Farm level data were used to analyze the impact of hybrid rice (PA 6444) cultivation for livelihood security and income enhancement on tribal farm households in community development block Kalsi of Dehradun district of Uttarakhand. 89 tribal farmers were selected randomly for finding cost and return of rice varieties, farm income inequality and optimum crop plan. CACP costs concept (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) and linear programming model (LINDO compute based software) were used for calculating costs and returns and to develop optimal crop combination for tribal farmers respectively. Gini-coefficient was used for finding farm income inequality. Gross return and net returns per hectare were found highest in hybrid rice than other varieties. Per rupee invested was also highest which was ₹1.74. LP model suggested that hybrid rice (PA 6444) and pant dhan-12 were feasible in tribal area and net return was increased about 121%. Gini-coefficient indicated farm income equality in year 2012-13 was more in comparison to year 2013-14 when hybrid rice was introduced in this year on the tribal farm. This study shows more area should be allocated under hybrid rice cultivation so that income of tribal farmers can be increase for ensuring their livelihood security and reduce the farm income inequality.

The present study was undertaken in tribal area of Uttarakhand state. Objective of this paper is economic evaluation of hybrid rice technology for adoption and food security in tribal dominating area. 145 rice plots were randomly selected from three villages of community development block Kalsi to analyze cost and returns of hybrid and non hybrid rice. The yield of hybrid rice was 71 quintals per hectare which was 90% higher than non hybrid rice (37 quintals per ha) and 14% increase in cost of cultivation resulted into 88% increase in net returns in hybrid rice as compared to non-hybrid rice in the selected tribal area. 65% farm income was increased in year 2013-14 from previous year due to introduction of hybrid rice in the tribal field. Inequality in farm income was decreased which was showed by Lorenz and Gini-coefficient. It was 0.68 in 2013-14, which was less as compared to 0.74 in year 2012-13. This study further emphasized policies for adoption of hybrid rice cultivation as an important and most suitable rice variety for strengthening food security and poverty reduction in tribal area.

An experiment was conducted to observe the “Impact of weather factors on the incidence of major insect pests of okra” during kharif season of 2014 at Entomological experimental field, college of agriculture JNKVV Jabalpur (M.P.). Major activity period of jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula) was observed from August 2014 to October 2014 with two distinct peaks during 36th and 37th SW (Standard Week) (131.50 and 136.00 jassid/ per 30 leaves) and Aphis gossypii was observed from August 2014 to 1st week October 2014 with two distinct peak 36th and 37th SW (46.50 and 44.50 Aphid/ per 30 leaves) respectively while Bemisia tabaci was appeared first week of August to last week of September 2014 with two distinct peak 34th and 35th SW (3.83 and 3.33 whitefly/ per 30 leaves). Shoot and Fruit borer, Earias vittella observed from last week of August 2014 up to crop maturity 43rd SW with three distinct peak 36th, 40th, & 41st SW (42.00, 41.33 and 41.67 % fruit infestation). Analysis of correlation regression between weather (abiotic) factors and the major insect pests of okra showed that population of Amrasca biguttula biguttula had a significant positive correlation with maximum temperature (r=0.58) and (byx=18.15) while Bemisia tabaci had a significant positive correlation with minimum temperature (r=0.67) and (byx0.34). While Aphis gossypii and Earias vittella showed that non significant relationship with weather parameter.

Among the insecticides studied, highest percent mycelial growth was inhibited by chlorfenapyr at all the four concentrations tested followed by chlorantraniliprole (18.5 SC) at 500 and 1000 ppm concentration, while, fenvalerate (20 EC) possess least fungicidal property with 54.13 to 58.38 per cent mycelial inhibition. The combining effect of difenoconazole (25 EC) with insecticides indicated that difenoconazole is compatible with diafenthiuron 50 WP (84.16 to 91.30 % mycelial inhibition), novaluron 10 EC (81.38 to 92.31% mycelial inhibition), emamectin benzoate 5 WG (82.22 to 89.04% mycelial inhibition), indoxacarb 15.8 EC (81.37 to 88.55 % mycelial inhibition), chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC (82.28 to 88.37% mycelial inhibition) , fenvalerate 20 EC (81.83 to 88.12% mycelial inhibition), chlorfenapyr 10 SC (78.46 to 88.44% mycelial inhibition) flubendiamide 480 SC (81.45 to 87.06 % mycelia inhibition) and spinosad 45 SC (75.66 to 88.19 % inhibition). Regarding compatibility of mancozeb 75 WP with insecticides its bio-efficacy was enhanced with indoxacarb 15.8 EC (66.58 to 84.55% mycelial inhibition) at all concentrations followed by chlorfenapyr 10 SC (66.42 to 79.92% mycelial inhibition), diafenthiuron 50 WP (66.51 to 78.70% mycelial inhibition), flubendiamide 480 SC (63.27 to 78.41% mycelial inhibition), chlorantranilliprole 18.5 SC (62.36 to 81.82% inhibition), spinosad 45 SC (64.43 to 78.71% mycelia inhibition), emamectin benzoate 5 WG (63.84 to 72.40% mycelial inhibition) and novaluron 10 EC (63.66 to 70.63 % inhibition). The least mycelial inhibition was observed in case of mancozeb 75 WP + fenvalerate 20 EC (62.61 to 75.55%).

A sero-prevalence study was carried out in caprine population of Sidhi (M.P.) using Rose Bengal plate test and comparison of serum biochemical parameters between Brucella infected and healthy goats was done. Sixty blood samples were collected from different areas of Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh and sero-prevalence study was carried out according to age and body condition of animals. Following screening by Rose Bengal plate test 7.69% and 17.64% sero-conversion was seen in young and adult animals, respectively. In reference to body condition good and poor body conditioned animal showed 5.88% and 16.27% sero-prevalence, respectively. The overall sero-prevalence calculated was 13.33% as performed by RBPT. RBPT positive serum samples were analyzed for serum biochemical parameters like total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen (BUN),) alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). The result of biochemical parameters showed that value of total protein and blood urea nitrogen did not show any significant changes (P<0.05) in Brucella infected goats. Value of glucose and albumin significantly decreased (P<0.05) whereas value of cholesterol, globulin, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase increased (P<0.05) significantly. Sero-prevalence study is important in calculating the population of animal, which are exposed to infection and to detect anti Brucella antibody in serum. Biochemical parameters studies revealed the change in blood profile of animals following Brucella infection and observe the deteriorative changes in animal health.