkages and in-built complementary relations among sub-systems are getting distorted with commercialization through vegetables and fruits. The shortage of fodder, decrease in the number of farm animals and thus FYM-scarcity, are the burgeoning signs of unsustainability, particularly on vegetable- and fruit-based systems. Therefore, the sustainable plans developed for different systems have revealed the possibility of increasing profitability by optimum combination of sub-components like cereals, pulses, vegetable crops, fruits, fodder resources and livestock and thus maintaining the crucial balance to harness in-built complementary relations of the sub-systems. The increasing externalities in the MFS clearly show the crucial role of markets and marketing in the agricultural development that needs greater policy support in future.Agricultural and Food Policy,

System Synergy of Farming System and Common Property Resources in Mountain Regions: A Case Study of Himachal Pradesh

The study conducted in the hilly region of Himachal Pradesh has revealed that the average size of operational holding in the region is small (0.69 ha) and therefore the common property resources (CPRs) assume significant importance for sustaining the livelihood of people. The ‘kuhls’ emanating water of CPRs are the main sources of irrigation. The consumption of different products from CPR lands has been found to increase with decrease in the size of landholdings, which underlines the need to increase the productivity of CPR lands. The analysis of linkages between different farm sectors has revealed strong forward linkages of CPRs with livestock and agriculture and weak backward linkages with other sectors. The farm forestry and CPR lands have depicted weak linkage, but strong indirect linkages. The gravity water irrigation kuhls (channels) have also revealed strong linkages with agriculture and livestock. The analysis of linkages has suggested that there is a need to strengthen the backward linkages of agriculture, livestock and farm forestry with CPRs. The study has suggested to strengthen the management and conservation of CPRs.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Broiler Production in Punjab — An Economic Analysis

The cost and return analysis of different sizes of broiler farms in the Punjab state has been carried out based on the primary data collected from 140 broiler farmers for the period March 2008 to February 2009 in three districts, viz. Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar. The study has shown that the total fixed investments per bird have been highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total variable cost per bird has been reported highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total cost of meat production per bird has been found highest on small broiler farms, followed by medium and large farms. The net returns per bird over the variable costs have been recorded highest on large farms and economies of scale prevail on these farms. The meat-feed price ratio and benefit-cost ratio have been found to increase with increase in farm-size of broiler farms, which indicates better utilization of inputs on large farms. On the basis of net present value, benefit-cost ratio and internal rate of return, investment in broiler farming has been found profitable in all farm-sizes, it being most profitable on large farms, followed by medium and small farms. The small broiler farms have been observed highly sensitive to increase in costs and decrease in net returns. The study has observed that broiler farming is a profitable venture and has a bright future in the Punjab agriculture for improving economic status of the farming communityAgricultural and Food Policy,

Livestock Development From an Non Government Organization Perspective

ABSTRACT: Crop livestock mixed farming is traditional in India Livestock arc not only complimentary and supplementary to crops but are a means of risk coverage and strongly linked with culture. Livestock development is now a major emponciit in rural development programme in India particularly in rainfed underdeveloped areas. The paper describes the approach, perceptions and programmes of the BAIF, a non government organization (N100), involved in rural development since die last 25 years, The BA1F progranuues involve more than half a million fanners from five states. The involvement is mostly in rainfcck underdeveloped areas. Livestock development has served very useful purpose as point of entry in viral areas and for initiation of development activities. The paper discusses experiences in Rajasthan, one of the states Di which BAD? is involved since long. Participatory approach m livestock development necessitated modifications in training and extension programmes. The staff had also to be oriented For taking a systems approach and in gender sensitivity, since women involvement is critical for livestock production. The need to critically study traditional systems, farmer perceptions. indigenous knowledge and farmer wisdom are some of the other aspects discussed and emphasised in the paper The livestock development centres enabled undertaking total farming systems study of the area and in planning future development activities in a participatory manner. A few examples of studies on sonic of the aspects referred ahove are cited and discussed. Key Words Livestock Development, Non Ciovennueut Organization, !Inman Dimension, Rural Development Approac

A constitutive model for unsaturated cemented soils under cyclic loading

On the basis of plastic bounding surface model, the damage theory for structured soils and unsaturated soil mechanics, an elastoplastic model for unsaturated loessic soils under cyclic loading has been elaborated. Firstly, the description of bond degradation in a damage framework is given, linking the damage of soil's structure to the accumulated strain. The Barcelona Basic Model (BBM) was considered for the suction effects. The elastoplastic model is then integrated into a bounding surface plasticity framework in order to model strain accumulation along cyclic loading, even under small stress levels. The validation of the proposed model is conducted by comparing its predictions with the experimental results from multi-level cyclic triaxial tests performed on a natural loess sampled beside the Northern French railway for high speed train and about 140 km far from Paris. The comparisons show the capabilities of the model to describe the behaviour of unsaturated cemented soils under cyclic loading

Bharatiya Jana Sangh: the development of a political party in India

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1969 M45Master of Scienc

SCIENTIFIC STUDY ON RAKTA DHATU AND ITS RELATED DISORDER AND EFFECT OF VARNYA MAHAKASHAYA GHANVATI AND CHANDRA PRABHA LEPA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF YUVAN PIDIKA (ACNE VULGARIS)

Due to increased competition of earning prosperity in today era human adopted not only lifestyle but also food habits of western culture which is chiefly responsible to derangement in their physiology and responsible to number of skin disorder like Yuvan pidika (acne vulgaris). In Ayurveda vitiation of Vata, Kapha and Rakta are etiological factor that give rise to Yuvan pidika. That is why there is a need of such treatment that contains Vata kapha shamaka and Raktasodhaka property. For this Varnya Mahakashaya Ghanvati and Chandra Prabha lepa were selected for the study on 30 registered patients. Both of these were formulated compound. Varnya Mahakashaya Ghanvati was advocated to patient in a dose of 800 mg twice daily for 60 days while Chandra Prabha lepa was locally applied by making paste with Gulab jala. This study shows highly significant result to ameliorate the symptom of Yuvan pidika especially on Vata dosha pidika as well as Kapha dosha pidika. Both these drugs proved their efficacy to manage Yuvan pidika by making homeostasis of Vata, Kapha and Rakta

The Isovector Quadrupole-Quadrupole Interaction Used in Shell Model Calculations

An interaction $-\chi Q\cdot Q(1+B\vec{\tau}(1)\cdot \vec{\tau}(2))$ is used in a shell model calculation for $^{10}Be$. Whereas for $B=0$ the $2_1^+$ state is two-fold degenerate, introducing a negative $B$ causes an `isovector' $2^+$ state to come down to zero energy at $B=-0.67$ and an $S=1~L=1$ triplet ($J=0^+,~1^+,~2^+$) to come down to zero energy at $B=-0.73$. These are undesirable properties, but a large negative $B$ is apparently needed to fit the energy of the isovector giant quadrupole resonance.Comment: 12 pages, revtex, 2 figures (available on request