Informatics Publishing Limited

Seema Chawla ¹, Chander Bhan ²

Affiliations
1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (S.K.R.A.U.) Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), IN
2 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (S.K.R.A.U.) Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), IN

Abstract

Farm women are the backbone of Indian culture. Eighty per cent of the economically active women are engaged in activities of sowing, transplanting, weeding, manuring, harvesting, threshing and storage etc. In true sense, farm women are the storehouse of indigenous knowledge and experience with respect to agriculture, which can form very good base for further development. Women can be extremely useful in identifying local farm resources, an aspect critical for success of agricultural production.

Keywords

Rationality Judgment, Traditional Soil Reclamation, Soil Fertility Practices.

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Sandeep Duhan ¹, Chander Bhan ², Seema Chawla ³, Shrikishan Bairwa ²

Affiliations
1 Division of Food Science and Post Harvest Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, IN
2 Agricultural Research Station (SKRAU), Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), IN
3 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (SKRAU), Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), IN

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an emerging field which involves the understanding, manufacture and manipulation of materials at the molecular or atomic level. It deals with particles and structures larger than 1 nm but smaller than 100 nm. Structures on this scale have been shown to have unique and novel functional properties. Consequently, interest and activities in this research area have greatly increased over the past few years. The potential benefits of nanotechnology have been recognized by many industries, and commercial products are already being manufactured, such as in the microelectronics, cosmetics, paints pharmaceutical industries etc. In contrast, applications of nanotechnology within the food industry are rather limited. However, achievements and discoveries in nanotechnology are beginning to impact the food and associated industries; all this development is influencing important aspect of food processing and nutraceutical delivery, food packaging, food safety and sensing. This technology enables the designers to alter the structure of the packaging materials on the molecular scale with improved mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties. Three basic categories of nanotechnology applications and functionalities appear to be in development for food packaging are enhancement barrier of plastic materials, incorporation of active components that can deliver functional attributes beyond those of conventional active packaging and sensing of relevant information. Thus nanotechnology is going to change the fabrication concept of the whole packaging industry.

Keywords

Food Processing, Horticultural Crops, Nanotechnology, Packaging.

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Seema Chawla ¹, Chander Bhan ¹

Affiliations
1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (S.K.R.A.U.), Sriganganagar (Rajasthan), IN

Abstract

In recent years self-help groups have become significant institutions for rural development. It is now being increasingly realized that instead of targeting the individuals in the process of development, it would be more useful to adopt the approach make available the collective wisdom and combined resources for any task. Though SHGs have gained access to all government officials, they have not become bold enough to speak out as demonstrated at some forums in the country. The present study carried out in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan state during 2013-2014, revealed that members of the rural women's SHGs have been benefited in many ways such as exposure to different development programmes of the Government, exposure to the banks as well as transactions, their confidence level has been increased because of their own savings and easy access to loan from SHG. There was a good impact on economic aspects of the members in their financial position, family income and improvement in the employment generation through different income generation activities. Major reasons for group formation by the rural women were to take advantage of group action (85%), followed by improved employment activities (79.17%), meeting for collective decisions (75%), overcoming exploitation of money lenders (75%), internal lending (66.67%), improved social participation (66.67%), saving money regularly (62.50%) and general income (54.17%). The social impacts of SHGs on rural women were exposure to different development departments and participations in meetings, decision making and exposure to banks as well as to transactions. The most influential change was observed in loan borrowing pattern of the SHG members as most of them had developed their own funds, were able to transact with the banks and the borrowing of loans from the money lenders had reduced to considerable extent. The major impacts like improvement in the economic status of the family (80.83%), avoiding exploitation by money lenders (77.33%), easy to get money in emergency situation and facilitates savings (73.33%) have been witnessed for the empowerment of women. The reduced rate of bank interest, simple procedure to be followed for releasing the loan, marketing and transport facilities to be improved, training on skill improvement, increase in the duration of the training, enhanced repayment period were the other suggestions highlighted the strengthening of rural women SHGs in order to provide more opportunity for empowerment of farm women.

Keywords

Economic Upgradation, Rural Women, Self-Help Groups.

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