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Not AvailableGlobal agricultural growth has been slowing down. Crop production constitutes lion share of agricultural output. Empirical studies show that over the 40 years, crops growth rates in terms of yield gains and total production has been impressive but not substantial. This is mirroring in general in most of the developing countries and in India in particular. Crop plants originated from wild species through Mendelian variation, inter-specific hybridization or polyploidy. Genetic diversity plays an important role in crop improvement because hybridization between lines of diverse origin generally displays a greater heterosis than between, closely related strains. Infect, genetic diversity is more in cross-pollinated crops compared to self-pollinated crops. Until now, researchers and public are dealing with the agricultural production performance under cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fibber crops and so on but there is no (limited) study analyzed based on Mendelian variation. So this study uses new way of analyzes based on Mendelian variation perspective to study the production performance and growth trends of crops under self, cross and often cross-pollinated crops. The present paper is an attempt to examine critically the compound growth rates of area, production and productivity during distinct epochs in the agricultural development of India. Further, focus on the performance status of India’s major crops vis-à-vis the top three crop productivity nations of the world with special reference to self, cross and often cross-pollinated crops for the period of 1950-51 to 2011-12. Essentially, such a comparison will provide insights regarding the magnitude of the yield-gap that countries having low productivity need to bridge. A comparison of India with other nations reveals that India is second in the rice, wheat and groundnut production. The production differences between India and those nations are substantial in cross and often cross-pollinated crops compare to self-pollinated crops. However, the productivity differences between India and high productivity countries are more in cross-pollinated crops followed by self and often cross-pollinated crops. India needs to explore comparative yield advantages in cross-pollinated crops. Rice and wheat are the two principal crops grown in India. Though cross pollinated and often cross pollinated crops such as maize, sugarcane, cotton and tobacco hold promise for the future, the incessant area expansion under rice and wheat have relegated these crops to the background. In India, compound growth rates reflect that the pivot of green revolution as wheat. This is reflected by the crop growth rate of 5.65% during green revolution period. All through wheat productivity increased at increasing rates of 1.27%, 2.67% and 2.97% indicates technological breakthroughs in wheat production. Similarly, cotton productivity also increased at increasing rates of 2.04%, 2.54%, and 3.75%. To conclude, among self-pollinated crops; India stands second in paddy, wheat, groundnut and first in jute production. But in terms of productivity India trails behind higher productive countries. This calls for steps to enhance productivity. Further, scientists should give more emphasis on cross-pollinated crops. Bureaus of plant genetic resources must preserve and take steps to enhance genetic diversity of these crops. Planners and policy makers must have vigilance in land allocation and price fixation based on Mendelian variation of crops.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableGlobally, Agriculture it seems is back on the development agenda, seen as a key to spurring growth and reduction poverty, and as a key route to meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Continent -wide policy can safeguard each country’s independence. The main focus of this paper is to analyse global agricultural policies and critically appraisal of their policies and arrive the best policies. The study is based on meta-analysis. The status of global agricultural policies in general and selected continent wise policies in particular is analysed. It also suggests the best future global agricultural policies. World as a whole the pressures on agriculture to produce much less than indicated projections for the period to 2050 because of deceleration population growth. The basic changes in Europe models concerning the transformation from supply driven models of traditional agriculture to the concept of modern agriculture focusing on demand-driven types of market agriculture. The North American Model; United States, Mexico, and Canada have each made significant changes to their agricultural policies over the past several years particularly in the area of income supports. The Latin America continent was confronted with a new twist to the Green Revolution model, with the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops and run by transnational corporations. In Africa, agriculture is runs by the significance of aid provided by donors. The successful Asian State Green revolution model focuses more on seed and technologies to increase production. The most common policy response taken by the emerging economies – and also worldwide – has been to reduce or suspend import tariffs on food products. The year 2011 highlighted after many years of neglect, agriculture and food security are back on the development and political agendas. The study suggests to focus future policies on agriculture as a global agenda and global efforts.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIndia is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world next only to China. Horticulture development is currently constrained by poor marketing arrangements. The gap between prices received by the farmers and those paid by urban consumers is large, reflecting inefficient marketing arrangements. The huge production base offers India immense opportunities for export.This study estimates production trends, market efficiency and export competitiveness of vegetables in India and suggest measures to improve production, marketing and exports of Indian vegetables. The study was conducted India as whole for production and export competitiveness and for marketing efficiency in the 8 states of Indiacovering 20 crops. The study found that area under total vegetables cultivation is grown at the rate of 4.12% and production growth rates was 6.48%. Indian vegetables production depicted glorious past and expected promising future. The most common marketing channel for majority of the crops is that Producer-Wholesaler-Retailer-Consumer. The resultsfurther showed that the producer share in consumer rupee was highest in Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Manipur compared to Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan. It varies from 46% to 74% in Andhra Pradesh, 26% to 60% in West Bengal, 33% to 60% in Rajasthan, 85% to 88% in Manipur 91% to 95% in Tamil Nadu and 100% in Punjab. The study clearly shows that majority of the horticultural commodity markets are operating efficiently. The highest marketing efficiency found to be producer to consumer channel. Hence, government policies should promote direct marketing models for efficient horticultural marketing. The results showed that in most of the commodity cases marketing cost, marketing margin, transport cost, labour charges are adversely affecting marketing efficiency and open market price, volume of the produce handled and net price received are increasing marketing efficiency.The trends of fresh vegetables show that its export quantity increased 18.3% and 22.2% during two periods respectively. The results show that Indian vegetables are huge potential for exports.The results show that for all vegetables the Nominal Protection Coefficient is lessthan 1 indicating they are competitive in the international markets. The study suggests that Indian government should give priority to vegetable production, processing and exports.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableProtected cultivation is an innovative way of raising seasonal and off-seasonal crops under a controlled environment. Vegetables and flower crops have tremendous potential to augment productivity, generate employment, utilize land efficiently and enhance export. This study was undertaken to assess the economic feasibility of protected cultivation in the high export potential zones of the Pune and Nasik districts of Maharashtra, India, by employing project analytical tools and the regression model. The results revealed that the cultivation of flowers and vegetables under protectedcultivationwashighlylucrativewithhighinvestment. Theprotectedcultivationofroseand capsicum had higher cultivation cost (300%), gross return (250%) and net return (190%) as compared toopencultivation. Moreover,mostofthecropsgrowninpolyhousesarehighlyprofitableatdifferent discount rates (7%, 10% and 12%), whereas a few crops were rewarding under shade net condition with subsidies. Factors such as literacy (p < 0.05), income (p < 0.05), access to subsidy (p < 0.05) and the risk orientation index (p < 0.01) were found statistically significant in technology adoption. In the context of a changing climate and shrinking land resources, water scarcity, incidence of pests and diseases, an ever-increasing population, low productivity under open conditions and changes in consumer’s preference are the drivers for switching over to protected cultivation. In the recent past, protected cultivation has been gaining importance in different parts of the country, including Maharashtra. The policy implications are creating modern infrastructure, enhanced application of ICTs, maximum crop production with minimum utilization of land and institutional support to promote technology on a commercial scale.Not Availabl

Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops as a Livelihood Opportunity in Western India: An Economic Assessment

Protected cultivation is an innovative way of raising seasonal and off-seasonal crops under a controlled environment. Vegetables and flower crops have tremendous potential to augment productivity, generate employment, utilize land efficiently and enhance export. This study was undertaken to assess the economic feasibility of protected cultivation in the high export potential zones of the Pune and Nasik districts of Maharashtra, India, by employing project analytical tools and the regression model. The results revealed that the cultivation of flowers and vegetables under protected cultivation was highly lucrative with high investment. The protected cultivation of rose and capsicum had higher cultivation cost (300%), gross return (250%) and net return (190%) as compared to open cultivation. Moreover, most of the crops grown in polyhouses are highly profitable at different discount rates (7%, 10% and 12%), whereas a few crops were rewarding under shade net condition with subsidies. Factors such as literacy (p p p p < 0.01) were found statistically significant in technology adoption. In the context of a changing climate and shrinking land resources, water scarcity, incidence of pests and diseases, an ever-increasing population, low productivity under open conditions and changes in consumer’s preference are the drivers for switching over to protected cultivation. In the recent past, protected cultivation has been gaining importance in different parts of the country, including Maharashtra. The policy implications are creating modern infrastructure, enhanced application of ICTs, maximum crop production with minimum utilization of land and institutional support to promote technology on a commercial scale