Effectiveness of medicinal and aromatic plants is well established for the ancient time in the world. Manifold effect of these herbs for curing the chronic diseases is well established. Industries are now moving forward to collaborate with the farmers to transfer new and effective technologies. High value Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) now can be produced through active participation of company and farmers. Wasteland can also be used by MAPs since it has ability to well performed because in coming years scarcity of natural resources and other inputs can be prominent. Isolation of bio-molecules from MAP’s and improving their contents in plants would further enhance the demand, consequently the profit as these molecules may find use in wide range of applications. The systematic, organized, complementary and globally accepted marketing channel will enhance the socio-economic level of billions people. The basic need is to involve the international industry to develop products through organic cultivation for better effectiveness. The time has come for growers to diversify their traditional grain crops with high value medicinal and aromatic crops.
Phule Satwik (NIAW 3170) is a bread wheat variety developed at Agricultural Research Station, MPKV; Niphad (MS) having IC No IC 632135. It is derived through selection from Elite Spring Wheat Yield Trial and has pedigree SKOLL X ROLF 07. The variety was identified and recommended by Varietal Identification Committee Meeting in 58th AGM of All India Coordinated Research Project on Wheat & Barley. It has been released and notified by Central Sub Committee on Crop Standards, India for cultivation in North Western Plain Zone and Peninsular Zone under restricted irrigation condition vide Gazette Notification No. SO 3482 (E) dated 07th October 2020.
The area under fodder crops in India is 8.6 million ha. which is less than five per cent of the area under cultivation in the country. Green fodder supply in twenties is reported to be 406 million tonnes whereas the demand is 1134 million tonnes. This shows a deficiency by 65 per cent of the demand in India. Additionally, the major concern with regard to feeding livestock arises due to the lower yields of field fodder crops during hot summer. In this scenario, tree fodders act as an important contingent fodder source for livestock. Various tree fodders viz., subabul, gliricidia, bauhinia, calliandra, mulberry, etc., serves as potential feeding source for livestock in our country. Use of tree fodders has numerous advantages viz., easy to grow, available round-the-year, reduced feed costs, improvement in soil properties, cattle production per hectare etc.
In India, insect pests are major constraints in vegetable production. The vegetable growers using chemical pesticides to minimize the loss due to pest and diseases, several alternate ways are available for the pests and they may yield pesticide free vegetable produce. The cultural methods viz., preparation of land, following crop rotation, selection suitable variety, crop management practices and use of traps may give better response in reducing the pest incidence. The biological methods like use of plant products, predators, parasitoids, and microbial bio-agents are now a days a boon in pest management in vegetable. Hence, combined application of cultural as well as biological methods against the pests can be way for production of pesticide free vegetables.
The turmeric crop is affected by three major fungal diseases and the yield of rhizome varied due to the incidences of disease and variety performance. A study was conducted to assess the suitability of varieties against fungal diseases in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Three varieties viz., CO2, IISR pragathi and Attur ruling variety were used to assess the performance against the fungal diseases under field condition. The growth parameters and incidence of rhizome rot in turmeric was recorded from the on farm trial and the results indicated that rhizome rot incidence was low in CO2 variety (2.12 %) and which was followed by IISR pragati (4.51%). The highest yield of rhizome was recorded by CO2 variety and which was followed by attur local variety. In the experiments, IISR pragati matured very earlier than other variety used in the study. The CO2 variety given higher net profit and B: C ratio in the study. The disease incidence viz., rhizome rot, leaf blotch and leaf spot were noticed in all the three varieties; however, rhizome rot incidence was very low in CO2 variety and followed by IISR pragati. The incidence of leaf blotch and leaf spot were comparatively less in IISR pragati when compared to CO2 variety.
The Forest Rights Act, 2006 was extended to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir on 31st October 2019. The act was passed by the Parliament of India on 18th December 2006 and received the assent of the president on 29th December 2006. The act recognizes the Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) as an important and integral part for the conservation of forests and thereby the goal of forest conservation is best served by letting them stay on their lands and not by evicting them. Under this act, the members of the Scheduled Tribes dwelling forests along with other traditional residents will have the right over forest land. Soon after the implementation of this act in J&K, several reports surfaced in Jammu and Kashmir which clearly showed that the Forest dewellers are not getting their rights properly. The Gujjar and Bakarwal families alleged that they being forcefully evicted from their traditional forest areas and a lot of videos and photos emerged on the social media platforms from the various parts of the UT, which invited the attention of rights activists and intense media scrutiny. Forest Rights act should be properly implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. This act will help in ensuring a dignified life to the tribal population. It is duty of government and Forest department to take all the necessary steps by virtue of which people can enjoy the benefits of this act.
In India, mostly farmers are with small and marginal holding. To improve their agricultural productivity and income generation, crop diversification is required. Mushroom cultivation as an enterprise has the potentiality to generate additional income. Sri Hariom Prasad Jaiswal, a farmer of Begusarai district started small scale mushroom cultivation along with his traditional agricultural practice. He generated an additional income of Rs. 19,000.00/- in a season from mushroom production along with his regular income from traditional farming. Considering limited land with farmers, mushroom cultivation could be a promising option for supplementary income generation for small-holding farmers.
Zero tillage can be a way to minimize the cost of cultivation in wheat crop. Sri Ram Jeewan Pandit, from Sakrauli village in Cheriya Bariyarpur block of Begusarai district, is a small land holding farmer. In 2019, frontline demonstration programme on “sowing of wheat by zero tillage method” on 0.74 acre land of Sri Ram Jeewan Pandit has been demonstrated by KVK Begusarai. In zero tillage method more production was observed than traditional method of cultivation. The production was 23q/acre and 20q/acre in case of zero tillage and traditional method respectively, correspondingly the total income in case of zero tillage was Rs. 39,100 which was found 15 percent more than traditional method. Similarly overall benefit in case of traditional method was Rs. 22,920 and in case of zero tillage technology was Rs. 32,260.
Banana fiber extraction technique can give a boost for rural economy. From the waste farmer can make money and variable product in the form of fiber, paper, clothes etc., can be made. This technique can provide social as well as economical security to lesser privileged people of society. Mostly in the banana growing areas waste management through banana fiber creating a new scenario for the rural poor women farmers.
