Informatics Publishing Limited

Nitin Kumar Pandey ¹, R. K. Kushwaha ², Indu ¹

Affiliations
1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, IN
2 C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, U.P., IN

Abstract

In order to enhance food grain production there has been over exploitation of natural resources and due to which land, water and soil have been subjected to great stress resulting in soil degradation, soil erosion, salinity and alkalinity, sifting cultivation and nutrient losses. Hence, the concept of sustainability has emerged as an alternative for long term sustainable production and economic viability of Indian agriculture. In order to assess a systematic study was undertaken to assess the constraints in acquiring knowledge on sustainable agricultural practices. The study was conducted in Kanpur Nagar district with 50 Agriculture Officers. 90 per cent agriculture officers perceived scarcity of good training institution in the state to train the officials as the most serious constraint and was ranked first. 84 per cent of them felt that non- availability of advance training tools was the second major constraint in acquiring knowledge on sustainable agriculture production in the state. It can be concluded that there is a need to strengthen the existing training institutions with modern training tools and other infrastructures. The higher officials should have a very positive attitude while sending the participants for training. The state govt. should establish new training institutions so that the agriculture officers should update their knowledge on sustainable agriculture at a regular interval so that in turn farmers get recent information for growing their crops.

Keywords

Sustainability, Constraints, Agriculture Officers, Training

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Swati Srivastava ¹, R. K. Kushwaha ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Family Resource Management, C.S.A.University of Agriculture and Technology, KANPUR (U.P.), IN
2 Department of Agricultural Extension, C.S.A. University of Agriculture and Technology, KANPUR (U.P.), IN

Abstract

India is a country with divers traditions and custom. In all the religions, women hold a venerable position. Unfortunately, since ages, the role of women was confined to household chores and limited to domestic issues. In the male-dominated Indian society, women suffered to extreme levels of exploitations. The participation of women as workers and women's education was negligible. Indian women's distinct from their western counter parts in that they do not shed their conventional roles as mother and housewives inspire of their professional responsibilities. Thus the present study attempts to study some of the important issues concerns working women, her dual role conditions of work, problem of adjustment between work/domestic duties.

Keywords

Working Women, Problem, Household Activity.

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C. Vikas ¹, R. K. Kushwaha ², M. K. Pandit ³

Affiliations
1 Central Ground Water Board, KR, Kedaram Complex, Kesavadasapuram, Trivandrum - 4, IN
2 Central Ground Water Board, WR, Jaipur - 302 004, IN
3 Department of Geology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur - 302 004, IN

Abstract

High fluoride in groundwater has been reported from many parts of India. However, a systematic study is required to understand the behaviour of fluoride in natural water in terms of local hydrogeological setting, climatic conditions and agricultural practices. Present study is an attempt to assess hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in Ajmer district in Rajasthan to understand the fluoride abundance in groundwater and to deduce the chemical parameters responsible for the dissolution activity of fluoride. Ajmer district falls in the semi-arid tract of central Rajasthan and is geologically occupied by Precambrian rocks (granites, pegmatites, gneisses, schists etc) where groundwater occurs under unconfined condition. A total of 153 well-water samples, representing an area of 8481 km²(further subdivided into eight blocks), were collected and chemically analyzed. The results of chemical analyses (pre-monsoon 2004) show fluoride abundance in the range of 0.12 to 16.9 mg/l with 66% of the samples in excess of permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l.

Presence of fluoride bearing minerals in the host rock, the chemical properties like decomposition, dissociation and dissolution and their interaction with water is considered to be the main cause for fluoride in groundwater. Chemical weathering under arid to semi-arid conditions with relatively high alkalinity favours high concentration of fluoride in groundwater. Dental and skeletal fluorosis are prevalent in the study area which can be related to the usage of high fluoride groundwater for drinking. The suggested remedial measures to reduce fluoride pollution in groundwater include dilution by blending, artificial recharge, efficient irrigation practices and well construction.

Keywords

Groundwater, Fluoride, Dissolution, Alkalinity, Fluorosis, Ajmer District, Rajasthan.

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R. K. Kushwaha ¹, V. D. Hegde ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

Melaenus piger (Fab.) is commonly distributed in southern part of Indian peninsula. During study of the specimens recently collected from Uttar Pradesh, strikingly a single specimen irom Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh has been noticed. There are only two species of the genus Melaenus Dejean, in the world; one species M. elegans Dejean in Afrotropical region and the other M. piger (Fab.) in Oriental region.

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R. K. Kushwaha ¹, V. D. Hegde ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

Scaritine Ground beetles are dark in color; body pedunculate and nearly cylindrical, sometimes slightly flattened; legs digitate and with variable spurs which are suitable for digging; eyes well developed but not so much externally protruding. Scarites can be differentiated from other genera of the group by hooked maxillae, one supraorbital seta, head without central tubercle, and extended buccal fissure. Scarites is represented by nearly 55 species in Indian Subcontinent. These beetles are generally found on moist, sandy or loose soil and make deep burrows in the soil and rest there during day times and come out in the night.

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