December 2022 Volume 4 Issue 2

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES & ALLIED INDUSTRIES JOURNAL

A Study on Constraints, Challenges and Future Prospects of Farmer Producer Organizations in India

Dr. Anuj Tiwari

  • Pages: 1-4
    • <p>Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are increasingly recognized as important institutional mechanisms for empowering small and marginal farmers in India. They promote collective action, improve bargaining power, reduce transaction costs, and facilitate market access. However, despite policy support and government initiatives, many FPOs continue to face operational, financial, managerial, and infrastructural challenges. This review paper critically examines the major constraints affecting the performance of FPOs and explores future prospects for strengthening these organizations. The paper highlights issues related to governance, institutional finance, market linkage, infrastructure, technology adoption, and policy implementation. It further discusses strategies for improving sustainability and long-term viability of FPOs in India.</p>

Effect of Combined Application of Organic Manures and Chemical Fertilizers on Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Uptake in Wheat

Mandeep Kumar1 , Ravikesh Kumar Pal2 , Sarvesh Kumar2 and Durgesh kumar maurya4

  • Pages: 1-13
    • <p>Sustainable wheat production requires balanced nutrient management strategies that improve crop productivity while maintaining soil fertility and environmental quality. Excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers has contributed to nutrient imbalance, declining soil organic matter, reduced microbial activity, and deterioration of soil health in intensive agricultural systems. Integrated nutrient management involving combined application of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers has emerged as an effective strategy for sustaining wheat productivity and improving nutrient-use efficiency. The present investigation evaluated the effect of combined application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and soil health in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A field experiment comprising twelve nutrient management treatments involving farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, poultry manure, crop residue incorporation, biofertilizers, and recommended doses of NPK fertilizers was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that integrated nutrient treatments significantly improved plant height, tiller production, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, grain yield, straw yield, and nutrient uptake compared with control and sole inorganic fertilizer application. The highest grain yield (6.82 t ha?&sup1;), nitrogen uptake, and soil organic carbon were recorded under integrated application of FYM + vermicompost + biofertilizers + 75% recommended dose of fertilizers. Integrated treatments enhanced soil microbial biomass carbon, nutrient availability, and nutrient-use efficiency while reducing nutrient losses. The study demonstrates that combined use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources improves wheat productivity and contributes to sustainable soil management in intensive cropping systems.</p>

Effect of Inorganic Fertilizer Levels and Application Strategies on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Dr. Sarvesh Kumar, Dr. Ashish Srivastav, and Dr. Vinay Joseph silas

  • Pages: 1-6
    • <p>A field experiment was conducted to assess the influence of various levels and methods of inorganic fertilizer application on the growth, yield, quality, and economics of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) during the 2025&ndash;2026 rabi season at Rama University, Kanpur. Nine treatments comprising control, graded doses of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) from 50% to 150%, split application of nitrogen, foliar micronutrients, and foliar urea were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. Growth and yield parameters improved progressively with increasing fertilizer levels up to 125% RDF. The most effective treatment was 100% RDF supplemented with two foliar sprays of micronutrients (Zn and B at 0.5% each), which recorded the highest plant height (66.8 cm), head diameter (19.2 cm), fresh head weight (1230.5 g), and marketable yield (307.6 q ha?&sup1;). This treatment also produced superior quality attributes, including TSS of 7.0 &deg;Brix, ascorbic acid content of 64.1 mg/100 g, and compactness index of 0.95. Application of 150% RDF resulted in a slight decline in performance. Economically, the treatment with 100% RDF + foliar micronutrients gave the highest net returns of ?2,25,320 per hectare with a B:C ratio of 2.57, while 75% RDF combined with foliar urea sprays recorded the best benefitcost ratio of 2.61.</p>

Marker Assisted Breeding Technique and its Consequences in Development of Biotic and Abiotic Stress Resistance in Crop Plants

Syed Mohd Quatadah , Nagmi Praween , Aneeta Yadav, Jitendra Kumar and Vinay Joseph Silas

  • Pages: 1-13
    • <p>Agriculture is continuously facing severe challenges due to increasing population, climate change, emerging pathogens, and degradation of natural resources. Conventional breeding methods have contributed significantly towards crop improvement, but they are often time consuming and less precise in transferring desirable traits. Marker assisted breeding (MAB) has emerged as one of the most important modern breeding approaches for improving crop plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. During the last two decades, enormous progress has been achieved in molecular marker technologies, genome mapping, quantitative trait loci (QTL) identification, and marker assisted selection (MAS). These advancements have accelerated crop improvement programs in several cereal, pulse, oilseed, fruit, and vegetable crops. Marker assisted breeding enables breeders to select plants carrying desirable genes without depending completely on phenotypic screening(Collard and Mackill, 2008). This approach has reduced breeding duration and improved selection efficiency. Various types of molecular markers such as RFLP, RAPD, AFLP, SSR, SNP and DArT markers have been widely utilized in crop breeding programs. In recent years, genomic selection and high throughput genotyping technologies have further strengthened marker assisted breeding. The present review article discusses the development of marker assisted breeding techniques and their applications in developing resistance against biotic stresses including diseases, insect pests and nematodes as well as abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heat, flooding and cold stress. The article also highlights recent advancements, limitations, challenges and future prospects of marker assisted breeding in sustainable crop improvement.</p>

Impact of integrated nutrient management on the growth, yield, and quality of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Vinay Joseph Silas, Jitendra Kumar, ,Sarvesh Kumar, Syed Mohd Quatadah,& Ashish Srivastava

  • Pages: 1-11
    • <p>The present investigation entitled Study of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Quality of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]" was conducted during Kharif season from July to November2023 at College of Horticulture, Rama University, Kanpur. he experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with10treatments viz., T1-Control (No use of fertilizers), T2-100% Recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), T3-75% RDF + 25%RDN through FYM + Azotobactor+ Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria [PSB], T4-50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM, T5-75% RDF + 25% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobactor + Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria [PSB], T6-50% RDF + 50% RDN through vermicompost, T7-75% RDF + 12.5% RDN through FYM + 12.5% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobactor+ Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria [PSB], T8-50% RDF + 25% RDN through FYM + 25% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobactor+ Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria [PSB], T9 -100% RDN through FYM and T10-100% RDN throughvermicompost. These treatments were replicated thrice.The growth attributes weresignificantly affected due to the different INM treatments.Application of inorganic fertilizers in combination with organic manures and biofertilizers i.e. 75% RDF + 12.5% RDN through FYM + 12.5% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobactor+ Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria [PSB] recorded significantly higher plant height(25.16, 78.68, and 125.64 cm), number of leaves(11.54, 45.55 and 55.50), number of branches(0, 2.19 and 4.41)and inter nodal length(2.41, 5.47 and 6.95 cm)at 30, 60 and at final harvestrespectively</p>

Transgenic Technology and Its Impact on Crop Improvement for Global Food Security

Dr. Aneeta Yadav , Dr. Syed Mohd Quatadah , Dr. Nagmi Praween , Dr. Jitendra Kumar and Dr. Vinay Joseph Silas

  • Pages: 1-6
    • <p>Transgenic technology has emerged as one of the most important biotechnological tools in modern agriculture. It involves the transfer of desirable genes from one organism into another to improve agronomic traits such as yield potential, pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, nutritional quality and abiotic stress resistance. During the last three decades, genetically modified (GM) crops have shown considerable contribution toward sustainable agriculture and global food security. With increasing world population, decreasing arable land and changing climatic conditions, conventional breeding alone is not sufficient to meet future food demands. Therefore, transgenic technology provides an alternate and faster approach for crop improvement. This review article discusses the historical development, methods, applications, advantages, limitations and future prospects of transgenic technology in agriculture. The impact of GM crops on food security, farmer income and environmental sustainability is also highlighted. However, biosafety concerns, ethical issues and public acceptance remain major challanges in many countries. Overall, transgenic crops have huge potential in ensuring food availability and agricultural sustainability in future years. (Ramesh et al., 2004; James, 2015)</p>

Plant Health Management under Changing Agricultural Systems: Conventional, Biological, and Natural Farming Perspectives

Kartikay Bisen, Vinay J Silas, Aneeta Yadav

  • Pages: 1-18
    • <p>Plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and other pathogens are major constraints to global agricultural productivity and food security. Conventional disease management practices, particularly the use of chemical pesticides, have significantly reduced crop losses and improved agricultural production; however, their excessive use has led to environmental pollution, pathogen resistance, harmful effects on non-target organisms, and risks to human health. In recent years, sustainable approaches such as biological control, integrated disease management (IDM), and natural farming have gained importance for eco-friendly disease management. Natural farming emphasizes soil health, biodiversity, beneficial microorganisms, organic amendments, and botanical extracts to suppress plant pathogens and enhance plant resistance. Bioagents such as Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus species have shown considerable potential in sustainable crop protection. This review highlights the economic importance of plant diseases, conventional and natural disease management approaches, ecological impacts of chemical pesticides, and future strategies for sustainable plant health management and global food security.</p>
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