<div style="text-align: justify;">Homestead farming has been the backbone agricultural economy of Kerala but the &nbsp;productivity of the homesteads in Kerala has yet to reach an &nbsp;acceptable &nbsp;level. In this paper the possibility of increasing the contribution of this sector through proper crop planning is sought. The optimum model was developed by using linear programming (LP) technique. The constraints included in the analysis were total area, intercropped area, investment amount and population of each enterprise. The optimum model reveal the scope of 22.83 per cent enhancement in net return as compared to net return from the existing plan. Sensitivity analysis of the optimum model revealed that further enhancement of net return in The agro-ecological region could be achieved by increasing the cropping intensity in the underutilized intercropped area and changing the binding enterprises.</div>

Determination of optimum crop mix for crop cultivation in Kerala homesteads

<div style="text-align: justify;">Agriculture must become nutrition-smart. Food security without nutrition security is not enough. Our basic food systems have to be optimized to provide the greatest amount of nutrients per square meter per unit time, especially in the face of climate change. &nbsp;Majority of the Indian people are vegetarian and they depend primarily upon grain legumes for dietary protein. Unfortunately the production of grain legumes in India has remained stagnant since 1950 causing declining per capita availability and widespread malnutrition. This is because most of the good lands have gone to the green revolution led &lsquo;wheat-rice&rsquo; and &lsquo;rice-rice&rsquo; cropping systems and food legumes have been pushed to marginal lands. Also, the traditional food legume varieties are late in maturity with low yield potential. This has led to inadequate protein and minerals in the diets of rural and urban masses on one hand and imbalanced soil fertility due to cereal-cereal rotation on the other hand. Therefore, increased cultivation of pulses is urgently needed. How can this be achieved with the limited land is one of the major challenges of agricultural research. The only answer is to breed and cultivate short duration food legumes in the existing niches between cereal-cereal systems. Wheat is harvested in March&ndash;April and rice is transplanted in July leaving about 80-90 days gap in which a short duration food legume can be grown. A number of photo-insensitive and heat tolerant &lsquo;60-day cowpea&rsquo; varieties have been recently developed by Pantnagar University which were tested under farmer participatory on-farm trials and All India Multi-location Coordinated Trials with the support from Harvest Plus Project of CGIAR. These varieties can be grown as a niche crop in the wheat-rice cropping system of northern India which has a potential area of over 10 million ha. and also fit well in rice fellows in southern India.&nbsp;</div>

Short durartion cowpea varieties for cultivation as a niche crop in various cropping systems for enhanced pulse production

The purpose of this paper is to review published literature which provides information to support the cultivation of vegetable crops using vermicompost in comparison to chemical fertilizers. With the systematic method, &ldquo;Google Scholar,&rdquo; a web search engine which provides an easy way to search for published articles, journals or books was used to research works of literature on &ldquo;Vegetable crops cultivation using vermicompost in comparison to chemical fertilizers.&rdquo; Then a subjective approach was used to select the themes that were discussed by reading through the abstracts and findings from the related works of literature. The subtopics discussed were: vermicompost, components of vermicompost, impacts of vermicompost, chemical fertilizers, components of chemical fertilizers, impacts of chemical fertilizers along with the use of vermicompost and chemical fertilizers on crops. The published papers established that vermicompost is an excellent organic medium which can be used to cultivate vegetable crops in comparison to chemical fertilizers because growing crops with vermicompost improves plant health with a positive influence on the yield and growth parameters of many plants, it has a high nutrient content, has pesticidal properties and slowly releases nutrients as compared to the chemical fertilizers which is depleted faster due to its release of nutrients too quickly. Chemical fertilizers on the other hand are useful in crop cultivation as it provides what is needed quickly but it has several negative impacts on plants, the soil and its surroundings.

Vegetable Crop Cultivation using Vermicompost in Comparison to Chemical Fertilizers: A Review

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: India is facing high water stress and it is amongst those with the most fragile and uncertain water resource countries in the world. Crop productivity depends on quality of input supply including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and supported by irrigation facilities. In India, ground water irrigates more than 61% of net cropped area and much of water being used for irrigating rice crop. The disproportionate water uses for crop production results in poor water productivity. The planning of water resources could be achieved by knowing the crop water requirements in different seasons and productivity of water. Hence, study was taken up to assess the water use and productivity of crops under intensively ground water irrigated watershed. 
 
Methods: A study conducted to assess the water use and productivity of different crops grown in Kothakunta sub watershed (having 206 working bore wells with cultivated area of 203.5 ha) in Siddipet district of Telangana, India during kharif and rabi season of 2008 to 2012, data were collected from 147 farmers on rice, maize, cotton, potato, flora beans and tomato crops grown under irrigation. The water applied to crops was measured by fixing water meters at the end of water delivery pipe and recorded the quantity of water applied each time. For rice crop four plots were taken and for other crops two plots were taken for measuring the water. The water use and productivity were assessed by using standard procedure.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The water productivity was found to be higher to vegetables, which ranged between 2.43 kg of potato, 1.57 kg of beans and 1.26 kg of tomato than cereals (0.79 kg for maize and 0.39 kg for rabi rice) per cubic meter of irrigation water consumed. Water productivity in terms of monetary return (₹) per cubic meter of water consumed was higher with beans (₹ 17.20) in contrast to potato (₹ 16.12). Rice equivalent yield (REY) calculated per cubic meter of irrigation water consumption was very similar to economic return (₹ per cubic meter of water).</div>

<div>Assessment of Crop Water Productivity in an Intensively Cultivated Watershed of Peninsular India</div>

Background: The basic challenge every farmer in India faces is to increase profitability level and minimize the cost. For this, it is essential to know how the cost of cultivation and profitability is changing of crops over a period of time. The present study attempted to estimate the cost of cultivation, cost of production and returns of major pulse crops in the Rajasthan state. For workout the economics of pulses crop, secondary data was collected from 2000-01 to 2021-22 which is compiled from various sources and publications for profitability analysis of pulse crop. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in Rajasthan state and analysis done for 22 years used the &ldquo;Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops in Rajasthan&rdquo; by DES, New Delhi uses different cost concepts for estimating costs and returns. In the present study, the cost C2 was considered for computing profitability. Cost C2 in CCPC data covers all the variables and fixed costs. 
 
Result:&nbsp; The actual cost of production of gram crop increased from Rs. 1772.32 per quintal in TE 2003 to Rs. 3650.5 per quintal in TE 2021. Return per rupee invested increased from 2.52 to 3.01 during TE 2003 to TE 2021. Cost of production of urad crop had increased from Rs. 2520.63 per quintal in TE 2003 to Rs. 7385.45 per quintal in TE 2021. The return per rupee invested in cost A2 had reduced from 2.14 in TE 2003 to 1.99 in TE 2021. Moong crop also showed increasing trend for cost of production from Rs. 2696.08 per quintal in TE 2003 to Rs. 7385.45 per quintal in TE 2021. Return for each rupee invested a increased from 2.10 in TE 2003 to 2.14 in TE 2021. Return per rupee invested was not profitable for the farmers for urad. Therefore, proper processing and procurement policy for these crops grown by the farmers should be implemented. Urad crop need more efficiently technological breakthrough to reduce cost of production and proper price incentive to pace with other pulses crops in the state.

Cost of Cultivation is Rising or Profitability Rising for Major Pulse Crop? A Case from Rajasthan, India

National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of India comprising Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) is entrusted with development of high yielding, high quality and climate resilient varieties suited to different agro climatic conditions of the country along with matching production and protection technologies has taken several initiatives through its 26 and 30 commodity/theme based research institutes and crop specific All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) and All India Network Projects &nbsp;to enhance productivity of different crops. The present paper discusses the genesis of AICRPs in field crops, their organization set up and operation, variety release &amp; notification mechanisms, outputs and outcomes. Multi-disciplinary and multi-location approach and success of first All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project established in 1957, led to establishment of 21 crop based All India Coordinated Crop Improvement Projects (AICCIPs) and 2 All India Network&nbsp;&nbsp; Projects (AINPs) beginning with wheat (1961) and rice (1965). Later on, AICCIP was rechristened as All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP). The AICRPs served as platform for analysing G x E interaction leading to identification of stable potential genotypes and played an important role in the development of 4,365 varieties of field crops along with efficient crop management technologies suitable for diverse agro-climatic conditions. Of these, during XII plan (2012-16), 698 varieties comprising 396 of cereals, 108 of oilseeds, 91 of pulses, 49 of fibres, 31 of forages&nbsp; and 23 of sugarcane were developed. Development of high yielding, stress (biotic and abiotic) tolerant, location specific varieties with matching production/protection technologies, enhanced availability of quality seed, their adoption coupled with enabling policies, excellent service support and innovative farmers resulted into spectacular increase in cereals, pulses and oilseeds production since the inception of AICRPs and Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU). Food production rose from 69.86 million tonnes (1956-57) to 252.22 million tonnes (2015-16) and oilseed production from 8.56 million tonnes (1965) to 25.9 million tonnes (2015-16), increase was 261 % and 202.5%, respectively, a testimony to the spectacular success of AICRPs and VCU system in India.

All India Coordinated Research Projects and Value for Cultivation and Use in field crops in India: Genesis, Outputs and Outcomes&nbsp;

Background: The study was conducted to ascertain the farmers&rsquo; willingness to stop tobacco cultivation, identify the determinants of farmers&rsquo; desire to stop tobacco cultivation and discover alternate food crops farmers are interested in cultivating in Bangladesh. 
 
Methods: A total of 377 tobacco growers in most tobacco-growing areas in Bangladesh were surveyed using a sample randomization technique using binary logistic regression and the factors influencing farmers&rsquo; choice to produce tobacco were examined. Face-to-face structured surveys from January 2022 to March 2023 were conducted in Mirpur Upazila (Sub-district) from Kushtia and Gangachara Upazila from Rangpur districts of Bangladesh. 
 
Result: Only 46.4% of the farmers are willing to stop tobacco cultivation. The key determinants for their willingness to stop growing tobacco are education level, tobacco cultivation experience, incentives and organizational participation of the tobacco farmers. In the farmer&rsquo;s view, maize, mustard, potatoes and lentils are the most suitable food crops to replace tobacco. To shift tobacco farmers to growing food crops, the Government should increase the farmers&rsquo; educational level and offer inputs, loans and other incentives to promote alternate crops like maize, mustard, potato and lentil. 
&nbsp;

Farmers&rsquo; Willingness to Stop Tobacco Cultivation and Perception of Alternate Food Crops to Replace It: Case of Major Tobacco Growing Areas in Bangladesh

<div>Background: The combined use of green manure and legumes in binary legume-crop mixtures allows farmers to efficiently produce a sufficient amount of human food and animal feed. The purpose of this study is examine how biologization and the use of different soil cultivation techniques in legume cropping affects chernozem soil fertility and productivity of rotation crops. 
 
Methods: The studies were conducted between 2017 and 2019 in 3 crop rotations. The first (control) crop rotation comprised of a clean fallow phase, winter wheat, barley and sunflower. The second crop rotation was that of green-manure fallow (clover), winter wheat, barley, sunflower and clover with oilseed radish as green manure. The third crop rotation included alfalfa, winter wheat combined with alfalfa, followed by barley, followed by sunflower and alfalfa with oilseed radish as green manure.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The three-year data indicated that there was an improvement in the physical properties of soil. The water resistance of soil aggregates increased by 9.7 per cent. There was a steady tendency towards an increase in detritus content (1.5 times), the amount of soil aggregates (one-third) and water resistance of the soil aggregates (9 per cent).</div>

​The Impact of Growing Legume Plants under Conditions of Biologization and Soil Cultivation on Chernozem Fertility and Productivity of Rotation Crops

<div>Background: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is an annual plant with very rapid growth and a major species in the assortment of leafy vegetables. Plant parasitic nematodes are economically important pests of leafy vegetables in monoculture and intensive organic fertilization. The simultaneous cultivation of several plant species in the same area can overcome the disadvantages of crops from homogeneous crops. The purpose of this work is to determine the quantitative changes in soil nematode communities in the joint cultivation of medicinal and vegetable species.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiments were carried out in a vegetation house. To create mixed crops, the plants the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cutivar &lsquo;Bohemia&rsquo;, tagetes (Tagetes sp. L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and arugula (Eruca sativa L. Cav.) were used.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results of the nematological analysis showed a decrease in the number of nematodes when mixed growing of lettuce with arugula, calendula and tagetes. The mixed growing of lettuce and calendula resulted in a significant reduction in nematodes, with a Pf/Pi value of 0.3. As a result of the decrease in the nematode population, there was an increase in lettuce yields when mixed grown with arugula and calendula, compared to when grown alone. The study of plant parasitic nematodes based on comparative evaluation of different combinations of plants shows that combinations of crops can be applied as a control method in integrated plant protection systems.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

​Effect of Mixed Crops on Soil Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Lettuce Cultivation (Lactuca sativa L.)

<div>Background: Freshwater in sufficient quantity and adequate quality is a prerequisite for human societies and natural ecosystems. To adequately feed 9.3 billion people in 2050, consumptive water use (i.e. transpired water) by all food and fodder crops needs to increase from its present estimated level of 7000 km3/year to 12,586 km3/year. However, fresh water resources are increasingly getting scarce because of increased competition among a multitude of users. Getting agriculture to perform with progressively smaller allocation of renewable water resources will remain a challenge on global scale. To meet the challenge there is an urgent need to improve the crop water productivity to ensure the sustainability of agriculture. 
 
Methods: An experiment was carried out at village Menawali, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan during both kharif and rabi seasons to assess productivity, economics, N-uptake and water use of different crops. An area of 187 ha comprising 25 farmers irrigated by common irrigation channels were selected to collect the information. The information required i.e. soil, crop management, growth, phonological, yields, water balance, N-uptake and water use efficiency of each crops were collected from 15 farmers. Bt-cotton and clusterbean of kharif and wheat and Indian mustard in rabi were prominent crops, cotton-wheat, cotton-mustard, clusterbean-wheat and clusterbean-mustard were major cropping sequences of the study region. 
 
Result: In kharif season, Bt-cotton gave higher economic yields than clusterbean and amongst rabi season crops, economic yields of wheat and mustard were 4255, 1778 kg/ha, respectively. The economic yield of cropping sequences varied from 3741-6514 kg/ha and were higher for cotton-wheat (6218 kg/ha), intermediate for clusterbean-wheat (5785 kg/ha) and lower for cotton-mustard (3741 kg/ha) and clusterbean-mustard (3308 kg/ha). The cotton-wheat (₹1181.2 mm) sequence had highest water use. Clusterbean-wheat cropping system recorded highest water productivity (16.5 kg/ha mm) followed by clusterbean-mustard (14.9 kg/ha mm). The clusterbean-mustard (₹456/ha mm) cropping sequence was most profitable and fetched highest net return followed by clusterbean-wheat (₹383/ha mm).</div>

Determination of optimum crop mix for crop cultivation in Kerala homesteads

Short durartion cowpea varieties for cultivation as a niche crop in various cropping systems for enhanced pulse production

Vegetable Crop Cultivation using Vermicompost in Comparison to Chemical Fertilizers: A Review

Assessment of Crop Water Productivity in an Intensively Cultivated Watershed of Peninsular India

Cost of Cultivation is Rising or Profitability Rising for Major Pulse Crop? A Case from Rajasthan, India

All India Coordinated Research Projects and Value for Cultivation and Use in field crops in India: Genesis, Outputs and Outcomes

Farmers’ Willingness to Stop Tobacco Cultivation and Perception of Alternate Food Crops to Replace It: Case of Major Tobacco Growing Areas in Bangladesh

The Impact of Growing Legume Plants under Conditions of Biologization and Soil Cultivation on Chernozem Fertility and Productivity of Rotation Crops

Effect of Mixed Crops on Soil Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Lettuce Cultivation (Lactuca sativa L.)

Assessing Crop and Water Productivity Performance of Different Crops and Cropping Systems