Title: NG Agriculture Insights Frequency: Bimonthly ISSN (online): 3107-5703 Chief Editor: Prof. (Dr.) Chintamani Panda Starting Year: 2025 Subject: Agriculture Language: English Publication Format: Online Publishing Model: Open Access Publisher: Next Gen Academic Services
Next-Gen Monitoring: Technological Interventions for Climate-Adaptive Agriculture
Climate change poses a serious threat to global agriculture by altering temperature regimes, atmospheric CO₂ levels, and ecosystem dynamics, ultimately affecting crop productivity and food security. This paper highlights next-generation monitoring technologies designed to study crop responses under climate variability. Controlled environment systems such as Temperature Gradient Chambers (TGC), Temperature Gradient Greenhouses (TGG), and Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Research (SPARE) facilities provide precise regulation of environmental parameters, enabling detailed analysis of plant physiological responses. In contrast, field-based technologies including Infrared (IR) warming, Free Air Temperature Enrichment (FATE), and soil warming systems simulate realistic field conditions, allowing ecosystem-level assessment of climate impacts. Each approach offers distinct advantages: controlled systems ensure accuracy and repeatability, while field technologies enhance realism and scalability. However, limitations such as high cost, technical complexity, and challenges in maintaining natural environmental interactions persist. The integration of both approaches is essential for comprehensive understanding and reliable prediction of crop responses to climate change. These advanced technological interventions support the development of climate-resilient crop varieties, improved agronomic practices, and sustainable farming systems. Future research should focus on enhancing accessibility, reducing costs, and conducting holistic studies to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability and global food security.
Copyright (c) 2026 P.V.S. RAMUNAIDU, Swathi Gaikwad Bhimraoji, Dharminder, Meka Shivaram Reddy, Peram Nagaseshi Reddy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Intercropping for Climate-Smart Agriculture: Mitigating Risks and Enhancing Resilience
Intercropping has become a viable concept in climate-smart agriculture as it is perceived to assist farmers in dealing with production risks in a climate of uncertainty. Farmers can decrease the susceptibility that comes with monocropping by planting two or more crops in the same field, and this will enhance the stability of the main output of the farms. This paper explains the role of intercropping in resilience, including increased yield stability, increased resource-use efficiency, soil health, and ecological control of pests and diseases. It also emphasises how crop diversity is effective to buffer drought, moisture stress and market fluctuations, particularly in the smallholder farming system. Based on recent studies, the article discusses the idea of intercropping as being a situational approach, rather than one that can be universally applied, but rather one that works best when there is a fit between crop combinations, planting systems, and managerial actions to local agroecological parameters. The discussion also highlights that intercropping may be considered to serve people with more climate-smart objectives as it is combined with proper management of soil, nutrients, and extensions. On the whole, the article proposes that intercropping belongs to the most viable and biologically efficient channels of establishing resilience, downside risk reduction, and more stable agricultural production in the face of climate change.
Copyright (c) 2026 Moumita Roy, Subham Dutta, Debasmita Mondal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sowing the Seed of Digital Literacy for Agricultural Sustainability
Digital literacy of farmers has the potential of balancing farm productivity with environmental sustainability. The growing adoption of digital technologies in mobile advisory applications, precision agriculture technology, tools of remote sensing, and data-driven decision-support systems has enabled farmers to practice in a more environmentally sustainable manner. With digital capabilities, farmers will be in a better position to receive real-time data referring to the state of the weather conditions, the health of the soils, pests and diseases, and the wise application of inputs, resulting in a decrease in the unreasonable use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation water. This type of evidence-based decision making improves efficiency in resource-use, reduces the emission of greenhouse gases, and alleviates the ecological degradation. Moreover, online platforms foster a more robust climate-wise and organic farming and sustainable land management practices uptake. Digital literacy advances the economic viability by availing timely access to information in the market and extension support services, which contributes to the long-term sustainability of environmental responsibility. Digital competencies interacting with indigenous and experience-based agricultural knowledge further enhances the adaptive ability of farmers and allows them to respond more effectively to climatic fluctuations and environmental risks. Together, the transformative role of digital literacy in agricultural sustainability is being made in the light of the on-farm behavioural change towards digital literacy adoption and reclaimation which highlights the importance of digital literacy in the deployment of environmentally sustainable agricultural systems in digital era. This analysis of the transformative nature of digital literacy on agricultural sustainability has been prepared along Indian context and has identified some recent reports and case studies. The debate of this paper will be highly useful to farmers to modernize themselves and explore the new hot spots in the plantation world.
Copyright (c) 2026 Koustav Banerjee https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Plants as a Natural Solution to Stress and Mental Fatigue in an Urbanised World
In the age of rapid urbanization and the development of technology, reconnecting to nature might be an incredibly efficient way to de-stress and mentally recharge. Despite indoor or outdoor cultivation, plants play a significant beneficial role in the mental health and well-being of people. The article discusses the numerous psychological benefits of plants, backed by scientific evidence that includes the reduction of stress, mood, cognitive function, and mindfulness improvement. The mechanisms, such as biophilia, the calming effects of greenery, and physiological responses to plant interactions, are discussed. In everyday life, the application of plants can make people more emotionally resilient and enable a feeling of unity with the natural environment, which can be proved by such helpful methods as indoor gardens, horticultural therapy, and biophilic architecture. This paper highlights the changing role of plants on the psychosocial condition and advocates their incorporation as important co-cultivators of overall well-being by underlining their importance in households, places of work, and treatment scenarios.
Copyright (c) 2026 Bandana Mohapatra, Nihar Ranjan Singh, Rupak Jena, Milan Kumar Lal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AI, Social Media and AgriStack: How The Rural Digital Renaissance is Transforming Agricultural Extension in India
Agricultural extension system in India is evolving and now, with the adoption of digital technologies, social media, and artificial intelligence in the new Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), it is developing a new form. This paper discusses how the development of projects such as AgriStack and AI solutions such as Bharat-VISTAAR are transforming access, sharing, and acquisition of agricultural knowledge by farmers. Smart farmers are adopting such social networks as WhatsApp and YouTube as the contexts in which farmers can interact with specialists, exchange their experiences, and collaborate on resolving issues. The rise of agri-influencers and peer-to-peer communication are creating a sense of trust and accelerating the dissemination of new ideas. Nevertheless, concerns such as misinformation and digital exhaustion indicate that people should have improved digital literacy and effective verification by organizations. The article claims that AI, combined with the use of multilingual technologies and social media, will foster an Extension 4.0 that fosters collaborative learning, advice that is welcoming to all, and a more responsive farm knowledge system in rural India.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mr. Saumyadip Chakraborty, Mr. Swapnamay Ghosh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations Through Extension Support
The Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been observed to have emerged as major institutional processes of advancing the socio-economic status of small and marginal agricultural businesses. The FPOs as a group assist the farmers in amalgamizing the produce, purchasing inputs on large scale, accessing improved markets besides undertaking value additions. Such functions are enhancing the bargaining power, minimizes the transactional costs and improves the income stability. Amidst the opportunity, most FPOs have been faced with disadvantages of governance, managerial incompetence, financial literacy, infrastructure and credit and market access. These limitations may adversely affect their long term sustainability and growth unless the institutional support is provided in the long term. The agricultural extension services are significant in empowering the FPOs since it is not only diversified to include the institutional development and enterprise promotion, but also the conventional technology transfer. The extension assistance will entail the leadership training, capacity building, monetary connection and market intelligence dispersion encouragement and promoting the adoption of new methods of production. This is also openness, cost-effectiveness and competitiveness through digitalisation of services via mobile advisory services and e-marketing sites. Eventually, in favour of inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation will lead to the empowerment of FPOs leading to increased farmer incomes, employment opportunities, food security, and rural entrepreneurship.
Information and Communication Technology
Copyright (c) 2026 Sai Kumar Periginji, Vaishnavi Pulletikurthi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Women at the Center of Governance: Policy Innovations under Mission Shakti
There has been a growing centrality of gender-responsive governance as a major voice of sustainable development. Decentralized local governance structures and self-help group (SHG) movements have become institutional frameworks of promoting the mobilization of women in making decisions at the location in India. This paper is a critical analysis of the policy innovations of the policy of Mission Shakti which is a flagship women centric program of Government of Odisha and how it has made women central to the process of governance. The study relies on the secondary data, governmental reports (2017-2026) and recent academic literature to analyze institutional restructuring, financial inclusion apparatus, digital empowerment programs and market integration strategies that are part of the introductions of the Mission. The results indicate that Mission Shakti is a type of governance innovation model reflecting economic empowerment and participative leadership, thus enhancing inclusive local governance. The paper ends by locating policy points and issues pertinent to the scaffolding of gender-responsive systems of governance.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nibedita Mishra https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Real Nutrition Story Behind Amaranth’s “Superfood” Hype
As a 21st-century superfood, amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is emerging once again due to its combination of excellent nutrition and an extensive culinary range as well as a naturally gluten-free menu. Though commonly consumed as a cereal grain, amaranth is a pseudocereal whose small grains provide relatively better-quality plant protein, has been shown to be a useful dietary fiber, and is providing a significant mineral content, especially of iron and magnesium. Protein and fiber per serving in food composition data that is typically reported on cooked amaranth indicate its usefulness in a variety of diets, including gluten-free and plant forward eating patterns. In addition to the standard nutrients, current review studies indicate that amaranth has bioactive constituents, including phenolics, pigments (betalains), and protein-derived peptides, which are under scrutiny as functional attributes related to antioxidant and cardiometabolic mechanisms. Meanwhile, human research is still developing and is even rather contradictory, which is why it is important to consider the concept of superfood as enriched with nutrients, instead of being a medicine. Amaranth is also addressed in terms of food-systems and its potential to develop into a climate-smart crop because of its heat and water stress-resistance combined with its developmental potential. This is a popular article, which summarises what amaranth is as a food, why it is believed to be nutritionally beneficial, how it can be consumed in daily meals and what are the major caveats to responsible and evidence-based consumption.
Copyright (c) 2026 Seaverna Pradhan, Gayatri Sinha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations: Farmer Adoption Dynamics, Institutional Influences, and Extension Strategies
Agricultural advancement depends on the adoption of innovation, but farmers don't always utilize new technology just because it's available. Socioeconomic, institutional and policy-related factors, together with technological features like relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability, affect farmers' adoption decisions. The spread of innovations theory serves as the foundation for this. A range of factors, including as farmer characteristics, farm resources, information access, social networks, extension contact and market and governmental assistance, affect the rate and extent of innovation transmission. Agricultural extension becomes a vital catalyst in this process by increasing awareness, reducing uncertainty, fostering learning and boosting farmer confidence through interactive techniques, training and demonstrations. The integration of information and communication technology enhances Extension's capacity to expand outreach and expedite dissemination. Equitable adoption is nonetheless hampered by issues including scarce resources, risk aversion, inadequate institutional coordination and social inequities. Effective diffusion of agricultural innovations requires a comprehensive and context-specific approach that combines responsive and pluralistic extension systems, active farmer participation, supportive policies and sound technology design in order to achieve sustainable agricultural development.
Copyright (c) 2026 Bablu Ganguly, Suman Saha, Sachin Sarkar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Agricultural Extension
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have emerged as transformative tools in agricultural extension by enhancing the efficiency, reach and effectiveness of knowledge dissemination to farming communities. This article examines the role of ICTs in modernizing agricultural extension systems, with particular emphasis on the tools and platforms used, their impact on farmers’ knowledge and adoption behavior and the challenges limiting their effectiveness. ICT tools such as radio, television, mobile phones, internet-based platforms, social media, decision support systems and digital advisory services complement conventional extension approaches and address long-standing constraints related to manpower shortages, geographical isolation and information delays. ICT-based extension significantly improves farmers’ access to timely and reliable information, enhances awareness and adoption of improved agricultural practices, increases productivity and income and supports risk management and sustainable farming. A part from the uses of ICT, it also faces critical challenges, including the digital divide, low digital literacy, inadequate infrastructure, content relevance issues and institutional and governance constraints, which limit equitable access and impact. Overall, the importance of ICT-enabled extension is a key component of future strategies for sustainable agricultural development and improved farmer livelihoods.
Copyright (c) 2026 Subhajit Chakraborty https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Attracting Youth towards Agriculture through Agripreneurship: Challenges and Extension Opportunities
The combination of business with agriculture, known as agripreneurship, has become a popular means of encouraging young people to work in agriculture, enhancing rural lives and advancing sustainable food systems. Due to poor salaries, high risks, labor intensity and restricted access to land, financing, technology and training, many young people view agriculture as unappealing despite its crucial economic role. Concurrently, new possibilities for youth-led agricultural enterprises are being created by global trends including digitalization, climate-smart agriculture, rising demand for high-value foods and creative financing options. This article examines the chances and difficulties for young people to engage in agripreneurship, emphasizing structural, environmental and socioeconomic limitations. By bridging the gaps between research, technology and practice, it highlights the changing role of extension services in assisting young agripreneurs through business advising, digital training, mentorship and market connections. In order to maintain youth-led businesses, the research also looks at policy, finance and ecosystem assistance, such as youth-friendly land laws, blended finance systems, incubators, accelerators and market infrastructure. Agriculture may become a viable, successful and contemporary job for young people if barriers like land availability, startup funding, skills, market connectedness and risk management are addressed. In addition to producing revenue, agribusiness improves rural communities, boosts value chains, decreases urban migration and encourages innovation. This underscores the necessity of youth-focused, regionally specific approaches to unlock a new era of rural wealth.
Copyright (c) 2025 Subhajit Chakraborty https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Gender Nutrition Nexus: Addressing Inequities through Agriculture, Education, and Inclusive Health Strategies
The interactions between nutrition and gender are a highly vital determinant of the general wellness of human beings. Nutrition is the process of intake, absorption, and utilization of the food, which is closely connected to the physical, mental, and social health outcomes. The gendered nutrition is also affected by cultural practices. Conventional gender roles and social practices tend to dictate food distribution in family, rate of meals and variety of food. Women and girls are also victims of systematic inequalities in access to nutrient-rich foods that reinforce gender-based health inequities in most settings. Intersectional elements of socio-economics relate to gender to worsen the nutritional situation. The disparity in income, education, employment, and access to healthcare hurts women and marginalized gender disproportionately, reducing their capacity to access healthy and sufficient diets. These structural inequities are the components of nutrition security and health equity addressed. Agriculture is very crucial in determining diets and nutritional outcomes of the household. Ag-based extension which is gender and nutrition sensitive can be used to encourage the production and consumption of nutrient-rich food, promote equal intra-household food distribution, and eliminate gender-based barriers in food systems. The incorporation of gender and nutrition in the extension services enhances the building of resilient and inclusive institutions and programs that are attuned to nutrition. Some of the main suggestions are the use of a family oriented approach to guide malnutrition, intensifying nutrition education among workers at the grassroots level, encouraging the use of nutrition garden at both home and school, incorporating local food nutrition into school curriculum and creating awareness to both male and female level workers in the villages.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nibedita Mishra, Chitrasena Padhy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Potassium Polyacrylate as a Climate Resilient Solution for Water Management Under Arid Regions
Water conservation techniques could be revolutionized by potassium polyacrylate, a crucial climate-resilient substitute for water management in arid regions due to its superabsorbent qualities. Applying this polymer to soil makes it a very efficient water reservoir because it can absorb and hold water up to 500 times its weight. This ability to retain large amounts of water and gradually release it to plant roots lowers the frequency and volume of irrigation while maintaining soil moisture levels. In agriculture, potassium polyacrylate is utilized to increase crop yield and lessen water stress, especially in regions with few water supplies and costly irrigation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Amith Somahanthi , Vasanth Singisetti, Sai Varshith Pulipati, Sai Krishna Reddy Jonnala, Harshitha Chikene, Bharath Kumar Kammili https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Microgreens and Their Role in Sustainable Urban Food Systems
With increasing urbanization, environmental concerns and the rising demand for nutrient-dense foods, traditional horticulture faces significant sustainability challenges. Eco-friendly farming practices have become essential to ensure food security while minimizing ecological impact. Among these practices, microgreen cultivation has emerged as a promising solution for urban and peri-urban horticulture. Microgreens are young, tender seedlings of vegetables, herbs and grains harvested shortly after germination, typically within 7–21 days. Despite their small size, they are nutritionally potent, offering higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients compared to mature plants. Microgreens can be cultivated using minimal resources in soil-based, soilless or hydroponic systems, making them highly suitable for urban environments with limited space. Their rapid growth cycle, low water requirement and high yield per unit area make them both economically viable and environmentally sustainable. Additionally, microgreens contribute to food security by enabling year-round production and reducing dependency on long supply chains, thereby lowering carbon footprints. Beyond nutrition, they support ecological balance by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This article highlights the potential of microgreens as a green alternative in modern horticulture, emphasizing their ecological, nutritional and economic benefits. By integrating microgreen farming into urban horticulture systems, communities can achieve sustainable food production while promoting health, environmental stewardship and innovation in horticulture. As such, microgreens represent a pivotal step toward the green future of horticulture and eco-friendly farming practices.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sumit Acharya, Priti Smita Nayak, Kartik Pramanik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Integrating Sensor Data and Plant Physiology: How Digital Farming Can Track Heat & Water Stress in Field Crops
Digital farming is transforming the way crop stress is detected, monitored, and managed by integrating plant physiology with sensor- and satellite-based diagnostics. Plants exhibit subtle physiological shifts—such as increased leaf temperature, reduced chlorophyll fluorescence, and declining photosynthetic activity—long before visual symptoms appear. This article illustrates how multispectral, thermal, fluorescence, and soil-moisture sensing technologies can be combined to create real-time stress maps that reflect these physiological indicators. Using examples from satellite platforms such as Sentinel-2, ECOSTRESS, OCO-2, and SMAP, as well as ground-based tools like SPAD meters and IoT soil probes, the article demonstrates how remote sensing indicators align closely with plant responses to heat and water stress. The integration of machine learning models further enhances early-warning capabilities, allowing farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions. Overall, the article highlights how merging physiological understanding with digital tools enables proactive, scalable, and precise crop stress management in a climate-vulnerable agricultural landscape.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jyostnarani Pradhan, Hemlata Singh, Tushar Kumar Pandey https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Genetic Diversity and Genomic Resources in Millets
Millets, a diverse group of small seeded C₄ grasses, are vital for food and nutritional security in arid and semi-arid regions due to their resilience to drought, short growing cycles, and nutrient-rich grains. This review synthesizes advances in understanding the genetic diversity and genomic resources of major millets pearl, finger, foxtail, proso, barnyard, little, and kodo. Landraces and wild relatives remain critical reservoirs of alleles for stress tolerance and nutritional enhancement. Recent genomic breakthroughs, including the sequencing of foxtail, pearl, finger, proso, and barnyard millet genomes, have accelerated gene discovery and molecular breeding. Marker-assisted selection, QTL mapping, and genomic selection have enabled significant progress in developing biofortified and stress-resilient cultivars, such as iron- and zinc-rich pearl millet hybrids and blast-resistant finger millet lines. Integration of pangenomics, transcriptomics, and genome editing (CRISPR-Cas systems) offers transformative potential for trait improvement. However, limited research funding, complex polyploid genomes, and regulatory barriers still constrain genomic adoption. The paper highlights future prospects, including omics integration, AI driven breeding, and global mainstreaming of millets as climate-smart, nutrient-dense crops crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to zero hunger, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2025 DATTI PURUSHOTAMA RAO, H P Chaturvedi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Rooted in Tradition, Driven by Innovation: Revitalising Rural Livelihoods in India
India is undergoing a hidden but profound transformation as rural areas struggle to create sustainable livelihoods by balancing innovation and tradition. Agripreneurs are using organic farming, greenhouse cultivation, agrotourism, value addition, and digital marketing to turn farming from a means of subsistence into a lucrative enterprise. While cardamom farmers are battling climate change and pests with micropropagation technology, and connecting individual farmers to market their produce, Shital Pati craftsmen are combining traditional weaving methods with modern designs and online marketing to reach the global market. Despite their diversity, many industries face common problems such as limited access to affordable loans, inadequate infrastructure, dependence on middlemen, and a lack of technical assistance. Cultural barriers, such as the notion that agriculture and traditional crafts have a low social standing, also demotivate young people. The essay emphasizes through solutions and success stories that rural livelihoods will cease to exist and become long-term prosperous with the help of enabling policies, technology, and skills. The preservation of Indian cultural legacy depends on the empowerment of these people, which is more than just an economic concern. By combining new technology with knowledge systems rooted in rural areas, a rural economy can be established that is self-sufficient, respectable, and leaves a legacy for future generations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Bablu Ganguly, Sachin Sarkar, Suman Saha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bridging Knowledge Gaps in Climate-Smart Agriculture: Extension, Training, and Awareness
Climate change is becoming a growing menace to the productivity and food security of agricultural systems, and livelihoods of the rural populations, especially that of smallholder farmers who are the most vulnerable. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has risen to become an integrated approach in improving sustainable production, climate resiliency of production, and reducing environmental degradation. Nonetheless, the implementation of the CSA practices is obstructed by a high degree of knowledge gap, unstable access to advisory services, lack of awareness, gender differences, and socioeconomic barriers. This article reveals the importance of agricultural extension, sustained capacity-building interventions, and use of behavior-oriented awareness interventions in facilitating informed decision-making and skill-based adoption of CSA innovations. It focuses on participatory communication strategies, online advisory instruments and institutional partnership as critical ways of bridging research and frontline farming communities. The conclusion of the article is that extension, training, and awareness integrated knowledge systems are essential in enhancing the adoption of CSA faster, providing farmers with power, and achieving long-term livelihood security of agricultural development resistant to climate changes.
Copyright (c) 2025 Akhila Badavath, Porandla Praneeth, Navya Duggempudi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Green Leaves as Nutritional and Economic Cliff
Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) play a vital role in ensuring both nutritional and economic security, particularly in regions like Sikkim where traditional and organic cultivation practices prevail. Despite their high nutrient content and rapid production cycles, the commercial cultivation of GLVs remains underexploited. This study highlights the nutritional composition and livelihood potential of both indigenous and non-native leafy vegetables of Sikkim, including Eryngium foetidum, Diplazium esculentum, Moringa oleifera, Urtica dioica, Nasturtium officinale, and Phytolacca americana. These species are rich in vitamins (A, B-complex, C, K), minerals (Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn), fiber, and antioxidants, making them essential for improving human health and dietary diversity. The paper emphasizes how cultivating GLVs can provide farmers with monthly income opportunities, reduce labor and input costs, and enhance intercropping efficiency, thereby improving rural livelihoods. Furthermore, post-harvest value addition through dehydration and powder production can extend shelf life and open new markets for farmers. The promotion of awareness regarding their health benefits and the development of local marketing systems are crucial to realizing the dual goal of nutritional sufficiency and economic empowerment.
Copyright (c) 2025 J Thusharreddy, Subhajit Panigrahi, Naveen Sankhla, Dipika Sarmah, S Vinodh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Mustard greens (Brassica juncea var. rugosa) are an important leafy vegetable crop widely cultivated across Central and Eastern Asia, especially in the Himalayan and Northeastern regions of India. valued for their pungent flavor, versatility in culinary applications, and significant nutritional density. The leaves contain high levels of essential vitamins (A, C, E, and K), minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron, along with beneficial phytochemicals including flavonoids and glucosinolates that contribute to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Regular dietary consumption supports cardiovascular health, immunity enhancement, improved vision, cognitive wellness, and musculoskeletal development. Mustard greens are commonly grown during winter seasons under smallholder conditions, with nursery raising followed by transplanting and harvest within 30 days for leafy use or up to three months for seed production. Diverse utilization methods—fresh, cooked, fermented, or dehydrated—enhance year-round availability and cultural acceptance in regional cuisines. Given their nutritive, therapeutic, and economic significance, mustard greens represent a vital functional food capable of contributing to food and nutritional security in mountainous agro-ecosystems.
Copyright (c) 2025 Subhajit Panigrahi, J Thusharreddy, Naveen Sankhla https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring the Hypoglycemic Effects of Guava Leaves
The article emphasis on the potential hypoglycemic properties of guava leaves, focusing on the traditional uses, nutrient content, phytochemical compound and its health benefits. Psidium guajava, belonging to the Myrtaceous family, thrives in tropical and subtropical regions. This important tropical fruit finds widespread cultivation in countries like India, Indonesia, Syria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and South America. Guava (Psidium guajava) leaves have been traditionally used for their excellent hypoglycemic property, including potential health benefits. It delves into the various constituents, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and other bioactive components which are believed to contribute to their glucose-lowering activity. Studies have shown that it inhibits the inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes (like; alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase), enhanced insulin sensitivity, and potential effects on glucose uptake and metabolism. Also highlighted the hypoglycemic (blood sugar-lowering) properties of guava leaves, offering potential therapeutic benefits for the management of diabetes mellitus. The findings will contribute to a comprehensive compilation of guava leaves as a natural resource for managing blood sugar levels.
Copyright (c) 2025 Manjuree Bhattacharjee, Manisha, Mukesh Kumari, Priyadarshani P Mohapatra https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
How do Our Genes Shape the Way We Taste Food?
Taste perception plays a major role in shaping food preferences, dietary patterns, and health outcomes. Genetic variation in taste receptor genes significantly influences how individuals perceive sweetness, bitterness, umami, saltiness, and fat. Polymorphisms in TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 affect sweet sensitivity, while TAS2R38 variants accounts for up to 70% of individual variation in bitter taste response to compounds such as PROP (6-n-Propylthiouracil) and PTC (Phenylthiocarbamide), particularly influencing acceptance of cruciferous vegetables. Similarly, TAS1R1 and TAS1R3 variants modify umami perception, CD36 polymorphisms alter fat sensitivity, and ENaC variation influences salt preference and hypertension risk. These genetic differences drive variability in nutrient intake and are linked with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. The rise of nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition aims to use genetic information to guide dietary advice. By identifying taste-related genetic variants, nutritionists can tailor recommendations to individual preferences. Commercial platforms such as Nutrigenomix, 23andMe, and DNAfit have begun integrating taste-related genes (e.g., TAS2R38, TAS1R2, CD36) into their nutrition panels, helping users understand how their genetic makeup influences taste preferences and dietary choices.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mukesh Kumari, Pragati Godara, Sadil Khan, Manisha, Ravindra Kumar Meena https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Promoting Climate-Resilient Agriculture in India
Farming activities in India are very susceptible to the negative effects of global warming such as erratic rainfall, prolonged drought, and frequent flooding. Such climatic variations have exacerbated the plight of small and marginal farmers leading to deteriorating productivity and soil erosion, as well as livelihood insecurity. In this respect, climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) has become possible as a viable way of improving the ability of the farmers to cope and overcome the effects of climatic shocks. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are institutions that under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) help in the transfer of climate-sensitive technologies in research to the fields of farmers. KVKs stimulate such activities as planting of drought resistant crops, water collection, integrated pest management program, and diversified farm systems by front line demonstrations, on-farm experimentation and capacity building. Their location-specific and participatory nature has improved the level of awareness and skills among the farmers and their confidence in embracing the new practices. Although there are still several obstacles such as inaccessibility of funds, inaccessibility to inputs and inadequate market connections, the contribution by KVKs in promoting climate resilience is crucial. Sustainable and climate-smart agricultural development can be guaranteed in India by strengthening their outreach via constant interaction, online platforms, and innovations led by farmers.
Millets After the International Year: Are Farmers Still Benefiting?
The International Year of Millets (IYOM 2023) highlighted the health and environmental benefits of millets, aiming to revive their role in Indian agriculture. While awareness efforts gained traction, translating this into lasting improvements for farmers requires deeper efforts in technology, market systems, and consumer outreach. Despite a slight rise in cultivation area, a decline in yield—especially in 2024–25—points to the urgent need for improved agronomic practices and better seed access. India’s millet export sector expanded rapidly, with over 11,000 shipments and strong growth in exporter participation. Startup activity in the millet value chain has accelerated, and thousands of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been mobilized to boost value-added trade. However, gaps remain in consumption patterns, infrastructure, and resilience to climate risks. Going forward, targeted policies, research support, and improved farmer-market linkages will be key to ensuring millets continue to benefit rural communities and contribute to nutritional and agricultural sustainability.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jyostnarani Pradhan, Hemlata Singh, Amaresh Chandra https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Carbon Farming for a Net-Zero Future: Practical Steps Farmers Can Adopt
Climate change poses a major challenge to global food security, with agriculture both contributing to and impacted by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon farming—a set of land management practices that enhance soil carbon sequestration and reduce emissions—offers a pathway to achieving sustainable productivity while supporting India’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2070. This article outlines the concept of carbon farming and its relevance to smallholder agriculture. Practical steps such as conservation agriculture, crop residue retention, use of organic amendments and biochar, agroforestry, and improved water management are described, with evidence from research trials and case studies. The potential benefits include improved soil health, enhanced nutrient-use efficiency, reduced methane and nitrous oxide emissions, and opportunities for carbon credit income. However, challenges such as delayed measurable impacts, high initial costs, limited farmer awareness, and the need for policy support remain significant. The article concludes that integrating technological innovations with farmer-centred extension services and institutional frameworks is critical for scaling carbon farming, thereby ensuring resilient livelihoods and contributing to climate mitigation goals.
Copyright (c) 2025 Smaraki Mohanty https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Stakeholders' Role for Sustainability of Women-Led Agri-Enterprise
The women-led entreprises are crucial for driving economic growth, enhancing food security and promoting social empowerment. These women are emerging as the key leaders and entrepreneurs. However, their sustainability and long-term viability is challenged by limited access to finance, technology and market opportunities. The critical role of various stakeholders helps in fostering sustainability of these women led enterprise. Various stakeholders were identified like the government and policymakers, financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and local communities. It explores the specific contribution of each stakeholder, highlighting how their collaborative efforts can dismantle system barriers. Findings reveal that sustainability hinges on a coordinated ecosystem where government provides an enabling policy framework, financial institutions offer gender-sensitive products and NGO deliver targeted capacity building. meanwhile private sector integration into value chains and strong community support are essential for market access and social acceptance. The study concludes that the combined, synergistic efforts of these diverse stakeholders are paramount for creating an environment where women-led-agri enterprises can not only survive but thrive, leading to a more equitable and sustainable agricultural future.
Copyright (c) 2025 Smruti Paik, Bijayalaxmi Nayak, Dibyajyoti Behera, Pritisudha Baral https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cluster-Based Business Organisations: A Game Changer in Agricultural Value Chain Development
Indian agriculture, which is mostly dependent on small and marginal farmers, confronts several difficulties because of its dispersed holdings and restricted access to markets, new technology, and inputs. The organization of farmers through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) has become a revolutionary answer to these limitations. FPOs facilitate collective activity, enhancing the efficiency of production, processing, and marketing. They can be registered under the Companies Act or Cooperative Societies. They guarantee social and economic empowerment, lower production costs, improve market accessibility, and limit post-harvest losses. The "Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs" of the Central Government seeks to assist agricultural communities' socioeconomic advancement and sustainable revenue production. This program, which is being carried out by Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs), stresses a produce-cluster strategy to take advantage of economies of scale. Because they offer technical support, capacity building, and market connections, CBBOs are essential to the establishment of FPOs. At the federal, state, and local levels, efficient implementation is guaranteed by a strong three-tiered monitoring system. Innovative elements including loan guarantees, equity awards, and an integrated platform for efficiency and transparency are also included in the program.
Copyright (c) 2025 Akhila Badavath https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Plant Microbe Interactions in the Context of Climate Change
Plant and microbial diversity on our planet are either negatively or positively impacted by our activities, which play a significant role in climate change. Temperature increases, droughts, and precipitation are examples of severe environmental occurrences that are becoming more often and intense as a result of climate change. Food security is seriously threatened by the way soil-plant-microbe interactions have been affected by rising greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, NOx, water vapor), changes in rainfall patterns, and global warming. These anthropogenic stresses pose a major danger to agricultural productivity and plant function. Soil bacteria have a significant impact on plants' ability to withstand biotic and abiotic stressors. These pressures cause the soil microbial populations to become sensitive and reactive. Plant and microbial function, variety, and eventually community structure is impacted by environmental and climatic changes such as warming, rising CO2, and moisture shortage. In order to structure terrestrial ecosystems, the interaction between plants and soil bacteria is crucial. The life circumstances of plants and soil bacteria are being made worse by the predicted climate change. The problems and environmental insecurity are long-lasting and do not only affect one kind of creature. As a result, a holistic approach to climate adaptation that recognizes the complexity of interactions between plants, microbes, and the environment will be required. The new methods for studying the molecular complexity of these interactions, such as genomic and sequencing approaches, which give researchers more precision, repeatability, and adaptability when investigating plant-microbe environment interactions in a changing climate. These methods will be useful in the current and future development of resistant crops and plants. The availability of methods and instruments has improved our knowledge of how plants react to microorganisms at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels during the past two decades. This article evaluates the larger implications of climate change on bacteria and plants that live in the soil.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rajashree Khatua, P. Palai, N. Pradhan, A. K. B. Mohapatra, Anita Mahapatra https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pest Management Strategies in Natural Farming Systems for Harnessing Ecological Balance
The growing demand of food has led to the intensification of chemical farming, which, despite increasing yields, has adversely impacted soil health, microbial diversity, and the environment. Natural farming offers a sustainable alternative that combines traditional wisdom with ecological principles, focusing on resource recycling, use of on-farm inputs, and conservation of biodiversity. Pest management is carried out using cow-based and botanical formulations such as Beejamrita, Brahmastra, Agniastra, Neemastra, fermented curd water etc. These preparations provide multiple protective benefits, including insecticidal, repellent, antifungal, and resistance-inducing effects, while minimizing harm to beneficial organisms. By integrating such eco-friendly practices, natural farming not only reduces dependence on synthetic agrochemicals but also enhances crop resilience, promotes ecological balance, and ensures sustainable agricultural production.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rakesh Kumar, Licon Kumar Acharya, Meenakshi Malik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Preventing The Post-Harvest Loss by Canning of Fruits and Vegetables
Canning is an industry-wide approach with a viable, scalable solution to reduce post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables in environments with poor or untrustworthy cold chains through the conversion of perishable surpluses into shelf-stable, safe products. The synthesized operator-ready guidance comprises raw material selection and grading, multistage washing, trimming, and blanching, syrup and brine formulation, headspace, exhaustive, and hermetic sealing control, and validated thermal processing based on acidity boiler operations with high acid food (pH < 4.6) and pressurized retorts controlled to provide low acid vegetables with the correct F0 values. It emphasizes that mode of heat-transfer, container design, and solids content determine heating rates and schedule planning, and combines sanitation, instrument calibration, and batch recording as the basis of safety, traceability, and regulatory compliance. It touches on the quality and nutrition outcomes with measures to reduce the softening of the textures and loss of vitamins without affecting the flavor and the color. The micro and small enterprise viability is related to economic and operational considerations procurement during gluts, focused SKU portfolio, and right-sized equipment, and viability measures are described. All in all, canning can be a high impact intervention to Farmer Producer Organizations, MSMEs and even extension programs to stabilize prices, increase market reach and better access to year round nutritious foods.
Copyright (c) 2025 Neha Kumari, Priyadarshani P. Mohapatra https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0