Maximization of farm net income: A way of economic optimum crop planning in Karnataka


Book Description

This study aimed at designing economic crop planning consistent with natural and economic endowments, achieving resource use efficiency for Central Dry Zone (CDZ) of Karnataka. Field data were collected from 45 sample farmers each under Rainfed and Borewell irrigated conditions of CDZ of Karnataka. The extent of efficiency in resource use and allocation is reflected in the costs incurred and net returns realized by valuing inputs at market prices, economic prices and natural resource valuation. The cost of cultivation of crops indicated that, the net returns for borewell irrigated paddy were ₹ 34091/ha, ₹ 17278/ha, ₹ -26120/ha at market prices, economic prices and natural resource values, respectively. Thus, due to subsidies offered, the distortion of prices is to the tune of ₹ 16813/ha, while the distortion due to inclusion of GHGs (₹ 1899/ha) and inclusion of groundwater cost (₹ 41500/ha) is 43399/ha. The resource use efficiency of crops was estimated using Cobb- Douglas production function and results indicated that the ratio of MVP to MFC was differed from unity, in most of the crops, indicating scope for reallocation of expenditure among various resources from over used to under used resources. Economic Optimal Crop Plan for Sustainability in the region developed using linear programming technique indicated that, 40900 ha is to be allocated under borewell irrigated and 103673 ha for rainfed situation according to Economic pricing criteria. Total optimum area allocated would be 144574 ha which maximizes net returns at ₹ 73 crores for Tumakuru District in the CDZ of Karnataka.




Economics of biofuel production: Senarios from India and Karnataka


Book Description

India’s demand for oil and gas has been increasing significantly in recent years boosted by its rapid economic growth. About 90% of the commercially produced energy in the world is from the oil, coal and gas, which are fossil fuels. India is one of the countries, with high usage of traditional fuels like coal, petroleum etc. About 85 per cent of the nation’s demand for oil products is being imported, So the foreign exchange reserved is being spent in large amounts on these imports and this is fatal to the nation’s financial progress and stable development. Domestically, there are limitations for the use of solar energy and wind energy as alternatives for petroleum products. In this regard, biofuels are a ray of hope to reduce the quantity of fuel import by using them as alternatives for traditional fuels like petroleum. India’s crude oil reserves are at 759.59 million tonnes and gas reserves at 1330.26 Billion Cubic Mt (BCM). At the present rate of use, India’s crude oil reserves are not going to last beyond 25 years. India’s crude oil import dependency was at 76% in the year 2011-2012. During the year 2013-14 the import of crude oil was 189.23 MT at 167.6 billion dollars.We import 61% of our need from from Middle East, 17% from Latin America, 16% from Africa (Indian Petroleum and natural gas Statistics, 2013-14).India is the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world with about 2011 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2014. The carbon dioxide is the cause of 60% of the global warming and automobile sector is the major emitter of the carbon dioxide, which can be controlled by switching over to the liquid bio-fuels.Bio diesel can also be produced from edible oil seed crops such as sunflower, groundnut, etc. However, since these are used as food, it will pose a danger to food security. Production of Bio-diesel from Non-edible oilseeds like Jatropha (Jatropha curcas), Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata) , simarouba glauca and Neem (Azadirachta indica) contributes to economic growth through wasteland utilization, employment generation, entrepreneurship development, increasing share of organic manure in agriculture (Poornima.N.N., 2008).Biodiesel: It is methyl ester, formed by the Transesterification of the oil with methanol in the presence of catalyst (NAOH/KOH) to yield methyl esters, glycerol and oilcake.Transesterification: It is the process of converting the try glycerides of the oils into Methyl esters and oilcake.For 100 kg of seed, Cost of Biodiesel production is Rs.2364, recovery from byproducts is Rs.1485 and the price is Rs.43.95 per liter of Bio diesel for Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata).Among the Biofuel Plants, Pongamia ha more economic advantage in biodiesel oil production as its saves Rs.13.94 per liter of bio diesel over the Diesel as worked out based on biofuel unit data , UAS(B).One of the greatest advantages associated with biofuels is Low Establishment Cost , nearly zero maintaince cost and making use of marginal lands.And one of the main driving forces behind worldwide biofuel uptake are their alleged reduced CO2 emissions, and hence their potential to help minimise climate change. In addition to reduced GHG emissions, biofuels also have the potential to reduce emissions of key toxic substances usually associated with standard fuels and their impact on employment opportunities and the environment is Positive. Because of the problem of food insecurity edible crop can not be used for bio fuel production.




Agricultural Research and Development in the Developing World: Too little, Too late?


Book Description

The world’s agricultural economy was transformed remarkably during the 20th century. The agricultural productivity growth that fueled this change was generated primarily by agricultural Research and development (R&D) financed and conducted by a small group of rich countries - especially the United States, but also Japan, Germany and France. In an increasingly interdependent world, both rich and poor countries have depended on agricultural research conducted in the private and public laboratories of these few countries, even if they have not contributed to financing the activity. But now the rich-country research agendas are shifting. In particular, they are no longer as interested in simple productivity enhancement. Dietary patterns and other priorities change as incomes increase. Food-security concerns are still pervasive among poor people, predominantly in poor countries. Food and nutrition security being the major concerns, agricultural R&D in less-developed countries is at the crossroads. Intensity of ARD in the developing nations is too little. But, it’s never too late. Technology gap between developed and developing countries is increasing both, qualitatively and quantitatively. Persistence of such a dichotomy may lead the developing nations into a technological orphanage. The technology-buying disadvantages of the developing countries are to be emphasized. Developing countries will have to become more self-reliant in the development of applicable agricultural technologies. Technological innovations must be combined with institutional innovations to ensure agricultural productivity.India has substantially increased its public funding of agricultural research since the late 1990s and this trend will likely continue in coming years. Nonetheless, India’s research intensity ratio, measured as public agricultural R&D spending as a share of agricultural output, continues to be relatively low. In the twelfth five‐year plan, the Indian Government addressed this deficiency by committing a significant percentage of AgGDP to agricultural R&D. No uniquely best system for all situations; goal is to find the most appropriate system. Investment in innovation is needed to support all components. Role of “institutions” is vital; partnerships and network are the cornerstones.




Nutrient Use Efficiency: from Basics to Advances


Book Description

This book addresses in detail multifaceted approaches to boosting nutrient use efficiency (NUE) that are modified by plant interactions with environmental variables and combine physiological, microbial, biotechnological and agronomic aspects. Conveying an in-depth understanding of the topic will spark the development of new cultivars and strains to induce NUE, coupled with best management practices that will immensely benefit agricultural systems, safeguarding their soil, water, and air quality. Written by recognized experts in the field, the book is intended to provide students, scientists and policymakers with essential insights into holistic approaches to NUE, as well as an overview of some successful case studies. In the present understanding of agriculture, NUE represents a question of process optimization in response to the increasing fragility of our natural resources base and threats to food grain security across the globe. Further improving nutrient use efficiency is a prerequisite to reducing production costs, expanding crop acreage into non-competitive marginal lands with low nutrient resources, and preventing environmental contamination. The nutrients most commonly limiting plant growth are N, P, K, S and micronutrients like Fe, Zn, B and Mo. NUE depends on the ability to efficiently take up the nutrient from the soil, but also on transport, storage, mobilization, usage within the plant and the environment. A number of approaches can help us to understand NUE as a whole. One involves adopting best crop management practices that take into account root-induced rhizosphere processes, which play a pivotal role in controlling nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. New technologies, from basic tools like leaf color charts to sophisticated sensor-based systems and laser land leveling, can reduce the dependency on laboratory assistance and manual labor. Another approach concerns the development of crop plants through genetic manipulations that allow them to take up and assimilate nutrients more efficiently, as well as identifying processes of plant responses to nutrient deficiency stress and exploring natural genetic variation. Though only recently introduced, the ability of microbial inoculants to induce NUE is gaining in importance, as the loss, immobilization, release and availability of nutrients are mediated by soil microbial processes.







Save and Grow in practice: maize, rice, wheat


Book Description

FAO’s best-selling 2011 publication, Save and Grow, proposed a new paradigm of agriculture, one that is both highly productive and environmentally sustainable. This new book looks at the application of “Save and Grow” practices and technologies to production of the world’s key food security crops – maize, rice and wheat. With examples drawn from developing countries worldwide, it shows how eco-friendly farming systems are helping smallholder producers to boost cereal yields, improve their incomes and livelihoods, conserve natural resources, reduce negative impacts on the environment, and build resilience to climate change. The book will be a valuable reference for policymakers and development practitioners guiding the transition to sustainable food and agriculture.




More Crop Per Drop


Book Description

This volume is an analytical summary and a critical synthesis of research at the International Water Management Institute over the past decade under its evolving research paradigm known popularly as 'more crop per drop'. The research synthesized here covers the full range of issues falling in the larger canvas of water-food-health-environment interface. Besides its immediate role in sharing knowledge with the research, donor, and policy communities, this volume also has a larger purpose of promoting a new way of looking at the water issues within the broader development context of food, livelihood, health and environmental challenges. More crop per drop: Revisiting a research paradigm contrasts the acquired wisdom and fresh thinking on some of the most challenging water issues of our times. It describes new tools, approaches, and methodologies and also illustrates them with practical application both from a global perspective and within the local and regional contexts of Asia and Africa. Since this volume brings together all major research works of IWMI, including an almost exhaustive list of citations, in one single set of pages, it is very valuable not only as a reference material for researchers and students but also as a policy tool for decision-makers and development agencies.




The Farmer's Handbook


Book Description




Save and Grow


Book Description

The book offers a rich toolkit of relevant, adoptable ecosystem-based practices that can help the world's 500 million smallholder farm families achieve higher productivity, profitability and resource-use efficiency while enhancing natural capital.




Integrated Watershed Management in Rainfed Agriculture


Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive presentation of the realization of improved rainfed agriculture yield in semi-arid and dry land areas. The incentive of watershed programs is to increase the return on investment with over 20% for 65% of the projects that are currently underperforming. Besides techniques to improve the livelihood of the many small