Studies on the Energy Band Discontinuities in SnS/ZnMgO Thin Film Heterojunction

AbstractTin sulfide (SnS), with a direct energy band gap of 1.3eV and high absorption coefficient >104cm-1 is a promising candidate for application as an absorber material for solar cell fabrication. Although several research groups have fabricated SnS-related solar cells, the reported efficiencies were low (< 3.0%). One of the reasons for this low efficiency is the mismatch at the band edges in the heterojunction. In the present work, SnS films have been synthesized by sulfurization of Sn layers deposited by evaporation and RF sputtering onto SnO2 coated glass. The structural properties of the layers were discussed. All RF sputtered Zn0.8Mg0.2O (ZMO) and ZnO:Ga were coated on SnS as buffer and window layers respectively. The band offsets at the SnO2/SnS and ZMO/SnS heterojunctions were evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The conduction band (ΔEc) and valence band (ΔEv) discontinuities were determined as approximately 1.0eV and 3.5eV for SnO2/SnS and 0.4eV and 1.7eV for ZMO/SnS junction. The related energy band diagram was constructed and the results discussed

Integrated Farm Management Practices and Upscaling the Impact for Increased Productivity of Rainfed Systems

Most countries in the world depend primarily on rainfed agriculture for their food grains. Despite large strides made in improving productivity and environmental conditions in many developing countries, more than 850 million poor people in Africa and Asia still face poverty, hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, where rainfed agriculture is the main agricultural activity. Although the importance of rainfed agriculture varies regionally, it produces most food for poor communities in developing countries (Rockström et al., 2007; also see Chapter 1, this volume). These problems are exacerbated by adverse biophysical growing conditions and the poor socio-economic infrastructure in many areas in the semi-arid tropics (SAT). The SAT is home to 38% of the developing countries’ poor, 75% of whom live in rural areas. Over 45% of the world’s hungry and more than 70% of its malnourished children live in the SAT

Strategy for Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands and Improved Livelihoods through Biodiesel Plantations

Biofuels are gaining importance in the backdrop of increase in fossil fuel prices driven by reduced supplies and increased concern about envirorunental pollution. Considering the issues of rural poverty and water scarcity.the efforts in the area of biofuel need to be 100ked along with other concerns. In this paper, the strategy for rehabilitating degraded lands using biodiesel' plantations for improving livelihoods while protecting envirorunent is discussed. The experiences of developing common property resources with the help of self-help groups (SHGs) and ensuring usufruct rights to the SHGs for harvesting seeds from the plantations are discussed. At the same time, lack of reliable scientific data to support various claims on biodiesel plants is explained. Preliminary results from research under wayan Jatropha and Pongamia are also clarified. Different approaches for biDdiesel ·plantations and oil extraction are looked into. Results from viJIage-level case study on Pongamia pinnata Seed collection from existing forests, ·oil extraction and Carbon trading are also discussed in this paper

Strategy for rehabilitation of degraded lands and improved livelihoods through biodiesel plantations

Biofuels are gaining importance in the backdrop of increase in fossil fuel prices driven by reduced supplies and increased concern about environmental pollution. Considering the issues of rural poverty and water scarcity the efforts in the area of biofuel need to be looked along with other concerns. In this paper, the strategy for rehabilitating degraded lands using biodiesel plantations for improving livelihoods while protecting environment is discussed. The experiences of developing common property resources with the help of self-help groups (SHGs) and ensuring usufruct rights to the SHGs for harvesting seeds from the plantations are discussed. At the same time, lack of reliable scientific data to support various claims on biodiesel plants is explained. Preliminary results from research under way on Jatropha and Pongamia are also clarified. Different approaches for biodiesel plantations and oil extraction are looked into. Results from village-level case study on Pongamia pinnata seed collection from existing forests, oil extraction and Carbon trading are also discussed in this pape

Leveraging Institutions for Enhanced Collective Action in Community Watersheds through Harnessing Gender Power for Sustainable Development

In the drought prone rain-fed areas "\vatersheds are. recognized as growth engine for agricultural as well as overall development to achieve food security. Sustainable management· of a watershed entails rational utilization of land and water resources for optimum production but minimum hazard to natural and human resources. For the benefits of community-based watersheds to maximize anu reach all stakeholders it is necessary to include equity and gender parity into the program design itself. Inclusion of women and reSource poor is of paramount importance fot the watershed development to become truly participatory in both implemeqtation and impacts. Two thirds of the illiterate in the world are women, have no property rights (women hold 1/1000rh world property) and have no economic independence (70% of the world's pqor are women) (UNDP 1997)

Harnessing Gender Power and Collective Action Through Integrated Watershed Management for Sustainable Development and minimizing land Degradation

Asia emerges as the hot spot for poverty, malnutrition and also for severe land degradation in the world. In India, the situatioll is similar as out of 852 million poor 221 million are in India and 108.6 Mha are degraded. There is an urgent need to break the unholy nexus between drought, land degradation and poverty using community watersheds to manage the natural resources such as water and land sustainably for improving livelihoods. Watershed approach is adopted by .Government of India as a growth engine for development of rainfed areas. Although these programmes are silently revolutionalizing the drylands all is not well. There is need to address the issues of gender, equity to enhance participation and associated impact and sustainability of these programmes. Three selected watershed case studies in India were analyzed to study the impacts, the approaches adopted and most importantly gender analysis for identifying the strategies to harness the gender power for enhancing the collective action

Gender Issues in Watershed Management

The rain-fed areas in the semi-arid tropics are characterised by low and erratic rainfall, severe land degradation, low crop yields and high poverty. Watershed programmes are recognised as a potential engine for agricultural growth and sustainable development in rain-fed areas (Wani et al., 2003). The success and sustainability of watershed programmes are directly related to collective action and community participation (Wani et al., 2008; Sreedevi and Wani, 2007). Women are key players as managers and direct actors in managing natural resources in the watershed and addressing household food security and nutritional goals. How ever, too often, they play a passive role in decision-making processes because of their low educational levels, social customs and economic dependence. Though women share a major workload for managing the natural resources, the benefits of the watershed programmes largely bypass them, except where targeted income-generating and employment interventions have been undertaken (Sreedevi et al., 2009

Baseline Socio-economic Characterization of Watersheds

Baseline characterization is important to measure project performance before making any changes to project processes. The paper provide insights into the baseline characterization of watersheds with special reference to socio-economic aspects to propose appropriate policy directions for enhancing productivity and sustainability in the semi-arid zone

Agriculture and Allied Micro-enterprise for Livelihood Opportunities

Micro-enterprises are the keys to generate employment opportunities as well as income earning avenues to both landless, women and landholding people. Therefore, the poverty alleviation in semi-arid regions requires a greater understanding of the interactions of agriculture and allied enterprises and their implications for the household economy. This paper synthesizes the available evidence on agriculture and allied enterprises in watershed development areas and how policy should address the issue to balance between agriculture and micro- enterprises promoted by watershed development program

Adarsha Watershed in Kothapally Understanding the Drivers of Higher Impact

Water, the very basis of life and the single most important feature of our planet, is the most threatened resource today. In rainfed areas watershed management is the approach used for conservation of water and other natural resources as well as for sustainable management of natural resources. A watershed is a hydrologically defined area that is drained by a network of streams, which meet together in such a way that the water leaves through a common point. A watershed is made up of soil, vegetation and water along with the people and animals who are the integral part of the system. Sustainable management of a watershed thus entails the rational utilization of land and water resources for optimum production but minimum hazard to natural and human resources. Therefore, watershed management is the process of guiding and organizing land use and use of other resources in a watershed to provide desired goods and services to people while enhancing the resource base without adversely affecting natural resources and the………………