Impact of homestead farming system on rural economy: A study in South 24 Pargana district of West Bengal

Development of homestead farming system (HFS) has the potential for poverty alleviation in states like West Bengal since irrespective of the land holding size, most of the households in the coastal region of West Bengal, have a small piece of land adjacent to their dwelling where some kind of homestead farming is carried out using the indigenous knowledge. HFS is mainly a need-oriented, self- provisioning, integrated, multi-species, economically sustainable and environmentally safe farming system around the house where the soil is enriched by homemade biological formulations and integrated farming is undertaken. This system allows year round cultivation of different agricultural products (horticulture, aquaculture, timber, etc.)which can provide either a source of additional income to the households or function as an alternative livelihood especailly for the women members of the household. In order to understand the contribution of HFS to household income and to devise ways to maximise returns from HFS, a survey was conducted covering 480 households in three blocks (Kakdwip, Namkhana and Sagar) of South 24 parganas district of West Bengal

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Not AvailableFeeding intensity and diet composition of Hilsa Shad (Tenualosa ilisha) from Northern Bay of Bengal were studied between June 2010 and March 2011. The stomach contents of 320 fishes were analyzed from the northern part of the Bay of Bengal to understand the food items of this species. The major constituents of food are organic debris (26.06 ± 5.19 % SD), diatoms (31.22 ± 11.97 % SD), other algae (12.41 ± 2.62 % SD), and crustaceans (3.50 ± 1.28 % SD). The most abundant species of diatoms were Coscinodiscus, Pleurosigma, Bacillaria, Nitzschia, Bid dulphia, Diatoma and Asterionella. The stomach of Hilsa was found to be almost empty during June to October while it was almost full during November to March. Significant positive correlation among feeding intensity, chlorophyll-A concentration and salinity of the ambient water indicated that feeding in T. ilisha is influenced by a number of fac tors. Strong positive correlation between percentage occurrence of diatoms and intensity of feeding indicated their preference for diatom–food. Hilsa Shad Diatoms Stomach content Plankton feeder Physico-chemical factorsNot Availabl

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Not Available'Bioprospecting' is a word that has been recently coined to describe the centuries- old practice of collecting and screening plant and other biological material for commercial purposes, such as the development of new drugs, seeds and cosmetics. Bioprospecting is also defined as the systematic search, classification and research on new sources of chemical compounds, genes, proteins, and micro- organisms, for commercial purposes with real or potential economic value, which are found in biodiversity. Bioprospecting is the collection of biological material and the analysis of its material properties, or its molecular, biochemical or genetic content, for the purpose of developing a commercial product. It is otherwise called as Biodiscovery. Biological material for bioprospecting activities can come from two main sources: directly from its natural environment, or from a collection. If biological material is collected from its freshwater or marine. If the biological material has already been taken from its natural environment and placed in a collection, for example, in a zoo, an aquarium or a culture collection, this can be an alternative source of interesting material for bioprospecting activities. History of Bioprospecting Humans have always looked for plants and animals they could use to make life easier. However, they discovered that certain foods and beasts of burden could be used for more than basic subsistence. Archeologists are finding that some biotechnologies, such as the use of herbs for medicine and the use of fermentation and yeast in food products, date back 5,000 to 10,000 years (De Miranda, 2004). Many of the historical uses of enzymes, proteins, and other biological materials have been understood by scientists, physicians, and nutritionists for quite some time, while others are still being discovered.Not Availabl

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Apiculture (Beekeeping): a promising livelihood option for the Sunderban people

Not AvailableHoney bees are important ‘friends of farmers’ as natural pollinators of agricultural crops and orchard to enhance the quality and quantity of agricultural production besides providing employment, additional income and good nutritional supplementary food with medicinal properties. Beekeeping offers a great potential livelihood option and is comparatively less demanding in terms of investment, labor and time. Beekeeping could be a family activity and it does not require any extra land other than bee plants and trees where the bees can go and collect nectar. The Sunderban is bestowed with a dense natural forest cover where apiculture could be an additional income generating activity. Beekeeping has been proved as a good component of homestead farming in coastal parts of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Having agricultural activity as a main source of income for the farming community of the Sunderban, the huge potentiality of apiculture has not been fully realized by the rural households mainly due to lack of awareness on its role as pollinator as well as an additional income provider for a span of 8-9 months a year. The Kakdwip Research Centre of Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (KRC of CIBA) has introduced and popularized the beekeeping technology in South 24 Parganas district with the aegis of National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) to create awareness among the rural households as an income generating avenue. The technology package included provision of sufficient hands on training to the identified beneficiary farmers and supplying necessary quality inputs for apiculture.NAI

Important live food organisms and their role in aquaculture.

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Potential of ornamental fish culture with reference to aquarium trade.

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