The knitwear industry has been neglected in terms of supply chain management research. There have been major changes in the industry, particularly with global sourcing and high levels of price competition. This research assesses the various attributes of supply chain to understand the level of support available to the knitwear industry of Ludhiana and to identify the areas where there is dire requirement for improvement. Interview schedule method was used to collect data from twelve knitwear manufacturing firms regarding the status of support services available in the knitwear cluster. It was revealed that the support services in the field of finance, technology and quality management are abundantly available in the knitwear cluster of Ludhiana and there is healthy competition among stakeholders who have good understanding of market and its ever changing status. The major areas of concern were the factors affecting pricing policies like import duties on raw material, cost of power, labour cost in terms of gross salaries and the manpower quality in terms of skilled workmen, competent managers and the training facilities for skill up gradation of employees.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2013–14 to test two new brands of sufonyl urea herbicides from Markfed-Mark sulfo @ 0.024 kg a.i/ha (new brand of sulfosulfuron) and Markpower @ 0.03 kg a.i./ha (new brand of sulfosulfuron+metsulfuron) in wheat. Standard check herbicide Leader @ 0.024 kg a.i/ha (sulfosulfuron) against Mark sulfo was tested and recorded weed control and grain yield at par in both the treatments. Similarly, Markpower @ 0.03 kg a.i./ha (new brand of sulfosulfuron+metsulfuron) was tested against Total @ 0.03 kg a.i./ha (standard check) in wheat which resulted in weed control and grain yield at par with check herbicide.

KVKs are playing an important role in the development of agriculture. Functioning of KVKs can further improve if the problems of SMSs would be properly addressed. Hence present study was conducted in the 20 KVKs of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, comprising of 97 SMSs. Questionnaire was prepared consisted of structured as well as open ended questions and dichotomous response was obtained. Data revealed that most of the respondents were male (63.9%), in middle category of age (49.5%), from Home Science discipline (18.6%), residing between 1 to 53 km distance (74.2%). life members of professional societies (81.4%), having doctorate education (63.9%), married (95.9%), having post graduate (58.1%) and serving spouse (76.3), rural background (57.7%), having nuclear families (51.6%), family occupation service (69.1%) and service experience of 1–11 years (55.0%). SMSs working in KVKs faced constraints which could be categorized in six major categories viz. technological constraints, administrative constraints, socio-economic constraints in relation to farmers, input/other material constraints, personal and other constraints. Whereas less posts of supporting staff, delay in recruitment of vacant posts, lack of incentive for working under hard conditions, too much reporting work, rivalries in the villages, labour shortage at farmer level, price fluctuations in crops other than paddy and wheat and untimely supply of various inputs/budget were the widely spread constraints as expressed by more than 70 per cent of the respondents. However lack of location specific technologies (69.1%), too much reporting work (85.6%), price fluctuations in crops other than paddy and wheat (95.9%), untimely supply of various inputs or budget (80.4%), lack of freedom to disagree with decisions taken by superiors (52.6%) and coterminus nature of the job in Himachal Pradesh (3.1%) were the main constraints in each category respectively. Among the suggestions taken from SMSs, keeping in view the manpower and facilities workload (due to mandated and other SAUs assignments) of KVKs should be critically balanced otherwise time availability for mandated activities will be badly affected, overlapping of activities of KVKs with that of line departments should be removed and KVKs should have freedom to be focussed primarily on the job for which they were created were considered as most relevant.

A simple soil water balance approach was used to estimate actual evapotranspiration of spring maize under variable irrigation regimes for two years on loamy sand soil in a semi arid, subtropical region of north India. Moisture stress to crop was created through three irrigation regimes (irrigation water/open pan evaporation ratio of 1.2 (I1.2), 0.9 (I0.9) I0.9 and 0.6 (I0.6)). Depending upon the changes in climate, year 2007 was hot and dry (9.5 cm less rainfall) compared to 2008. During dry season cumulative actual evapotranspiration was greater than the potential evapotranspiration by 14.4 and 6.6 per cent under I1.2 and I0.9 irrigation regimes, respectively. However under I0.6 cumulative actual evapotranspiration was lower than potential evapotranspiration by 3.6 per cent. In wet season cumulative actual evapotranspiration was increased by 14.9, 10.8 and 4.7 per cent under I1.2, I0.9 and I0.6 irrigation regimes, respectively over potential evapotranspiration. During wet season irrigation regime I0.9 was at par with I1.2 in water use efficiency (WUE) thus, more helpful in saving irrigation water. However during dry season irrigation regime I1.2 was beneficial for increasing WUE through increased grain yield. Rainfall favoured the crop growth and grain yield through lowering air temperature and reducing evaporation and recharging soil water storage. Crop coefficients were increased exponentially with leaf area index (LAI) in all treatments and the variability in crop coefficient was more during dry season compared to wet season.

Evaluation of ten potato genotypes for yield characters in late autumn season was undertaken under different environments viz., E1-haulm cutting 80 days after planting, E2-haulm cutting 100 days after planting and E3-haulm cutting 120 days after planting to assess their suitability for processing purpose. The characters recorded were days to emergence, number of shoots/plant, foliage weight/plant (g), number of tubers/plant, tuber weight (g), tuber length (cm), tuber yield/plant (g), total tuber yield (q/ha). The environmental components were highly significant for all the traits except days to emergence, number of shoots/plant and tuber weight. Genotypes x environment interaction was significant for number of shoots/plant, foliage weight/plant, tuber weight, tuber yield/plant, total tuber yield, Among the three environments, 120 days crop duration (E3) yielded the highest total tuber yield (q/ha) followed by environment E2 (100 days crop duration) and E1 (80 days crop duration). For total and processing grade yield, cvs Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2 and Kufri Ashoka were found with the highest yield in the environment E1. However, in environment E2, for total tuber yield, cvs Kufri Badshah, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2 and Kufri Ashoka performed significantly better than mean and cvs Kufri Badshah, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Lauvkar, Kufri Chipsona-1 and Kufri Chipsona-2 had yielded better than mean value for processing grade yield.

Front line demonstration on seed propagated Multiplier onion cultivar (cv) CO(On) 5 was carried out in Vadavathur village of Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu during Oct 2014-March 2015 to study the cost of production of Co (On) 5. The treatments comprised of propagation of small sized onion through seed, seed treatment with bio control agents (Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescence), nursery management for CO (On) 5, soil test based fertilizer application, foliar spray of micronutrients, and integrated pest management practices for thrips. The plant height at 45 DAP (38.5cm), number of leaf sheath per plant (23), compound bulb weight per plant (14.3–27 g) and bulb yield (20.5t/ha) were highest in CO (On) 5 compared to CO4 and Valayapatti local.

The main objective of Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) is to demonstrate newly released crop production and protection technologies and its management practices at the farmer\\\’s field under different agro-climatic regions and farming situations. Realizing the importance of frontline demonstrations in transfer of okra production technologies, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Roha-Raigad conducted FLDs at farmers’ field and accordingly study was conducted in Raigad district of Maharashtra state. The study revealed that majority (87.5%) of the respondents had adopted hybrid okra variety resistant to yellow mosaic virus disease. The important package of practices where more increase in adoption was found were use of recommended fertilizer dose (50.0%), timely irrigation (45.0%), use of high yielding varieties (35.0%) and use of proper seed rate and spacing (27.5%). There was significant difference observed in yield of okra before conductance of FLD and after FLD programme. B: C ratio of okra crop after FLD was higher than before FLD. It showed impact of FLD on adoption of okra production technologies. The factors responsible for low B: C ratio before FLD was less adoption of all the recommended package of practices for okra crop in the region.

Present training is the initial step for developing entrepreneurial skills in agriculture. It has widened the horizon for economic empowerment of women. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge level of farm women who had acquired trainings from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ferozepur on preparation of cleaning agents. The data were collected from one hundred and ten respondents and evaluated before and after the training through pre structured schedule. During pre evaluation, it was observed that the respondents had poor knowledge regarding mixing of raw ingredients, shelf life and multipurpose use of these cleaning agents. After acquiring the training a majority of the respondents (97.3%) gained knowledge about the kind of utensil used for mixing raw ingredients which is a very important aspect to be considered while preparing the cleaning agents particularly soap. Around 80 per cent of the respondents learnt the benefits of preparing cleaning agents and cost effectiveness while preparing at the household level.

The threat to food security arises from purchasing power of the population groups. Mere availability of food does not guarantee nutritional security to all. Punjab has witnessed tremendous increase in production and productivity of cereal crops in the wake of adoption of new technology. It was found maximum on mechanized farms and least in case of non-mechanized farms. However, net returns were found to be positive in all the three categories under study, though in case of bullock operated farms, maximum proportion of total income was accruing to non-farm sources. Food has emerged as the main component of domestic expenditure in all the three categories, though its proportion decreased at higher level of mechanization. Within food segment, milk and milk products, wheat and sugar have shown a higher share in total food expenditure. The value of food items furnished by the farm itself was found to be higher on semi-mechanized farms and mechanized farms as compared to non-mechanized farms. In case of wheat consumption, the main staple diet of Punjab, 91 per cent was self produced in all the categories. The nutritional status of selected cultivators when compared with Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) depicted a similar pattern across the categories with a bias towards high energy food items like cereals, milk and fats, but was deficit in porteinous and protective food materials like fish, meat, eggs etc.

Among the different sectors of agriculture livestock based information was the most sought information by the farmers in our country. It was reported that hardly five percent of the farm households in India were able to access the information on animal husbandry as against forty percent on crop farming. It was primarily due to the lack of efficient livestock extension system in place. Hence before developing any advisory modules to the farmers, assessment of their informational needs should be prior step. In the present study, a survey was carried out to elicit the present level of knowledge and future information needs of dairy farmers. The study revealed that majority of the farmers i.e. 76.7 per cent of them possessed medium level of knowledge on dairy farming practices. Based on the weighted mean score of each subject area, dairy farmers informational needs were prioritized as most wanted information regarding, nutrition and feeding (2.22), breeding and reproduction (2.15), general management (2.12), health care management (2.08) and fodder production (1.94) respectively. The present status demand the effective livestock extension system in place especially deployment of information communication technologies to address the most sought information needs of the dairy farmers.

The increased pressure to maintain high level of rice output for consumption has resulted in increased use of pesticides on rice fields which leads destruction of rice ecosystem. It has become imperative to develop an effective and holistic system of tackling pests to make it more environmental friendly, economically viable and socially acceptable to farmers which can be achieved through eco-friendly technologies, so it is very important to assess the knowledge level of stakeholders in eco-friendly rice farming in order to identify gap in adoption. Hence a study was designed to develop a standardized test using test construction methodology adopting item analysis procedure, pilot tested with 26 farmer members from non-sample area. The final test consisted of 21 questions having difficulty index value in the range of 20 to 80 and discrimination index value above 0.10 was retained and used to measure the knowledge of stakeholders in eco-friendly rice farming.

A study was carried out on 20 repeat breeding crossbred cows to evaluate the use of ovsynch protocol (Hormonal Protocol) in improving the reproductive efficiency. All the repeat breeding cows were treated with 0.02mg GnRH (Receptal 5 ml i/m) on the day of estrus, on 7th day of estrus cows were given PGF2á (Lutalyse 5 ml I/m) and on 9th day of estrus, all repeat breeding cows were given repeat dose of 0.02mg GnRH (Receptal 5 ml i/m). Artificial insemination was carried out on 24 hrs after last GnRH injection. Conception rate in first, second, third service and overall conception rate was 30.0, 20.5, 5.0 and 55.0 per cent, respectively. Hence, ovsynch protocol is recommended for their judicious use in the field to solve the problem of repeat breeding cross bred cows.

The magnitude of malnutrition and the ignorance about the relationship between food and health among a majority of the population at all levels necessitates the need for nutrition education. This approach in long term may promote self-reliance and self support in the communities. Nutrition intervention programmes have been taken up and are being implemented by the central, state governments and voluntary agencies with a view to improve the nutritional status and health of the vulnerable sections of the population. Homestead gardening can play a significant role in improving food security for rural households as well as middle class urban households in developing country like India. The present study explained about a cost effective technology for the optimal nutrient intake to achieve the nutritional security among resource poor people. The occupation and family size were positively associated with food security. The results revealed that there is a positive relation between family size and area of kitchen garden.

A survey based study was carried out to observe the effect of different package of practices followed by farmers for wheat cultivation in district Kapurthala. The study revealed that 96 per cent farmers opted for HD 2967 variety of wheat and used seed cum fertilizer drill, zero till drill and broadcasting method of sowing. More than 80 per cent farmers used recommended seed rate of 100 kg/ha whereas plant protection measures such as application of tilt fungicide @500ml/ha and seed treatment was followed by 27 and 15 per cent farmers, respectively. Similarly, adoption of other practices such as application of fertilizers as per soil test report, urea application at the time of sowing and recommended dose of di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer was 2.6, 19.0 and 38.4 per cent, respectively. Due to occurrence of untimely rainfall, a decline in wheat yield up to 36 per cent was recorded as compared to the last year (2013–14).

A survey based study was carried out to know the participation of rural women in various activities at Hoshiarpur district of Punjab state. A simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of dairy farm women using interview schedule by personal interview for sample size of 150 rural women in Mahilpur and Bhunga block of Hoshiarpur district. The data revealed that the participation of majority of women was high in activities such as cleaning of cattle shed, watering, milking, feeding the animals and disposal of cow dung. The farm women participation was least in dairy related record maintenance, getting loans or credits from the banks, taking animals for grazing, fodder collection and harvesting the fodder crops. Thus there is need to educate them about scientific management practices for increasing livestock production.

Many valuable and highly nutritious traditional and under-utilized crops are extremely important for nutritional security. They are locally well adapted to marginal lands and constitute an important part of the local diet, providing valuable nutritional essentials, often lacking in staple food crops. Modern daily diet includes only selected food crops (rice, wheat, maize, vegetables). More refined carbohydrates and more of fats and oils, which lead to many nutritional disorders. For the proper growth functioning of our body, different types of micro nutrients which are not available in staple food crops required. Traditional diets and crops with their rich diversity are under threat due to urbanization and changed food habits. Mountain food crops are rich in essential micronutrients as compared to the staple food crops. In the present study, efforts were made to supplement these important mountain crops (Amaranths, Buck-wheat and Finger millet) in the daily food preparations. Study proved that these crops can successfully be supplemented up to 40 percent in wheat based recipes without affecting the organoleptic parameters and physical appearances. Supplementation with these food crops showed a remarkable enhancement in the nutritional composition and quality. It was observed that supplemented products were nutritionally superior. A variety of value added products, including local preparations, snacks, sweets and weaning baby foods have been standardised. The study convinced that these underutilized mountain crops have a great potential for nutritional food security. Food supplementation with these crops would foster the value addition, nutritional quality in general and will help in alleviating the nutritional deficiencies in particular.

Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is a promising resource conservation technology in rice-wheat cropping system. A field study was conducted during kharif 2014 to work out the performance of DSR in Sri Muktsar Sahib district of Punjab. The ground water in the district is not fit for irrigation in most of the villages however the canal water in the district is in sufficient quantity. Due to this reason, DSRwas introduced in the district to check its suitability and adaptability. The result of these demonstrations showed that the grain yields under direct seeded basmati and transplanted puddled method were approximately same. The average grain yield of all the demonstrations under transplanted puddled and direct seeded basmati were 55.4 and 55.2 q/ha respectively. Although the average income under transplanted method (Rs 1, 55, 050/-) was slightly higher as compared to direct seeded method (Rs 1, 54, 616/-) but the benefit-cost ratio was more in direct seeded basmati as compared to transplanted puddled method. By spending one rupee the farmers get benefits of 5.64 rupees in puddled basmati crop whereas in direct sowing the farmers get benefits of 6.17 rupees. This was due to less cost of cultivation under direct seeded technique.

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years with a view to assess the response of early cauliflower variety (Sabour Agrim) to different dates of transplanting in kharif. The trial was conducted in randomized block design with four treatments replicated ten times. The treatments were T1-Farmer\\\\\\\’s practice, T2-Transplanting on 1st July, T3. Transplanting on 15th July and T4-Transplanting on 30th July. The results revealed that transplanting on 15th July had a significant effect on growth and yield of cauliflower followed by maximum plant height (67.3 cm.), the best marketable size of curd (430.8g), maximum curd length (13.4), curd greatest diameter of curd (15.6cm.) and the maximum yield (223.5 q/ha.). Cauliflower can be grown better at places which are cool, frost and litter free than other Brassicaceae. It is difficult to grow cauliflower as a spring crop because it tends to bolt during the condition of extreme heat. The height of the plants at different weeks after transplanting was observed to vary significantly among different planting times.

An on farm trial was conducted on 20 lactating crossbred cows randomly divided into two groups on the basis of milk yield (10 to 13 kg/d) and day of calving less than 60 d to note the effect of supplementing bypass fat on milk yield and fat percentage for a period of three years (2012 to 2015). Cross bred cows were fed concentrate, green and dry fodder and wheat straw in control group and addition of 100 g of bypass fat was given in treatment group. Experimental feeding was continued up to 90 d. The average milk production and fat percentage was significantly higher in treatment group. Milk production efficiency was also significantly higher in bypass fat supplemented group in comparison to control group. It was, thus concluded that bypass fat supplementation @ 100 g per day per animal in cows significantly increased the milk production and fat percentage over the control group.

The study was designed to evaluate nutrient content of honey samples of Trigona sp. obtained from beekeepers of West Garo Hills, Meghalaya of Northeast India. Twenty samples were collected for evaluation their quality parameters moisture, pH, acidity, ash, Hydroxy Methyl Furfural (HMF), Water insoluble solid, TSS, and conductivity. The result revealed that locally produced honey had moisture, ash, acid, and pH content ranging from 18.8–19.3 per cent, 0.003–0.005 per cent, 0.87–1.30 per cent and 4.43–4.49 at 21º C, respectively, which was within the standard limits. Similarly, TSS content of locally produced honey ranged between 76.8–76.9 per cent. The water insoluble materials content of the honey samples were1.97–2.40 per cent while the conductivity was 3.21–3.22 ?S/cm for the tested samples of locally produced honey. All the samples were found to be within the acceptable range of national as well as standards for all of the tested parameters.