B.R. Nahata Smriti Sansthan Agricultural Extension Journal (AEXTJ)

Precision Agriculture for Efficient Water use Through Farmers’ Cooperatives in Iran

Farhood Golmohammadi — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Agriculture is a highly water-consuming activity, and water resources worldwide are heavily exploited for food production. Pollution due to agricultural activities in Iran has increased during the last two decades. Pollutions are released into the atmosphere and thereafter pollute water and soil resources. Agriculture is heavily impacted by present climate change, and the potential reduction of harvest may lead to larger water requirements for sustainable yield and a decline of food security worldwide. This trend is increasing under population growth pressure, and recently increased agricultural land deals that led to transnational water abstraction to sustain food requirements. The concept of virtual water was introduced, that is, the water embodied in the production and trade of agricultural commodities, and assessment of virtual water trade between nations is now a means to quantify the worldwide budget of water resources. A key concept to virtual water quantification is the water footprint, developed for water use assessment in the production of goods, especially food. Water footprint and virtual water trade are used to assess the implications of worldwide trading strategies for food security, also pending climate warming. Nowadays agricultural methods developments that are productively, economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable are required immediately. The concept of precision agriculture is becoming an attractive idea for managing natural resources and realizing modern sustainable agricultural development. Plus pictures of the author’s field research visit from a modern and newly established greenhouse complex in Darmian County in south Khorasan province, south east of Iran. In this greenhouse complex utilizing modern technologies for desalination and suiting it for growing plants and fish farming etc. in this greenhouse complex planting trees of orange inside the greenhouse – as a byproduct and fancy and amusing tree – and jujube (Ziziphus jujube) and Grape (vinifera) trees and shrubs – as a windbreaker and sunshade trees – outside the greenhouse, plus utilizing and selling their products. This greenhouse complex was established by loans and the help of the central government, agricultural bank, and local people in this deprived and remote area with a high degree of salt in its water and soil. In this article, the author discusses and states the most important aspects of precision agriculture for ecological and environmental benefits through farmers’ cooperatives for organizing collective action.

A viewpoint toward food safety, hygiene and security in Iran: Situations, problems and approaches (Local markets and foods in South Khorasan and Fars provinces)

Farhood Golmohammadi — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Diet plays an important role in the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In the Islamic Republic of Iran, national activities were started after the release of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) action plan on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. The WHO’s five keys to safer food manual is recognized as a global strategy to train food producers to reduce the burden of foodborne disease. The effect of educational intervention based on the WHO’s safer food manual on the knowledge, attitude, and behavior. An educational intervention based on the WHO’s five keys to a safer food manual can improve the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of women referring to comprehensive health service centers. Therefore, one of the main global challenges in designing strategies to control and manage NCDs in large countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran is a modification of food traditions. In this article, the author discusses and states the most important aspects of food safety, hygiene, and security in Iran: situations, problems, and approaches with a viewpoint toward local markets and foods in south Khorasan and Fars provinces.

Performance Evaluation of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Varieties in West Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

Beshir Hamido — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Linseed is the second most important oilseed crop and stands next to rapeseed-mustard in the area of cultivation and seed production in India. Every part of the linseed plant is utilized commercially, either directly or after processing. Linseeds are grown for the extraction of oil from the seeds. Linseed seeds contain high levels of dietary fiber. About 20% of the total linseed oil produced is used by farmers and the rest about 80% goes to industries for the manufacture of paints, varnish, oilcloth, linoleum, printing ink, etc. Despite the multiple uses of the crop in improving soil fertility and nutrient-rich food, there are no more improved varieties in the study areas. Thus, the study was carried out with the intention of evaluating, selecting, and recommending the well-performed linseed varieties to the study areas. Different linseed varieties (viz; Dibenne, Furtu, Kuma, Tolle, and Yadenno) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications at three locations. The analysis of variance for an individual environment indicated that the total seed yield showed a significant difference at all test environments. The combined analysis of variance for the total seed yield also showed a significant difference amongst the cultivars. The mean seed yield values of the tested varieties averaged across the environments showed that the variety Kuma was found to have the best seed yield (2.07 ton/ha) as followed by the variety Furtu with its mean seed yield of 1.95 ton/ha. The varietal effect had contributed more in varying the total yield performance. Lin and Binns’ cultivar superiority measures for stability analysis identified the variety Kuma as the most stable variety. Generally, the variety Kuma was identified to be the most adaptable and the most stable variety as compared to the other tested varieties to the present ecology of study. Therefore, this variety has been recommended to the study areas so that the farmers of the area can use this variety.

Performance Evaluation of Garlic (Allium Sativum L.) Varieties in West Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

Usman Kedir — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Garlic is grown worldwide in all temperate to subtropical and tropical hilly areas as an important spice and medicinal plant. Ethiopia, with its diversified agroecological conditions, is suitable for garlic production. However, its production and productivity are very low due to many biotic and abiotic factors. It was also indicated that a lack of improved varieties and garlic rust are the major contributing factors responsible for the low production and productivity of garlic in Ethiopia. It is, therefore, crucial to identify appropriate cultivars with high productivity and quality suiting to target study environments. The current study was therefore initiated with the intention of evaluating and selecting high-performing garlic varieties under the conditions of West Arsi Zone and other similar agroecologies. Three garlic varieties, namely, Holeta (HL), Kuriftu, and Tseday 92, were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications at three locations for two consecutive cropping seasons under rainfed conditions. The analysis of variance of an individual environment revealed that the total bulb yield showed a significant difference at all test environments. The combined analysis of variance for the total bulb yield also showed a significant difference among the varieties and locations. The mean bulb yield values of the tested varieties averaged across the environments showed that the variety HL was found to have the highest mean bulb yield (6.99 ton/ha), followed by the variety Kuriftu with its mean bulb yield of 6.36 ton/ha. The varietal effect contributed more to varying the total bulb yield performance. However, the presence of blocking and/or replicating within the testing environment could not influence more to the total bulb yield of the tested garlic varieties. In general, the variety HL was found to be the most adaptable variety for the present ecology of study areas.

Social Behavior of Large White Yorkshire Piglets during Pre-weaning Period Reared on Cement Concrete Floor

G. P. Shende — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

After farrowing, 24-day-old Large White Yorkshire piglets of either sex from 3 L were reared on normal conventional concrete flooring along with their mother till weaning (56 days). The behavioral pattern of piglets was studied at different hours continuously from morning 6 am to evening 6 pm at 60-min intervals daily. The behavioral pattern of piglets was recorded by visual recording from outside the pen without interfering with the natural behavior of the piglets during the study period. It was observed that sleeping was one of the prominent behaviors found throughout the experimental period, which was exhibited maximum during the first fortnight. Lying postural behavior was highest during the fourth fortnight. Standing postural behavior was recorded highest during the third fortnight and it was statistically significant (P < 0.01) from the first, second, and fourth fortnight. Only very few piglets were observed in sitting posture throughout the experimental period. The mean percentage of moving postural behavior was highest in the third fortnight. There was an increasing trend in agonistic behavior as the age advanced. Nose contact and belly contact social behaviors were expressed highest during the fourth fortnight. Tail-biting social behavior was expressed only during the third and fourth fortnight. Ear-biting social behavior was expressed only at the fourth fortnight during the experimental period.

Postural Behavior of Large White Yorkshire Piglets during Preweaning Period Reared on Cement Concrete Floor

G. P. Shende — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

After farrowing, 24-day-old large white Yorkshire piglets of either sex from 3 L were reared on normal conventional concrete flooring along with their mother till weaning (56 days). The behavioral pattern of piglets was studied at different hours continuously from morning 6 am to evening 6 pm at 60-min intervals daily. The behavioral pattern of piglets was recorded by visual recording from outside the pen without interfering with the natural behavior of the piglets during the study period. It was observed that sleeping was one of the prominent behaviors found throughout the experimental period, which was exhibited maximum during the first fortnight. Lying postural behavior was highest during the fourth fortnight. Standing postural behavior was recorded highest during the third fortnight and it was statistically significant (P < 0.01) from the first, second, and fourth fortnight. Only very few piglets were observed in sitting posture throughout the experimental period. The mean percentage of moving postural behavior was highest in the third fortnight. There was an increasing trend in agonistic behavior as the age advanced. Nose contact and belly contact social behaviors were expressed highest during the fourth fortnight. Tail-biting social behavior was expressed only during the third and fourth fortnight. Ear-biting social behavior was expressed only at the fourth fortnight during the experimental period.

Horticulture under Smart Greenhouse

Amit Biswas — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The process of producing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other decorative plants in a controlled, high-tech greenhouse environment that uses cutting-edge technologies to maximize growing conditions is known as horticultural crop production under smart greenhouse systems. Smart greenhouses offer a controlled environment where essential elements, such as temperature, humidity, light, and carbon dioxide levels are accurately maintained, in contrast to traditional techniques of horticulture crop development where variables, such as weather, soil conditions, and pests can be unpredictable. As a result, farmers may produce crops with greater consistency in quality and quantity while using fewer resources and having a smaller negative impact on the environment. The present manuscript will elaborate several vital features of horticultural crop cultivation under smart greenhouses along with different benefits.