Assessment of Farm-Level Practices of Disease and Pest Management in the Banana Zone of Nawalparasi West district, Nepal

Banana (Musa paradisiaca) is a vital fruit crop in Nepal, especially in the Nawalparasi West district, where it can produce and generate income. However, banana farming faces many problems such as diseases and pests that reduce crop yield and quality. This research aimed to assess the state of pest control techniques and banana diseases, providing insights and recommendations for their improvement. A total of 125 banana farmers were selected and the data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that the banana leaf and fruit scarring beetle emerged as a particularly troublesome pest (severity index: 0.93), closely followed by the banana aphid (0.67), banana stem weevil (0.51), mealy bug (0.46), and banana rhizome stem borer (0.34). Similarly, diseases such as sigatoka leaf spot exhibited the highest severity (0.76), followed by anthracnose (0.59), bunchy top virus (0.52), bacterial wilt (0.51), and panama wilt (0.43). All participants employed diverse pest management practices, including mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical methods. Notably, 82.4% utilized fungicides and 100% employed cultural methods, with no adoption of biological approaches. In pest management, 31.2% employed mechanical/physical methods, 95% embraced cultural methods, and all the respondents used pesticides. Positive and significant relationships were identified between respondents' education level, training, farming experience, contact with extension agents, and adoption of disease and pest management practices in banana cultivation

Menace of Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta absoluta [Meyrick,1917]): Its Impacts and Control Measures by Nepalese Farmers

A multi-site study was conducted in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Kavre, and Pokhara, Nepal, to assess the impact of Tuta absoluta and identify effective control measures from the farmers\u27 perspective. A total of 480 tomato-growing households were randomly selected for the study. The pest posed a significant threat to tomato production, resulting in increased labor requirements (29.96%), increased expenditures on crop protection and control measures (62.18%), and significant yield losses of up to 85%. The results showed that the pest was ranked as the most important pest of tomatoes by the majority of respondents (88%), with the flowering stage being highly susceptible (99.73%). The study highlighted that the overuse of chemical pesticides disrupts integrated pest management practices, while all the respondents affected by T. absoluta used chemical and cultural control methods without using biological control methods due to a lack of knowledge. About 77.27% of the respondents used physical control methods. Among the control methods used, tomato leaf miner (TLM) bait (0.764) was rated as the most effective, followed by chemical pesticides (0.586) and sanitation (0.502). The research highlights the importance of raising awareness of integrated pest management strategies, including the use of biological control methods, for effective and sustainable management of T. absoluta. These findings will help improve pest management practices and support the long-term sustainability of tomato production in Nepal

Assessment of Productivity, Profit, and Problems Associated with Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Production in West Nawalparasi, Nepal

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a staple crop in Nepal, has a rich history of cultivation. Despite increasing demand due to population growth and agricultural development efforts, wheat production faces persistent challenges that hinder its expansion and profitability. This research, conducted from February to July 2022 in West Nawalpur district, Nepal, aims to assess the productivity, profitability, and economics, including benefit-cost analysis, of wheat in West Nawalparasi. A total of 100 wheat farmers were selected and the data obtained were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study reveals a positive gross margin (NRs 1113.09) and a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.6 per 0.3 hectare, indicating the profitability of wheat cultivation. Notably, most farmers procure agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers from local agro-dealers within Nepal, highlighting a preference for domestic sources over imports from India. For irrigation, more than half of the population relies on pumps that draw from open water sources (59%) and use mechanization equipment such as tractors and combine harvesters for field activities. However, the study reveals the complexity of the challenges faced by wheat farmers. Chief among these are the unavailability of adequate irrigation facilities, untimely and inadequate access to agricultural inputs, disease and pest incidence, lack of training and extension services, and lack of mechanization and skilled labor. These constraints, as highlighted by the farmers, affect both productivity and profitability, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives to reduce production costs and improve wheat production in West Nawalparasi

Adoption of Post-Harvest Handling Practices by Ginger Farmers in Palpa District, Nepal

Ginger has the potential for export and increased income for farmers in Nepal. Proper post-harvest handling practices has led to low market prices and significant post-harvest losses of ginger. The study was conducted in Palpa district to examine the post-harvest practices and technology adoption among ginger farmers. Data from 66 farmers in Bagnashkali, Purbakhola, Nisdi, and Rampur municipalities was collected through interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Descriptive analysis was performed using MS Excel and SPSS. Results showed that 72.7% of farmers practiced storage, with Bhakari (60.41%) and Pit (39.59%) being the common storage types. Storage molds affected 72.2% of respondents, while 28.8% reported wrinkling during storage. Washing was practiced by only 7.6% of farmers. Manual grading was reported by all respondents, with no commercial grading observed. Black sutho production was carried out by 65.2% of farmers. Value addition activities such as sorting were practiced by 65% of respondents, while 25% engaged in transportation and packaging. Respondents' awareness of ginger post-harvest practices varied, with 75.76% having low awareness, 16.66% medium awareness, and 7.58% high awareness. Farmers' general precautions during harvesting, such as avoiding rhizome injury and minimal trimming and sorting, were not accompanied by specific precautionary practices, contributing to their challenges. The findings emphasize the importance of adopting modern post-harvest practices to increase production, improve product quality, and command higher market prices.  Implementing these measures will enable ginger farmers in Palpa district to enhance their income and contribute to the growth of the ginger industry in Nepal

Comparative Study on the Seed Health of Five Commonly Cultivated Wheat Varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) in Nepal

Seed-borne pathogens can negatively affect wheat crop germination, plant health, and yield, making it essential to routinely test and treat seeds. Therefore, identifying seed-borne pathogens in commonly cultivated wheat varieties is vital to ensuring sustainable food production. The study sought at the Central Agriculture Laboratory in Lalitpur, Nepal, aimed to identify seed-borne pathogens in five commonly cultivated wheat varieties and evaluate their seed health. The study utilized the Standard Blotter Method to assess various parameters, including germination percentage, pathogen incidence percentage, shoot length, and seedling vigor index, in a controlled environment. The experiment used a complete randomized design with four replications and five treatments. Five wheat varieties (Gautam, Aaditya, Bijaya, Dhaulagiri, and NL971) were sown in Petri dishes containing blotting paper wetted with sterilized distilled water to assess the incidence and severity of Bipolaris sorokiniana. The data obtained were tabulated in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using Gen Stat. The study found that Gautam had the highest Bipolaris infection (18.25%), while NL971 had the lowest (11.25%), followed by Bijaya, Dhaulagiri, and Aaditya. Dhaulagiri had the highest germination percentage (99.50%), followed by Aaditya, Bijaya, and NL971, while Gautam had the lowest (79%). Aaditya demonstrated the highest shoot and root weight, shoot length, and seedling vigor index, while Gautam had the lowest. The study concluded that Gautam was vulnerable to low seed health, while Aaditya and other varieties demonstrated stronger seed health and resistance to the pathogen. These findings are crucial for improving seed health and ensuring sustainable food production in Nepal

Economics of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in terai region of Nepal

Potato is an important cash crop of Nepal. Research was conducted from January to May, 2018 in Jhapa, Bara and Kailali districts for economic assessment of potato production in terai region of Nepal. Pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect the primary information; moreover, one Focal Group Discussion and two Key Informant Interviews were performed. Furthermore, relevant literatures were reviewed for secondary information. The simple random method of sampling was used within the clusters that were identified in consultation with District Agriculture Development Office, Potato Superzone Office and agricultural officials of the local government. Altogether, 165 samples, 55 samples from each of the three districts were taken for the purpose of the study. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft excel software were used for data analysis. The majority of the respond-ents (52.7%) prioritized the source-Own home production/ Neighbors/ Friends as the first major source for seed followed by Cooperatives/ Farmer’s group (20%). More than one third of the farmers (35.2%) sold their produce at Home/Local market/Haatbazar followed by Wholesalers/ Distant market (34.5%). The average gross margin per Kattha from potato production was found NRs. 6604.4 and benefit cost ratio was 2.13. The indexing identified- lack of availability of improved quality seed (I= 0.79) as the most important problem followed by incidence of disease and insect/pest (I= 0.71) for potato production. The provision of technical knowledge to control diseases as well as proper allocation of improved quality seed would help to increase profitability and productivity of potato

Evaluation of Spring Season Local and Improved Rice Genotypes on Growth, Yield, and Yield Attributing Characters in Gorkha District, Nepal

Rice cultivation faces challenges related to varietal selection, limiting the potential yield of spring rice crops. This study was conducted in the Rice Zone of Gorkha, Nepal during the spring season of 2022 with aim to evaluate the growth, yield, and yield attributing characters of different rice genotypes. The study hypothesized that significant differences exist among different rice genotypes in terms of their growth, yield, and yield attributing characters. The experiment employed a one-factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with seven genotypes, including local varieties (Hardinath Hybrid 1, Chaite-5, CH 45, Salijudi) and pipeline genotypes (IR16L1919, IR10N118, IR86515), and replicated three times. Results indicated significant variations among genotypes in response to similar growing conditions and nutrient availability. Notably, CH 45 exhibited the highest plant height (113.50 cm), while IR16L1619 demonstrated the longest panicle length (28.56 cm) and the highest number of effective tillers (23.10). IR16L1619 also displayed the highest number of leaves (97.27 leaves) and leaf area index (8.00). Chaite-5 had the longest flag leaf (33.13 cm), while IR16L1619 recorded the highest panicle length (28.56 cm) and number of grains per panicle (270.10). Salijudi exhibited the lowest sterility percentage (7.52 %), and CH 45 displayed the highest thousand grain weight (26.40). Moreover, IR16L1619 demonstrated superior performance in terms of grain yield (8.19 t/ha), straw yield (7.12 t/ha), and biological yield (15.25 t/ha). The findings underscored the genotype-specific responses to environmental conditions, highlighting the importance of tailored varietal selection for optimal productivity

Efficacy of bio-fertilizers and chemical fertilizers on growth and yield of cowpea varieties

Cowpea is valued for its nutrition and nitrogen-fixing ability, and investigating bio-fertilizers offers a sustainable way to enhance cowpea growth and yield. A field experiment was conducted from February to June 2022 in the Nawalparasi West, Nepal, to investigate the impact of different fertilizers, including bio-fertilizers and chemical fertilizers, on the growth parameters and yield of cowpea varieties. Employing a double factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), the experiment considered two factors: cowpea varieties (Malepatan-1 and Stickless) and fertilizers (control, mycorrhizal, rhizobia, recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (RDF), mycorrhizal + rhizobia, and mycorrhiza + rhizobium + RDF). Malepatan-1 exhibited superior growth and yield compared to Stickless, with higher plant height (125.73 cm), seed weight plant−1 (72.29 g), thousand grain weight (151.62 g), and yield ha−1 (3,536.83 kg ha−1). While the application of rhizobia + mycorrhiza and chemical fertilizers increased various growth parameters, mycorrhiza + rhizobium showed comparable results in terms of yield (4,321.41 kg ha−1) and thousand grain weight (167.19 g) compared to the combination of the former (4,714.26 kg ha−1 and 176.83 g, respectively). Moreover, mycorrhiza + rhizobium demonstrated a higher benefit-cost ratio (3.76), making it economically and environmentally preferable to biofertilizers with chemicals. The study recommends mycorrhiza + rhizobium for its comparable yield, superior economic returns, and environmental sustainability over biofertilizers combined with chemicals. For maximizing economic and sustainable production, the study suggests using the Malepatan-1 cowpea variety with biofertilizers, excluding chemical (inorganic) fertilizers

Case Studies in Web-Controlled Devices and Remote Manipulation

The concept of distance learning has been more and more articulated during the past few years and is expected to shortly turn into a practical education system within current high level learning institutions. The chances are that distance learning would transparently extend colleges and institutes of education, and could plausibly overtake and turn into a preferred choice of higher education, especially for adult and working students. The concept would be unachievable without the current technology, for example, the impressive worldwide accessibility of the Internet. The main idea in e-learning is to build adequate solutions that could assure educational training over the Internet, without requiring a personal presence at the degree offering institution. For example, being able to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from an accredited institution while residing thousands of miles away from it and actually never seeing it, except maybe for the graduation ceremony. The advantages are immediate and of unique importance, to enumerate a few: Scholarship / education costs can be reduced dramatically, both from a student’s perspective and the institution’s (no need for room and board, for example); The usually tedious immigration and naturalization issues that are common with international students are eliminated; The limited campus facilities, faculty members and course schedules an institution can offer are no longer a boundary; Working adults can consider upgrading skills without changing their lifestyle