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
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
Precision Nutrition Through Nutrigenomics: From Genes to the Plate
Nutrigenomics investigates human health, disease susceptibility, and response to treatment in terms of dietary components relationship with the genome. This area of study, through a combination of genomics, molecular biology and nutrition science, helps us understand why people react in different ways to the same diet and can precisely design nutrition, based upon genetic diversity. Diet in a mechanistic manner, varies gene expression via epigenetic changes, signaling by transcription factors, and microRNA pathways. Have been used in the prevention and management of cardiometabolic diseases, cancer chemoprevention, and performance nutrition. The impact of nutrigenomic knowledge extends to biofortification and sustainable food systems beyond the clinic that enhance population micronutrient status. However, some ethical and implementation issues will have to be considered, such as privacy of data, equity, strength of evidence, and translation. Nutrigenomics will soon provide effective and fair personalized dietary advice, as AI and multi-omics quicken the discovery phase.
Copyright (c) 2025 Manisha, Manjuree Bhattacharjee, Priyadarshani P. Mohapatra https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Innovation and Collaboration Towards the Blue Economy: Present Needs and Future Plans
The oceans, covering over 70% of Earth’s surface, host a vast and largely unexplored diversity of marine life, with an estimated 2.2 million species. Increasing global dependence on marine resources has led to overexploitation and unsustainable practices, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem balance. The Blue Economy concept promotes the sustainable use of ocean resources to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods, and ensure environmental health. This article highlights current challenges, including overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation, while emphasizing the need for innovative and collaborative solutions. Key innovations include renewable ocean energy, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture technologies, marine biotechnology, and digital ocean monitoring systems. Collaborative approaches such as public-private partnerships, regional fisheries management organizations, and community-based conservation are critical to safeguarding marine ecosystems. Case studies, including India’s Sagarmala Project and Norway’s Ocean Space Strategy, demonstrate how integrated policies and technologies can advance marine conservation and economic development. The article advocates for a multidisciplinary, inclusive, and forward-looking framework to achieve a resilient and sustainable Blue Economy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gourav Ranjan Padhi, Roshan Kumar Ram, Pravesh Kumar, Sanjenbam Bidyasagar Singh, Devagy Pratap Singh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Influence of Defoliants on Cotton Production Technology
Uneven boll opening in cotton crops affects yield. Dense leaves obstruct boll opening, delay crop maturity, and create trash during harvesting. Natural leaf drop facilitates mechanical harvesting, but if this process doesn’t occur on time, mechanical harvesting becomes challenging. To address this issue, farmers use chemical defoliants, which promote leaf drop and simplify the mechanical harvesting process. Chemical defoliants play an important role in promoting leaf drop and boll opening. The use of these chemicals improves boll maturity, enhances fiber quality, and increases harvesting efficiency. In different countries, defoliation in cotton crops is carried out through various techniques and methods. In developed countries, highly advanced techniques are used for defoliant spraying and monitoring, whereas in developing countries like India, these techniques are comparatively less advanced. Defoliation makes the cotton crop harvesting process more effective and smoother and it also simplifies post- harvest processing activities.
Copyright (c) 2025 P. V. S. Ramunaidu, Jyostnarani Pradhan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Climate-Resilient Farming in India: The Role of Awareness, Adoption, and Institutional Support
The risks to Indian agriculture have been exacerbated by climate change, and climate-resilient technologies (CRTs) and other tools, including crop insurance, are needed to ensure rural livelihoods. Although the possible advantages of these innovations are thoroughly described, their implementation is uneven because of the existing gaps in awareness, financial limitations, and procedural obstacles. This review focuses on the relation between creating awareness, adoption behaviour and institutional outreach based on the research in West Bengal and other states. The evidence indicates that any process of adoption requires preceding awareness and that direct institutional involvement leads to the dramatic increase in the level of participation. The same article explores social and economic conditions that affect the practice of adoption, the obstacles that inhibit the involvement of smallholders, and the approach of scaling up practices of climate-resistant agriculture in the country.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sujohn Malireddy, Vaishnavi Pulletikurthi, Sai Kumar Periginji https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Seeds That Cannot Grow: Unraveling the Debate on Terminator Technology
Terminator seeds, formally known as Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs), represent one of the most controversial innovations in modern agriculture. Developed in the late 1990s as a genetic mechanism to prevent seed saving, they have sparked debates across scientific, ethical, and political arenas. On the scientific front, V-GURTs and T-GURTs promise precise control over sterility and trait expression, with potential applications in biofuels and climate adaptation. Ethically, however, they raise profound concerns about farmers’ rights, food sovereignty, and human rights, with the FAO (2001) deeming them “generally unethical.” Socio-political reactions have been strong: the CBD (1999) moratorium, India’s PPV&FRA (2001), and Brazil’s Biosafety Law (2005) banned their use, reinforced by grassroots campaigns branding them “suicide seeds.” Economically, GURTs are tied to the consolidation of the global seed industry, where the top three firms control over 50% of the market, creating fears of corporate dependency. While proponents argue that GURTs could serve as tools for gene containment and innovation, critics warn of biodiversity risks, loss of seed sovereignty, and deepening farmer dependency. The future of GURTs remains uncertain, caught between innovation and extinction, reflecting a broader struggle over who controls seeds and the future of global agriculture.
Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs)
Copyright (c) 2025 D. Purushotama Rao, D. Adilakshmi, H. P. Chaturvedi, P.V. Padmavathi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Genetically Modified Crops in India: A SWOT-Based Assessment of Scientific, Regulatory and Socio-Political Barriers
The adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops remains one of the most contested issues in global agriculture. While countries such as the United States, Brazil, and China have embraced GM technologies, India has maintained a highly precautionary stance, approving only Bt cotton for commercial cultivation since 2002. This article examines the Indian GM crop debate through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) framework. The strengths of GM crops include higher yield potential, resistance to pests and diseases, reduced pesticide use, climate resilience, and nutritional biofortification. However, India’s internal weaknesses—such as inadequate biosafety infrastructure, fragmented regulation, limited transparency in field trials, reliance on multinational seed corporations, and knowledge gaps among farmers and consumers—have hindered progress. Despite opportunities for enhancing food security, reducing import dependence, and strengthening biotechnology leadership, the country faces persistent threats, including biodiversity loss, gene flow to wild relatives, ethical and cultural opposition, restrictive trade regimes, and judicial activism. Case studies of Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and GM mustard illustrate the complex interaction between science, politics, and law. The analysis concludes that advancing GM crops in India requires stronger biosafety systems, regulatory coherence, public engagement, and evidence-based policymaking to balance innovation with ecological and social safeguards.
Sugarcane Scenario in India: A Comprehensive Analysis
Sugarcane is one of India’s most important commercial crops, underpinning the sugar, jaggery, ethanol, and allied industries while sustaining over 50 million livelihoods. India ranks as the world’s second-largest sugarcane producer after Brazil, contributing nearly one-fifth of global output. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of sugarcane cultivation across states, highlighting trends in area, production, and yield from 2017–18 to 2023–24. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka together account for nearly 78% of the national area and production, though yield patterns reveal contrasts, with Tamil Nadu achieving the highest productivity. While the sector benefits from assured pricing policies and its pivotal role in ethanol blending programs, it faces major challenges, including water scarcity, climatic variability, overproduction, and delayed farmer payments. The findings underline the paradox of abundance and vulnerability, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable production systems. Adoption of technological innovations, climate-resilient practices, and policy frameworks that balance farmer welfare with resource conservation will be crucial for ensuring the resilience and long-term sustainability of India’s sugarcane economy.