Exploring the Field Assistant’s Activities for Sustainable Development in District Tank, Pakistan

To explore the Field Assistant’s (FA) activities for sustainable development in district Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan the present study was conducted during year 2015. Based on guess variability 270 respondents were selected from nine sampled villages Viz. Abizar, Akbari, Amakhel, Gul Imam, Kaka Khel, Kari Shahnoor, Kot Azam, Kiri Haidar and Umar Ada. Data was collected through well structured, pre-tested interview schedule using personal interview method. It was found that that Field Assistants (FAs) provides new information (175 respondents). It was also found that FAs were available at their offices (164) and farmers were satisfied from the solution recommended by FAs, of the problem they reported (159). Chi-square test results showed highly significant (P≤0.01) association among land holding with FAs office visits by farmers and FAs visits to farmer’s fields. Similarly highly significant (P≤0.01) association of age was also observed with FAs visit to field. Highly significant (P≤0.01) positive correlation of provision of new knowledge by FAs was also observed with benefits from recommendation of FAs (0.586) and demonstrations (0.61) conducted by FAs. It is concluded that apart from non-availability of proper facilities for FAs they were indulge in performing their duties to their level best. Majority of respondents appreciate their work in improving their knowledge of agriculture, solving their problems, increasing their productivity, uplift of their life and thus results in sustainable development. Keywords: Field Assistants; Sustainable Development; Field Visit

INFLUENCE OF AGRICULTURE EXTENSION SERVICES AND FARMER’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS ON ADOPTION OF DATE PALM (Phoenix dactylifera L.) IN DISTRICT DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN

This study was conducted in the major date producing areas (Dakki, Mian Wada, Mathra Abad, Jhok Ghamy Wali, Habib Abad, Bilot Sharif, Himat, Jhok Moazam, Matwala Shah, Chura and Jhok Malkanri) of the district Dera Ismail Khan, by personal interview method from a sample of 51 respondents selected from these areas for quantitative data collection. Most of the respondents have a secondary and higher secondary level of education (39.2%, 33.3%) respectively. 51% respondents has more than 200 kanals land. It was also found that this category (having more than 200 kanals) have higher secondary level of education. Majority of the respondents have no other source of income (74.5%). The grower’s percentage increased gradually and at present 37.2% respondents were attached with date palm cultivation since last 5-10 years whereas 27% were growing date palm from last 20 years. 84% respondents cultivate the “Dakki” cultivar which is one of the most profitable date cultivar but majority of the respondents (74%) got knowledge about enhanced varieties from their fellow farmers and only 22% respondents were educated by extension workers. 77.3% respondents were facing the problems of insect/pest attack but only 54.9% of the selected respondents apply the plant protection measures.  Although, all the farmers were satisfied from their date palm production, still 41.5% were expecting to get help from extension department about insects/pest and rodent control while 17% respondents expect others type of help from extension department (inputs). Key words:            Date palm, extension services, socio-economic characters, personal interview

CONSUMER PANACEA OVER INTERNET USAGE IN PAKISTAN

The present age is the era of information technology and everywhere microwaves are scattered. Everybody wants to explore itself with this information technology and happenings taking place of Internet for the purpose of education, awareness, entertainment and especially interaction with strangers. In Pakistan, the awareness of internet usage is increasing and people are gaining knowledge about online buying and selling. Although the Internet may well empower consumers, there is a paucity of systematic conceptual, analytical, or empirical research indicating that the Internet will in fact lead to more and better information, which in turn will lead to better consumer decision making. The Internet is not, in and of itself, a monolithic entity subject to broad generalizations. It is a complex phenomenon, unlike anything else in history and not completely understood. This research finds that consumers who have more positive beliefs about Internet apparel shopping have more positive attitude toward Internet apparel shopping than do consumers who have less positive beliefs about Internet apparel shopping and consumers who have more social support for Internet apparel shopping perceive more social acceptance of Internet apparel shopping than do consumers who have less social support for Internet apparel shopping.e-Marketing, internet usage.

An Investigation of Multidimensional Energy Poverty in Pakistan

Poverty is an alarming problem all over the world. It is one of the severe challenges today faced by not only the developing nations but by the developed nations also. However, the problem is worst in developing countries [United Nations and IEA (2010)]. All these countries face poverty in different forms such as food poverty, energy poverty, shortage of natural resources, shortage of agricultural products, lack of shelter and clothing among others. It is persuasive to correlate poverty with lack of energy consumption also. Such a correlation identifies that poor use energy very inadequately [Pachauri, et al. (2004)]. Energy helps societies to move from one development stage to another. Worldwide energy demand is increasing while supply is decreasing due to increase in the world population, emerging economies and economic development. In current day to day life energy has become an essential requirement. For all of us energy is required for lighting, transportation, cooking, health services, and to fulfill many of our basic needs. Electricity access at household level enhances telecommunication, entertainment, and knowledge via radio, television, and computer etc

Root system of seabuckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.)

Nutrient availability is one of the limiting factors for plant growth and development, and the nutrients on Earth are unevenly distributed. To overcome this, plants adapt by modifying their morphology and physiology, especially of the root system. Seabuckthorn is a small tree growing in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It performs symbiotic N₂ fixation and has high adaptability to environmental constraints. This thesis examined factors shaping the root system of seabuckthorn. It was found that seabuckthorn has the ability to produce structures with dense lateral roots called cluster roots (CRs). Different patterns of root system were found at genotype level; Pk, a wild accession of H. rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica originating from unfertile soils, produced more CRs than cultivars BHi10726 and Sunny with a breeding history in fertile soils. Reduced availability of phosphorus (P), nitrogen or iron affected root morphology by increased lateral roots and CR formation, which may explain the competitive and invasive nature of this plant on nutrient-deficient soils. Abundant compounds in CRs found by metabolite analysis using ¹H-NMR spectroscopy were asparagine, glycine and malate, an organic acid involved in mobilization of P from soil. In Pk as compared to cv. Sunny, the concentration of root metabolites was higher. In roots under low P, RNA sequencing revealed transcripts involved in primary root metabolism, P homeostasis and metabolism consistent with a P-deficient response. To assess functions of CRs which have a determinate growth pattern, analysis of metabolites and transcripts could display changes towards a P-deficient metabolism as well as anaerobic metabolism at later developmental stages of CR. As an enzyme central to organic acid metabolism in plants, the gene family encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (HrPPC) was characterised. Both plant-type and bacterial-type isoforms were found with tissue-specific expression patterns and with higher expression of HrPPC2 under low P. In vitro studies showed that auxin stimulated formation of lateral roots at low P levels, while high P gave high formation of shoots from roots, another trait of the seabuckthorn root system. This study provides a basis to understand functions and roles of CRs in seabuckthorn as an actinorhizal representative among the three groups of CR-forming plants

Measuring Multidimensional Poverty and Inequality in Pakistan

The key development objective of Pakistan, since its existence, has been to reduce poverty, inequality and to improve the condition of its people. While this goal seems very important in itself yet is also necessary for the eradication of other social, political and economic problems. The objective to eradicate poverty has remained same but methodology to analysing this has changed. It can be said that failure of most of the poverty strategies is due to lack of clear choice of poverty definition. A sound development policy including poverty alleviation hinges upon accurate and well-defined measurements of multidimensional socio-economic characteristics which reflect the ground realities confronting the poor and down trodden rather than using some abstract/income based criteria for poverty measurement. Conventionally welfare has generally been measured using income or expenditures criteria. Similarly, in Pakistan poverty has been measured mostly in uni-dimension, income or expenditures variables. However, recent literature on poverty has pointed out some drawbacks in measuring uni-dimensional poverty in terms of money. It is argued that uni-dimensional poverty measures are insufficient to understand the wellbeing of individuals. Poverty is a multidimensional concept rather than a unidimensional. Uni-dimensional poverty is unable to capture a true picture of poverty because poverty is more than income deprivatio

Economic and Cultural Relations Between Pakistan and the Soviet Union During Ayub Khan’s Period

This article deals with Pakistan and Soviet Union relationship from 1958 to 1969 during Ayub Khan’s regime. It highlights aspects of all events which were main obstacles among both countries relationship at that time. It also covers the following circumstances. What was the Ayub Khan’s policy in his early period and why did he give up soon and why did he make his foreign policy in the direction of Soviet Union? Firstly, from independence of Pakistan many Governments of Pakistan received many offers from Soviet Union for paid visit, but why did Ayub Khan visit Soviet Union three times in the land mark history of Pakistan? It also points out all the pacts which were made between Pakistan and Soviet Union and its role in the war of Indo-Pak 1965

Comparative evaluation of pancreatic histopathology of rats treated with olanzapine, risperidone and streptozocin

Olanzapine and risperidone are widely prescribed atypical antipsychotics used in the treatment of schizophrenia and various other psychiatric disorders. Both of these drugs have been extensively reported to cause Type 2 diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis, however, the mechanism of olanzapine and risperidone-induced toxicity has not been so far unveiled. We, therefore, compared the streptozocininduced pancreatic damage with that of pancreas isolated from olanzapine and risperidone treated rats. It was noticed that fibrotic growth, necrosis and derangement of the pancreatic islet cells caused by streptozocin were more pronounced than olanzapine and risperidone

An Empirical Analysis of Employment Status, Nature of Employment and Poverty Incidence in Pakistan

This study measured poverty incidence and decomposition of poverty incidence across employment status, industry /sectors of employment and occupation of employment in Pakistan. Impact of employment status and nature of employment of household head on household poverty incidence is also analysed by employing logistic regression technique. The study used Pakistan Social and Living Standard Measurement Survey (PSLM) data set for the year 2013-14 for empirical estimations. A class of Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (1984) method is employed to estimate poverty incidence as well as decomposition of poverty incidence. The results showed that poverty incidence is about 36 percent in Pakistan in year 2013-14. Poverty decomposition results depicted that poverty significantly varies across employment status, sectors/industry of employment and occupation of employment. Employers, electricity, gas & water industry and legislative, senior official & managers group have lowest poverty incidence while sharecropper & paid employee, construction sector and elementary occupations had highest poverty incidence. The results of Logit Model indicate that age of the household head, education of the household head and  general employment of the household head are inversely related to poverty while being male as head, residence of household in rural area, household size and dependency ratio are positively related to poverty incidence. Employment of the household head significantly reduces while dependency ratio immensely increases the odds of being in poverty. Therefore, sufficient employment opportunities should be provided to all for massive reduction in poverty and sustainable development of the country. Employment of the household head as share cropper, paid employed & livestock only, in construction, transport & storage sector, and in elementary occupations etc. have higher prospect of being in poverty. Thus, for fabulous reduction in poverty government should implement minimum wage policy and provide social safety nets to enhance the income of these poor workers to bring them out of poverty