Linking Farmers to Markets for High-Value Agricultural Commodities

Growing demand for high-value food commodities is opening up opportunities for farmers, especially smallholders to diversify towards commodities that have strong potential for higher returns to land, labour and capital. But, there is an apprehension about the capability of smallholders to participate in the market-oriented production due to their lack of access to markets, capital, inputs, and technology and extension services. In this paper, possibilities have been explored of linking smallholders to markets through such institutions as cooperatives, growers’ associations and contract farming that reduce marketing and transaction costs and alleviate some production constraints. Evidence has shown that smallholders do participate and make a sizeable contribution to the production of high-value food commodities, but their links to markets are not strong. Though market institutions like cooperatives, contract farming and growers’ associations do not altogether ignore smallholders, some policy support is imperative to strengthen their linkages with the markets.Agribusiness, Marketing,

Improving farm-to-market linkages through contract farming: A case study of smallholder dairying in India

"Contract farming is emerging as an important form of vertical coordination in the agrifood supply chain in India, and its socioeconomic consequences are attracting considerable attention in public policy debates. This study is an empirical assessment of the costs and benefits of contract farming in milk using information generated through field surveys in the western state of Rajasthan. Contract farming is found to be more profitable than independent production. Its major benefits come from a reduction in marketing and transaction costs, which are otherwise much higher in the open markets. Contract farming also contributes toward improving milk yield and reducing production costs, albeit not significantly. Dairy producers also benefit from provision of services and technical advice by integrators/firms who secure milk supplies from farmers through contract. The benefits of contract farming vary by scale of operation. Economies of scale are also important determinants of competitiveness, in which large farms (both contract and independent) have lower per unit cost due to buying of inputs in bulk and greater access to markets. Smallholders, on the other hand, derive significant benefits from a reduction in marketing and transaction costs due to their participation in contract farming." from authors' abstractContract farming, smallholder dairying in India, marketing and transaction costs, milk supply chain, treatment effects model, mass balance approach,

Application of the rainbow trout derived intestinal cell line (RTgutGC) for ecotoxicological studies: molecular and cellular responses following exposure to copper.

There is an acknowledged need for in vitro fish intestinal model to help understand dietary exposure to chemicals in the aquatic environment. The presence and use of such models is however largely restrictive due to technical difficulties in the culturing of enterocytes in general and the availability of appropriate established cell lines in particular. In this study, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) intestinal derived cell line (RTgutGC) was used as a surrogate for the "gut sac" method. To facilitate comparison, RTgutGC cells were grown as monolayers (double-seeded) on permeable Transwell supports leading to a two-compartment intestinal model consisting of polarised epithelium. This two-compartment model divides the system into an upper apical (lumen) and a lower basolateral (portal blood) compartment. In our studies, these cells stained weakly for mucosubstances, expressed the tight junction protein ZO-1 in addition to E-cadherin and revealed the presence of polarised epithelium in addition to microvilli protrusions. The cells also revealed a comparable transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) to the in vivo situation. Importantly, the cell line tolerated apical saline (1:1 ratio) thus mimicking the intact organ to allow assessment of uptake of compounds across the intestine. Following an exposure over 72 h, our study demonstrated that the RTgutGC cell line under sub-lethal concentrations of copper sulphate (Cu) and modified saline solutions demonstrated uptake of the metal with saturation levels comparable to short term ex situ gut sac preparations. Gene expression analysis revealed no significant influence of pH or time on mRNA expression levels of key stress related genes (i.e. CYP3A, GST, mtA, Pgp and SOD) in the Transwell model. However, significant positive correlations were found between all genes investigated suggesting a co-operative relationship amongst the genes studied. When the outlined characteristics of the cell line are combined with the division of compartments, the RTgutGC double seeded model represents a potential animal replacement model for ecotoxicological studies. Overall, this model could be used to study the effects and predict aquatic gastrointestinal permeability of metals and other environmentally relevant contaminants in a cost effective and high throughput manner

Pharmaceutical Metabolism in Fish: Using a 3-D Hepatic In Vitro Model to Assess Clearance

At high internal doses, pharmaceuticals have the potential for inducing biological/pharmacological effects in fish. One particular concern for the environment is their potential to bioaccumulate and reach pharmacological levels; the study of these implications for environmental risk assessment has therefore gained increasing attention. To avoid unnecessary testing on animals, in vitro methods for assessment of xenobiotic metabolism could aid in the ecotoxicological evaluation. Here we report the use of a 3-D in vitro liver organoid culture system (spheroids) derived from rainbow trout to measure the metabolism of seven pharmaceuticals using a substrate depletion assay. Of the pharmaceuticals tested, propranolol, diclofenac and phenylbutazone were metabolised by trout liver spheroids; atenolol, metoprolol, diazepam and carbamazepine were not. Substrate depletion kinetics data was used to estimate intrinsic hepatic clearance by this spheroid model, which was similar for diclofenac and approximately 5 fold higher for propranolol when compared to trout liver microsomal fraction (S9) data. These results suggest that liver spheroids could be used as a relevant and metabolically competent in vitro model with which to measure the biotransformation of pharmaceuticals in fish; and propranolol acts as a reproducible positive control

Linking Farmers to Markets for High-Value Agricultural Commodities

Growing demand for high-value food commodities is opening up opportunities for farmers, especially smallholders to diversify towards commodities that have strong potential for higher returns to land, labour and capital. But, there is an apprehension about the capability of smallholders to participate in the market-oriented production due to their lack of access to markets, capital, inputs, and technology and extension services. In this paper, possibilities have been explored of linking smallholders to markets through such institutions as cooperatives, growers’ associations and contract farming that reduce marketing and transaction costs and alleviate some production constraints. Evidence has shown that smallholders do participate and make a sizeable contribution to the production of high-value food commodities, but their links to markets are not strong. Though market institutions like cooperatives, contract farming and growers’ associations do not altogether ignore smallholders, some policy support is imperative to strengthen their linkages with the markets

Adult hemorrhagic moyamoya disease: The paradoxical role of combined revascularization

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) in adults often manifests with hemorrhage. Combined revascularization in hemorrhagic MMD is controversial as improvement in hemodynamics may be offset by hypervascularity-induced rebleeding. Aim: Long-term outcome assessment of adult patients from non-endemic region with hemorrhagic MMD undergoing combined revascularization. Setting: Tertiary care, academic setting. Materials and Methods: Both Suzuki′s internal carotid artery (ICA) grade (1-6) and Mugikura′s posterior cerebral artery (PCA) grade (1-4) were applied to 11 patients with hemorrhagic MMD (mean symptom duration 6.11±6.46 months) undergoing direct [superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass] and indirect encephalomyosynangiosis (EMSA) revascularization. They were clinically graded at follow-up (F/U) as: excellent, preoperative symptoms resolved; good, preoperative symptoms resolved, neurological deficits remained; fair, symptom frequency decreased; and poor, symptoms unchanged/worsened. Digital subtraction angiogram/magnetic resonance angiography (DSA/MRA) assessed the patency of anastomosis and cerebral hemodynamics as: 0 = non-patent; 1 = patent bypass, STA perfused recipient artery, moyamoya vessels unchanged; and, 2 = patent bypass, STA widely perfused MCA territory, moyamoya vessels diminished. An acetazolamide stimulated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) study evaluated regional cerebral vascular reserve (RCVR). Results: Angiographic ICA grades were 5 (n=2), 4 (n=2), 3 (n=4), and 2 (n=3), and PCA grades were 1 (n=8) and 3 (n=3). At F/U (mean: 36.55±21.6 months), clinical recovery was excellent in eight and fair in one. Two patients developed delayed re-hemorrhage (in one at a site remote from previous bleed). F/U DSA/MRA (n=6) showed a good caliber, patent anastomosis with collaterals in five patients, and a narrow caliber anastomotic vessel in one patient. SPECT (n=6) revealed improved perfusion in two and normal perfusion with persisting regional decrease in RCVR in four patients. Conclusions: Combined direct and indirect revascularization improves cerebral circulation and ameliorates ischemic symptoms, but cannot irrevocably prevent rebleeding. Re-hemorrhage may occur at a site remote from previous bleeding, signifying generalized impairment in moyamoya vasculature

<b>Socio-ecological and economical impact of fly ash in soil reclamation</b>

137-151 Application of fly ash for reclamation of soil is of much significance from the consideration of its disposal and gainful utilization. Based on intrinsic pozzolanic property and distinctive physico-chemical characteristics of fly ash/pond ash, lot of efforts has been made on this aspect globally. The characteristics of the ashes of significance include low bulk density, high water holding capacity and porosity, rich in silt-sized particles, alkaline nature, negligible solubility, reasonable plant nutrients. The studies made and conclusions drawn in mostly suffer from the variations of ash characteristics, soil types, and agro-climatic conditions. Finding out the relationship of the effects of ash between different plant species and soil types is difficult. The literature suggests huge potential for the bulk use of ashes alone and in combination with inorganic and organic amendments to improve cultivable, degraded/waste land, mine soil, landfills, and also to reclaim abandoned ash ponds through biological means. The toxicity concern generally is not of much concern owing to the ashes being generally alkaline, having elements of concerns in oxide form, and their concentration well below the limits prescribed for soil application of wastes. It may be of concern in respect of arsenic in the overseas ashes having higher range of arsenic than the prescribed limit. In Indian context, it is of least concern, particularly in view of overall minimum content of all the elements of concerns among the global ashes. Nevertheless, in case of any toxicity, there is plenty of scope for combating the problem through combination treatments particularly with organic materials and phytoremediation. The studies made in India using ash alone and in combination with other amendments on lab scale, pot experiment, research farm, and field scale, are in general promising. In particular, findings of demonstration trials including long-term field trials carried out at Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research (Digwadih Campus) (erstwhile Central Fuel Research Institute), Dhanbad using the ashes alone and in combination with inorganic/organic amendments on cultivation of different pulses, cereals, oil yielding, and vegetable crops and growing various plant species in cultivable and problematic soils are encouraging in an eco-friendly manner, and being adopted by the farmers. The best ash application doses being up to 100 t/ha for cultivable land and up to/and or beyond 200 t/ha for waste/degraded land and mine refuse depending on their characteristics. Combination treatments including bio-solids are better as compared with ash alone application. Such applications of fly ash with corresponding beneficial impact on agriculture and forestry could solve the disposal problem of gigantic ash generation in an eco-friendly manner and improve the socio-economic condition of the farmers. This, above and beyond, continuous study in parallel for longer duration, needs to be accelerated by the Government of India with renewed interest through different extension programmes involving the State Governments, farmers, and ash generating organizations to achieve maximum utilization. </smarttagtype