The study was undertaken to discern the nature and extent of spatial integration of wholesale prices of major potato markets of Uttarakhand using the weekly wholesale price data from 2015 to 2017. The Johannes’s co-integration test was used to test for long run market integration. Dynamics of short-run price responses were examined by using Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The wholesale markets of potato were shown to be integrated. However, the price transmission in short-run was insignificant. The wholesale markets of potato found to be segmented with the other markets of Uttarakhand, which signifies that the longer the distance, the lesser the integration could be observed. So, it may be concluded that while the prices are tied together in long-run, they drift apart in the short-run because of paucity of availability of information and lack of dissemination of available information. The co-integration analysis among the major potato markets of Uttarakhand reveals that the significant short-run association was missing in Rudrapur market so there is a weak association between the markets in short-run.

A distribution channel is a chain of business intermediaries through which a good or service passes until it reaches the final buyer or the end consumer. The present study conducted in Madanapalle block of Chittor district in Andhra Pradesh state. The multi stage purposive sampling technique has been adopted to select the sample farmers, traders, commission agents, retailers and consumers for the study. The data collected from 165 respondents by personal interview method and analysis has done by using various standard cost concepts such as Marketing Efficiency, Price Spread, Marketing Costs, Marketing Channel and Marketing Margin to find out the market distribution channel of tomato. The study revealed that in case of tomato crop channel II was efficient compared to channel I. Consequently, marketing costs and margins were very less in channel II compared to other channel which increasd its marketing efficiency.

The specific objectives of the study are to analyze the existing status and impediments, and to suggest the pertinent policy measures in order to improve the status of the food security in terms of calorie, protein and fat intake of sample households. Fifty sample respondents have been selected from the enterprises-cultivation of agriculture, on the basis of Simple Random Sampling without Replacement. The reference year of the study is 2015-16. The overall calorie intake is higher than the recommended daily allowance of 2425 kcal/day/CU. But amongst the various groups, the calorie intake of Group-2 is lower than the recommended calorie intake. The overall protein intake is higher than the recommended daily allowance of 60 gm/day/CU. But amongst the various groups, the protein intake of Group-4 and Group-5 is much higher than the recommended protein intake. The sample households from Group-2 need to be made aware of the concept of balanced diet and more intakes of fruits, vegetables, eggs and chicken. The sample households from Group-4 and Group-5 need to practice diet control and made aware of fewer intakes of rice, wheat, potato, sugar, vegetables etc.

The present study was carried out in adopted village of JNKVV, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Katni during 2014–17 to develop an ideal eco-friendly approach from different integrated farming system models. Suitable combinations of different components like crop production, animal husbandry, horticulture, vegetables, fisheries, backyard poultry and water harvesting were followed to generate employment under lowland situations and doubling farmer’s income. Due to adoption of improved package of practices and plant protection measures, the paddy yield increased to 4.15 t/ha in 2016-17 as compared to 3.59 t/ha in 2015-16 and 2.65 t/ha in 2014-15. Similarly, the other crop yields (onion, cauliflower, chilli, guvava, papaya) was increased by 13.5 to 49.1 percent after adoption of improved cultivation methods under integrated farming system. Livestock production (milk yield, egg and fish) was increased significantly in 2016-17 as compared to 2014-15. Integrated construction of water harvesting structures resulted meeting out the irrigation requirements of crops with fisheries. Integrated farming system also provided employment generation to the small and marginal rural households of Katni (central India) and entrusted sustainable development of livelihood in many ways like engaging more women in agriculture farming than men and providing higher net returns to the farmers as compared to traditional farming.

The study was conducted to evaluate the response of okra under different levels of drip irrigation and polythene mulching on crop growth, yield and water use of okra. The treatments included three irrigation levels of drip irrigation, (100% (T1), 80% (T2) and 60% (T3) of full irrigation requirement) and furrow irrigation (T4). The experiment also had same set of treatments under-mulched conditions (T5, T6, T7, T8). The study indicated that drip irrigation in combination with mulching, significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant and fruit yield of okra crop. The percentage increase in the yield due to mulches were 66.8 %, 65.8 %, 111.8 % and 131.1 % higher for mulched treatments T5, T6 T7and T8, respectively, over the corresponding non-mulched treatments. The drip irrigation in combination with mulching increased the okra yield significantly over furrow irrigation to the tune of 60-167 %. The study recommends drip irrigation with mulch for higher land and water productivity of okra grown during zaid season.

The progress and prosperity of a nation to a larger extent depends on its youth power. The energy of the youth (if handled carefully) can lay a strong foundation for creative and responsible citizenship of tomorrow. In order to determine the vocational aspiration of youth, the study was conducted on 100 students of Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan (HP). The study revealed that a majority of the respondents (61%) wanted to go for Post-graduation followed by (29%) who wanted to prepare for the competitive examination. Civil services followed by University services, Indian Forest Services, Defense forces and banking sector were the vocational preferences by the respondents. Parents’ expectation/pressure, carrier opportunities, nature of job, social status and prestige were some of the main factors influencing their vocational preferences.

This study was undertaken to assess the economic evaluation of drip irrigation system (surface and subsurface) in wheat cultivation. The experiment was laid out in Split plot design with three replications. Economic analysis revealed that the total cost of cultivation, gross and net monetary return increases with decrease in lateral and emitter spacings in both surface and subsurface drip irrigation system. The gross monetary return (114242 Rs ha-1), net monetary return (72662 Rs ha-1) was higher in the treatment combination surface drip irrigation with 60 cm lateral spacing and 20 cm emitter spacing. While minimum gross monetary return (53120 Rs ha-1), Net monetary return (23813 Rs ha-1) were recorded in check basin irrigation method. The highest benefit cost ratio of 2.75 was recorded in surface drip irrigation with 60 cm lateral spacing and 20 cm emitter spacing. The comparative economic analysis of drip irrigation method and check basin irrigation method presented in this study will assist the farmers in selection of lateral and emitter spacings for cultivation of wheat crop.

A study was carried out through participatory on farm testing during October-January (rabi season) of 2015-16 and 2016-17 at 5 villages in Karbi Anglong district under hill zone of Assam in farmers’ field with an objective to assess the effect of foliar application of urea on performances of Toria as compared to the soil application of recommended dose of fertilizers and farmer’s practice. The results revealed that foliar application of N at 50% flowering and at 50% pod initiation stage with soil application of 50% recommended N and full dose of P & K was found significantly superior over recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and farmers practice in all the growth indices and yield attributing characters like plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of branches, number of siliquae per plant, seeds per siliqua and 1000 grain weight and ultimately resulted to higher yields. The same produced seed yield of 10.88 q ha-1 which is 50.06% and 10.79 % higher than farmers practice and RDF with stover yield 21.73 q ha-1 and harvest index (33.36%). The foliar feeding gave additional net return of Rs.3600.00 ha-1 and Rs 2430.00 ha-1 as compared to farmers practice and RDF respectively.

A field experiment was conducted from February-April 2018 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to investigate the influence of integrated nutrient management practice on the nutrient content and organoleptic properties of fresh baby corn cob. The treatment includes four organic sources for N substitution on N equivalent basis and biofertilizer treatments. The highest ascorbic acid content (10.67 mg g-1) was recorded when 25% of N was substituted through vermicompost (s2). Application of biofertilizer (b1) produced significantly higher total soluble sugar (6.86o Brix), reducing sugar (2.89%) and ascorbic acid content (10 mg g-1) in cob compared to b0. The INM practice in which 50% N substituted through poultry manure (25%) and vermicompost (25%) with PGPR-1 (s4b1) or 25% N substituted through vermicompost alone with PGPR-1 (s2b1), combined with remaining N, full P and K through chemical source recorded the highest mean score and mean rank values in organoleptic study.

Front Line Demonstrations(FLD) on selective mechanization in rice were conducted by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra to demonstrate its production potential and economic benefit over existing traditional practice of manual transplanting during rabi season of 2012-13 and 2013-14 in the field of 30 farmers in Dakshina Kannada district of Coastal Karnataka. Each FLD was laid out in an area of 0.4 ha with farmers practice as check. The technology comprised of mat nursery, mechanical transplanting and use of kono weeder. The results indicated that selective mechanization in rice recorded a yield of 42.25 q/ha compared farmers practice (33.75) an increase by 22 percent over a period of two years. The average technology gap and index was found to be 7.75 and 15.5 respectively. There was additional net returns gain by Rs.19812/- in mechanization compared to farmers practice.

The study was planned to assess the rainfall variation and its correlation with productivity of Kharif Groundnut for Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. In order to study inter-relationship between rainfall and groundnut yield, correlation analysis technique was employed. The analysis was done for seasonal as well as monthly rainfall. The results indicated that, correlation coefficient between seasonal rainfall and groundnut yield was found to be 0.40. The correlation of June rainfall was highest with coefficient of 0.596 and lowest with August rainfall (0.004). Groundnut yield was negatively correlated with July rainfall with coefficient of -0.085.

There are as many as 23 insect pests found associated with large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.), but all of them are not causing the economic damage to the plant. Among the insect pests that attack large cardamom, leaf caterpillar (Artona chorista Jordon), stem borer (Glyphipterix spp.) Shootfly, (Merochlorops dimorphus Cherian) and White grub (Holotrichia sp.) are considered as important pests. Aphids are responsible for transmitting viral diseases viz., chirke and foorkey. Major threat to the crop is the widespread occurrence of fungal and viral diseases causing considerable damage and consequent loss in devastating proportions. The fungal disease Colletotrichum blight has devastated the large cardamom plantation and is the cause of concern for severe crop loss and decline in plant population in the recent past. The pests and diseases affecting large cardamom and their management practices are presented.

Flood and hailstorms are a recurring problem of the Cachar district. It occurs during the onset and recession of the monsoon for 15days during May–June and September–October. Occasional hailstorms are also a problem during March-April. Flood and hail storm often damages both Ahu and Sali rice. To solve this problem a short duration (95-100days) climate resilient variety- Disang (Developed & released by RARS, AAU, Jorhat, 2010) was introduced during early Ahu (pre flood) and post flood situation. Experiment has shown very good performance in yield as well as income point of view. Yield performance and economics has made the Disang variety to become popular in the Cachar district and horizontal expansion occurred in 135nos of villages in convergences mode of KVK, DAO and ATMA Cachar.

Pulse is a highly valued field crop required for our consumption. Its productivity can be increase through proper land planning and scientific interventions. Farmers are the backbone of agriculture and have to be motivated to go for double cropping. All mean has been employed to enhance the productivity yet the production remains low. To minimize the yield gaps and maximize production, Front Line Demonstration on pulse (pea) production is been conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kohima from the year 2015-16 to 2018-19 at various villages of the district. The result from these demonstrations revealed a significant improvement in yield over farmers practice. The yield superiority ranged from 17.85 % to 36 %. A yield overall advantage of 28 percent was also recorded in Technology Demonstrated. Yield gap between 15% to 26.7% was observed over the years with an average yield gap of 25.75 percent. Overall Technical knowledge of the farmers was low, followed by medium and high. Maximum number of farmers (98%) had the knowledge about the intercultural operation followed by method of sowing (92%), seed treatment (48%), varieties (44%), disease control (38 %) and time of irrigation (36 %) respectively.

The study, conducted during, 2011-2018 on the rainwater management aspect through water harvesting tank in a farmer’s field, it was observed that collection and utilization of runoff water is very beneficial in terms of enhancing crop production and farm income, modifying adverse effect of prolonged dry spells, crop diversification, reducing offsite damage to downstream fields due to uncontrolled runoff and through recharging the ground water. The same water harvesting tank can also be used for storage of pumped water and its subsequent efficient use as irrigation to black soils during rabi season. On an average, the lifesaving irrigation to soybean enhanced the soybean production by 10 q/ha and on the other hand the supplemental water increases the chickpea yield from 6 q/ha to 18 q/ha.