Bhoochetana: Process Documentation-A program that helped farmers come out of low productivity and poor economic status

To Kick start agricultural Growth rate for improving the livelihoods of 60% of population dependent on Agriculture, Government of Karnataka undertook a mission project to unlock the potential of rainfed Agriculture across the state with technical support from ICRISAT. The mission project referred as “Bhoochetana” was launched in 2009 covering all the 30 districts to increase crop productivity by 20% in four years..

Soil Fertility Atlas for Karnataka, India

Our research during the last decade showed that soil testing is an effective tool for diagnosing nutrient problems in farmers' fields. Soil test-based nutrient management allows a judicious use of fertilizers supplying various nutrient elements. This Atlas comprises of results from Bhoochetan Mission Project Under which a large-scale sampling was undertaken on farmers' fields in all the district of Karnataka. Bhoochetana is a mission project for enchancing agricultural productivity of rain-fed systems in the state of Karnataka by adopting science-led approach with technical backstopping from ICRISAT-led consortium. The recommendations on nutrient applications are made by using critical limits in the soil for major, secondary and micronutrients. The soil test results are categorised as sufficient (Soil test value above the critical limit of an element) or deficient (Soil test value below the critical limit)

A Mission to Enhance Productivity of Rain-fed Crops in Rain-fed Districts of Karnataka, India.

Water shortage is a major constraint for rain-fed crop production and achief cause of poverty and hunger in the semi-arid tropics of the world.Over 95 per cent of the world’s poor and mal nourished people live inIndia, China, the Eastern and Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of LatinAmerica. Rain-fed agriculture is practiced on 80% of the world’s farmarea, and generates almost 60% of the world’s staple foods, providingthe livelihoods of 80 per cent of the world’s population. In India, 40% ofthe population depends on rain-fed agriculture, which is cultivated 85million hectares, and produces 44% of food and fodder requirements forthe country. Rain-fed areas in India covering 60% of agriculture produce75% of pulses and more than 90% of sorghum, millet, and groundnut.These areas are the hot spots of poverty, suffer from water scarcity anddroughts, land degradation and low rainwater use efficienc

Bhoochetana: Building Resilience and Livelihoods through Integrated Watershed Management. Resilient Dryland Systems Report No. 62.

Rainfed areas are hotspots of poverty and malnutrition, and are prone to severe land degradation of natural resources. Globally, 80% of agriculture is rainfed providing 62% of the world’s staple food. With increasing population over the years, per capita availability and quality of land and water resources have declined substantially resulting to water scarcity. Agriculture is the major consumer of water, accounting for 70-80% of water withdrawal. With the impacts of climate change, existing water and land scarcity will be aggravated further. Producing food for the ever growing population to achieve food and nutrition security, and improving rural livelihoods are challenges to be met today as well as in the near future. Agriculture is the major contributor in the growth of the state of Karnataka, India and is still the mainstay for a large number of population in the state economy. However, trends are showing that the agriculture and allied sectors’ contribution to Karnataka’s GDP was around 43% in 1980-1981 that came down to 26% in 2001-2002, which further came down to 16.8% in 2007-2008, remaining stagnant in 2009-2010. This declining contribution of agriculture in the state GDP was a big concern for the state government

HIV-Nef Protein Persists in the Lungs of Aviremic Patients with HIV and Induces Endothelial Cell Death

It remains a mystery why HIV-associated end-organ pathologies persist in the era of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART). One possible mechanism is the continued production of HIV-encoded proteins in latently HIV-infected T cells and macrophages. The proapoptotic protein HIV-Nef persists in the blood of ART-treated patients within extracellular vesicles (EVs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Here we demonstrate that HIV-Nef is present in cells and EVs isolated from BAL of patients on ART. We hypothesize that HIV-Nef persistence in the lung induces endothelial apoptosis leading to endothelial dysfunction and further pulmonary vascular pathologies. The presence of HIV-Nef in patients with HIV correlates with the surface expression of the proapoptotic endothelial-monocyte–activating polypeptide II (EMAPII), which was implicated in progression of pulmonary emphysema via mechanisms involving endothelial cell death. HIV-Nef protein induces EMAPII surface expression in human embryonic kidney 293T cells, T cells, and human and mouse lung endothelial cells. HIV-Nef packages itself into EVs and increases the amount of EVs secreted from Nef-expressing T cells and Nef-transfected human embryonic kidney 293T cells. EVs from BAL of HIV+ patients and Nef-transfected cells induce apoptosis in lung microvascular endothelial cells by upregulating EMAPII surface expression in a PAK2-dependent fashion. Transgenic expression of HIV-Nef in vascular endothelial–cadherin+ endothelial cells leads to lung rarefaction, characterized by reduced alveoli and overall increase in lung inspiratory capacity. These changes occur concomitantly with lung endothelial cell apoptosis. Together, these data suggest that HIV-Nef induces endothelial cell apoptosis via an EMAPII-dependent mechanism that is sufficient to cause pulmonary vascular pathologies even in the absence of inflammation

Cationic Amino Acids Specific Biomimetic Silicification in Ionic Liquid: A Quest to Understand the Formation of 3-D Structures in Diatoms

The intricate, hierarchical, highly reproducible, and exquisite biosilica structures formed by diatoms have generated great interest to understand biosilicification processes in nature. This curiosity is driven by the quest of researchers to understand nature's complexity, which might enable reproducing these elegant natural diatomaceous structures in our laboratories via biomimetics, which is currently beyond the capabilities of material scientists. To this end, significant understanding of the biomolecules involved in biosilicification has been gained, wherein cationic peptides and proteins are found to play a key role in the formation of these exquisite structures. Although biochemical factors responsible for silica formation in diatoms have been studied for decades, the challenge to mimic biosilica structures similar to those synthesized by diatoms in their natural habitats has not hitherto been successful. This has led to an increasingly interesting debate that physico-chemical environment surrounding diatoms might play an additional critical role towards the control of diatom morphologies. The current study demonstrates this proof of concept by using cationic amino acids as catalyst/template/scaffold towards attaining diatom-like silica morphologies under biomimetic conditions in ionic liquids

Impact of Technological Interventions on Pigeon Pea for Enhancing Income through Cluster Front Line Demonstrations

Aims: The area and production of pigeon pea in Bhadohi are still significantly lower than in other districts of other states. There is a significant yield gap between the potential output and the yield under current farming conditions. To study the impact of technological interventions on the pigeon pea crop for increasing income through Cluster Front Line Demonstrations was the goal of the current study. Place and Duration of Study: Cluster front line demonstrations on improved pigeon pea technologies were carried out by ICAR-IIVR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bhadohi, at farmers' fields from 2015–16 to 2019–20. Methodology: A total of 155 pigeon pea cluster front line demonstrations on improved pigeon pea technologies covering a 45.70 hectare area were held in one hundred eighteen localities. Field days, training and group meetings were also organized to provide opportunities for other farmers to witness the benefits of demonstrated technologies. The output data were collected from CFLD plots as well as control plots (farmers practice) by random crop cutting method and analyzed using simple statistical tools such as per cent change in yield, cost of cultivation, net income, and benefit cost ratio etc.   Results: In the experimental plots, the mean yield over five years was 15.44 q/ha, while it was only 11.21 q/ha in the control plots. Over the course of the five years of the study, the yield development varied, though on average, it was measured at 42.49 percent. When compared to the farmer's practice (28,463/ha), the average net return for the demonstration plots at the farmer's field over the investigation period was greater at 56,611/ha. Additionally, the demonstration plots' benefit-cost ratio was larger (2.32) than the farmer's practice's (1.69). Conclusion: From the aforementioned findings, it can be concluded that using modern technologies for pigeon pea cultivation may significantly close the extension and technology gap, increasing pigeon pea yield in the area. It requires collaborative extension efforts to enhance the adoption of location and crop specific technologies among the farmers to bridge these gaps.   &nbsp

An Appraisal of Technological Interventions on Mustard Crop under Cluster Front Line Demonstrations

Aims: To boost production and profitability, the current study's evaluation of technical interventions focused on a cluster front line demonstration on mustard crop, which was carried out in the KVK's operational territory in district Bhadohi of Uttar Pradesh. Study Design: Yield gap analysis under cluster front line demonstration. Place and Duration of Study: The present study was conducted by ICAR-IIVR - Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bhadohi on mustard at farmer’s field in different blocks of Bhadohi district under cluster front line demonstration during the period 2016-17 to 2020-21. Methodology: From 2016-17 through 2020-21, 374 demonstrations were carried out on farmer fields totaling 153 hectares under cluster front line demonstration, with farmer practice acting as the comparison control. KVK scientists collected yield, production expenses, and return data from farmers' practice plots (control plots) and front-line demonstration plots. Finally, the extension gap, technology gap, and technology index were calculated using the methods describe in Samui et al. [1]. Results:  The five-year study's findings show that the demonstration plots' average annual yield was 24.20 q/ha in compared to the traditional agricultural plots' average annual yield of 17.26 q/ha. This higher yield of 4.85 q/ha and the 40.12% rise in mustard productivity over the previous five years may be enough to meet the state's current needs for oilseeds. The five-year averages for the technology gap, extension gap, and technology index were found to be 5.8 q/ha, 6.8 q/ha, and 19.35%, respectively. The finding unequivocally shows that CFLDs have advantages over conventional practices. The technology gap, extension gap, and technology index five-year averages were determined to be 5.8 q/ha, 6.8 q/ha, and 19.35%, respectively. Under the demonstration plot, the Benefit Cost Ratio was shown to be greatest (3.0) during the study year 2017-18 and lowest (2.24) during the study year 2019-20, but it averaged 2.65 during the five-year study period. As a result, positive benefit-cost ratios established the economic sustainability of the interventions and persuaded farmers in the Uttar Pradesh area of Bhadohi of their worth. Conclusion: According to the findings of the five-year study, the demonstration plots' pooled five-year average production was 24.20 q/ha as opposed to the traditional farmer practices plots' 17.26 q/ha. This enhanced yield of 4.85 q/ha and the 40.12% rise in mustard productivity over the previous five years, may be helpful meet to the state's current needs for oilseeds. The finding unequivocally shows that CFLDs have advantages over conventional practices. During the years of investigation, it was shown that the benefit-cost ratio was higher when agricultural practices were demonstrated.  According to the result it is concluded that the yield and net profit may be increase using HYV RH-749 with the recommended packages of practices in mustard crop