Production Constraints Research Articles

Using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to enhance disease resistance in banana

Abstract Bananas and plantains ( Musa spp.) are leading global fruit crops, cultivated in over 150 countries and several island nations and serving as fruit and staple food in tropical and subtropical regions. Notwithstanding their economic importance, banana production is hindered by pests, diseases, and climatic challenges, resulting in significant yield gaps and post-harvest losses. Conventional breeding methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the 15–18 months long life cycle and seedless nature of the edible crop, while transgenic approaches face regulatory, public acceptance, and sociopolitical hurdles. The advent of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR-Cas9) technology offers a precise, targeted, and efficient tool for genetic mutation derived from the bacterial antiviral defense system. Researchers are exploring CRISPR-Cas9 to develop banana varieties resistant to diseases and pests, exhibit higher yields, and possess enhanced nutritional profiles. The well-annotated complete banana genome, combined with advanced regeneration and transformation systems, facilitates the application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology. This innovative approach promises to create superior banana cultivars that benefit consumers and farmers, addressing critical challenges in banana production and contributing to global food security. This review article discusses the challenges in banana production, including biotic and abiotic constraints, and explores recent advancements in genome editing.

Efficacy of antibiotics and bactericides against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri causing bacterial canker disease of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Diseases are the major constraints for citrus production which impede the fruit yield and quality. Citrus suffers from a number of diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and viriods. Among these diseases, canker caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, foot rot or gummosis caused by Phytophthora spp., twig blight caused by Diplodia natalensis and Fusarium spp. Three antibiotics and three bactericides viz., Streptocycline, Kasugamycin 5% + Copper oxychloride 45% WP, Kasugamycin, Bacterimycin, Copper oxychloride 50% WP, Copper hydroxide 53.8% W/W were evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling the growth of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri at the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Ummendganj-Kota, (Agricultural University, Kota) Rajasthan. Inhibition was highest in case of copper oxychloride 50% WP (34.20 mm) followed by bronopol 27% (28.90 mm) and streptocycline 90% W/W (12.48 mm) at 500 ppm concentration and no inhibition zone was found in kasugamycin. All the antibiotics/bactericides inhibited bacterial growth at higher concentrations.

The future of clean energy: Agricultural residues as a bioethanol source and its ecological impacts in Africa

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of Africa's potential to produce bioethanol from agricultural residues and its environmental impact. The relentless consumption of fossil fuels and associated environmental challenges necessitate a shift toward sustainable energy sources, with bioethanol emerging as a promising alternative. This study evaluates the capacity for bioethanol generation from agricultural residues in Africa, considering its land, water, and carbon footprints. Based on data from 85 primary agricultural residues across Africa, approximately 102.256 Gt of fresh agricultural residue is estimated to be available in Africa, translating to approximately 62.117 Gt of dry-weight material. This significant capacity indicates a substantial potential for bioethanol production in Africa, corresponding to a net output of 207.127 EJ. The coproduction potential of bioethanol and electricity are also highlighted, with electricity accounting for 8.016 % of the total net bioethanol energy production. However, the environmental impact of bioethanol production varies across African nations, suggesting the need for optimization and sustainable practices. Additionally, the study discusses the challenges encountered in the bioethanol sector, including the sustainability of production, emission reduction, technological and financial constraints, and the broader context of biomass usage. In conclusion, although bioethanol production from agricultural residues is a promising alternative for Africa's energy sector, it should be realized only after a multifaceted assessment involving technological, economic, policy, and environmental considerations.

DAYA SAING KOPI ARABIKA DI MASA PANDEMI

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the export-oriented Arabica coffee plantations experienced production and productivity constraints due to decreased maintenance costs; besides, export opportunities were constrained by regulations issued by several countries requiring the product to be sterile from the COVID-19 virus. export. Based on the above phenomenon, this study aims to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Arabica coffee agribusiness, especially the profitability and competitiveness of Arabica coffee during the pandemic. The method used to select the area is the production center area around Mount Ijen, the Ijen Ring Region. The research is descriptive, combined research (mixed methods), and the method of collecting data uses primary and secondary data, as well as purposive sampling and incidental sampling with observation and interviews. The analysis tool uses competitiveness and policy with PAM (Policy Analysis Matrix). Arabica coffee during the pandemic is still profitable both financially (privately) and economically (socially), has great competitiveness and export opportunities, and is indicated to be able to compete with similar commodities, both imported and domestic products.

Convolutional neural network for the early identification of weeds: A technological support to biodiversity and yield losses mitigation

Weeds are a major constraint for crop production and food security. Chemical management, the most utilized method for weed control, has serious drawbacks. In this context, the development of more sustainable methods like site-specific weed management (SSWM) is highly deemed. With this study, we assessed the possibility of applying two convolutional neural networks (CNN) for the recognition of different classes of weeds in a winter wheat (T. aestivum) cultivation based on RGB images. By using this methodology, we were able to recognize with a high average precision (AP > 0.6) some species whose abundance and distribution in the field was correlated with the final wheat yield. We demonstrated that where the presence of R. raphanistrum, A. arvensis and P. rhoeas was high at the tillering stage and weed biodiversity indexes were low (Menhinich's Index, Simpson's Reciprocal Index and Shannon's Index), wheat yield was significantly reduced. In contrast, higher weed biodiversity mitigated yield losses. Therefore, CNN is a useful tool for early evaluation of the impact that weeds may have on yield, and it can be used as SSWM classifier for an early mapping of weeds, which is critical to improve our understanding of weed ecology dynamics in agricultural fields.

A novel in vivo genome editing doubled haploid system for Zea mays L.

Doubled haploid (DH) technologies accelerate maize inbred development. Recently, methods using CRISPR-Cas have created gene-edited maize DH populations, albeit with relatively low editing frequencies. Restoring fertility via haploid chromosome doubling remains a critically important production constraint. Thus, improved editing and chromosome doubling outcomes are needed. Here we obtained maternally derived diploid embryos in vivo by ectopically co-expressing Zea mays BABY BOOM and cyclin D-like gene products within unfertilized egg cells. When combined with gene editing, the in vivo method enables the production of mature seed with a maternally derived, gene-edited diploid embryo without requiring in vitro tissue culture methods nor the use of a chemical chromosome doubling agent. In summary, we report a novel approach for creating gene-edited maize DH populations that we expect can accelerate genetic gain in a scalable, cost-effective manner.

Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil

Public food purchase programs are a useful tool for promoting food security through rural development, supporting family farmers, and encouraging sustainable and healthy food production. The study aimed to analyse the characteristics of family farmer organizations associated with the Brazilian Public Food Procurement (PFP) program and the opinion of technicians and managers of the organizations regarding the benefits and challenges of the program. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions regarding the characteristics of the organization and the food sales process, as well as the opinion about the benefits and challenges of PFP. The results were stratified according to the organization’s participation in the PFP. The chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test was applied. A total of 293 managers and technicians from family farmer organizations participated in the study. The majority of participants (71.7 %) reported their involvement in the PFP program. The study revealed that farmer organizations and public technical assistance agencies with larger memberships and employing conventional or mixed production methods were found to be more actively engaged in the PFP program across Brazil. Participants highlighted that direct sales under the program offer benefits to consumers, producers, and the environment. However, challenges identified include seasonal production constraints, bureaucratic hurdles in sales procedures, inadequate infrastructure for food storage and processing within farmer organizations, insufficient information from restaurants about purchasing opportunities, and a lack of support and technical assistance. These factors pose implementation challenges for the PFP program. While the PFP program shows promise in promoting direct sales and supporting local farmers, addressing the identified challenges will be crucial for its sustained success and broader adoption across different regions.

Crop Improvement of Moringa oleifera L. through Genotype Screening for the Development of Clonal Propagation Techniques of High-Yielding Clones in Malaysia.

Moringa oleifera L. is a valuable multipurpose tree species widely planted for centuries due to its high medicinal value and antifungal, antiviral, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory properties in the food industry. However, its cultivation is hindered by production constraints such as the unavailability of planting material and the inadequate number of high-yielding clones. Thus, a study was initiated to select high-yielding clones in terms of growth and chemical content for the mass propagation of superior moringa trees. Screening on high-yielding clones with high astragalin content was conducted through the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of moringa leaf extract. Selected genotypes were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory potential through in vitro bioactivity assays of leaf methanol extract. The effects of the rooting hormone, rooting substrates, and size of the cutting on the rooting response of branch cuttings of moringa were investigated. Results found that samples collected from different ecological zones of Peninsular Malaysia show significant variation in terms of astragalin content. The extracts were observed to show considerable variation in biological activity against the pro-inflammatory enzymes. The size of the cuttings had significant effects on the rooting of the cuttings as longer cuttings with bigger diameters rooted better than shorter cuttings with smaller diameters. Several genotypes of M. oleifera with superior phenotypic characteristics and bioactive compounds have been identified. Factors affecting the rooting efficiency and optimal conditions of rooting are suggested, which provides valuable information for the propagation of the superior planting material of moringa. This effort will ensure the sustainable production and supply of good quality raw materials for the production of quality end-products for the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Production and marketing of aromatic (katarni) rice cultivation in Bihar : an economic analysis

Bihar has been traditionally an aromatic rice growing state of India, where varieties like Katarni, Tulsi, Manjari, Badshahbhog, Br9 etc. are grown since decades. Among these, the most important katarni rice is being cultivated in about 368 ha, area in district of Bhagalpur, Bhanka and Munger. Due to its aromatic and other qualities this variety has also been awarded G.I. Tag in the year 2016. The present study is based on primary data (kharif 2019) collected from a sample of 90 katarni rice growers selected randomly from the Jagadishpur block of Bhagalpur district to analyzecost of cultivation, resource use efficiency, marketable surplus, price-spread and constraints. The findings show that the average cost of cultivating katarni rice was estimated as Rs. 50326 per ha, including 82.84 and 17.16 per cent of variable and fixed cost, respectively. The yield of katarni rice was estimated as 24.52 q ha-1. The resource use efficiency showed that seed, fertilizer, irrigation and labor were underutilized and therefore their quantity is to be increased to increase the yield of katarni rice. The marketable surplus of katarni rice was estimated as13.70 and 37.17 quintals on two categories of farms, respectively. The higher producers' share in consumers' price (71.79 per cent) was found under Channel II and Channel III while it was 68.33 per cent under Channel I. The major production constraints identified were rainfall pattern (Garrett Score: 65.48) followed by quality seed (GS: 54.27), availability of urea (GS: 55.63) and pest & diseases (GS: 62.50). The important marketing constraints included selling produce at village market (GS: 64.44). The area under this variety is found to be declining due to introduction of other high yielding varieties.The study concludes that in spite of low productivity and various constraints, the farmers of area are traditionally & religiously attached with katarni rice and feel proud to cultivate it. Therefore, to protect this premium rice variety there is need for assured availability of quality seed, irrigation and post-harvest processing including marketing with remunerative price.

Integrated disease management strategy for stem rot of rice caused by Sclerotium oryzae Catt

Stem rot of Rice caused by Sclerotium oryzae Catt was once thought to be a minor disease, is becoming one of the major constraints of rice production currently. An experiment was conducted in split plot design with manures, bio agents, fungicide in different treatments alone or integration at Agricultural Research station, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh for three rabi seasons of consecutive years (2019-2021). Pooled analysis of two years data revealed that among all the treatments application of farm yard manure @ 4t/ac+dhaincha @10kg/ac+ 2kg Trichoderma asperellum multiplied in 90 kg farm yard manure+10kg neem cake/ac applied to one acre through soil + two sprays of propiconazole 25EC @ 1ml/l with 15 days interval from booting to panicle emergence effectively managed the diseases with significantly least stem rot incidence (11.40%) and highest grain yield (8359 kg/ha).

Understanding Farmers Problem and Training Needs on Apricot Production in Trans Himalayan Ladakh, India

A survey was conducted among 500 apricot growers in Ladakh to identify constraints faced in their production system and their grassroots training needs.Of the growers surveyed, 47.8 % of respondents were having less than 20 apricot trees. Most (53.8 %) grew apricots for drying, 31.2 % for fresh consumption, and 15 % for kernel oil. A significantly high number of respondents(44.8 %) reported 11-30 % fruit wastage, while 31.4 % reported 31-50 % fruit wastage. Lack of marketing opportunities and harvesting tools were cited as the main reasons for fruit wastage. The growers do not follow the standard growing practices, and the knowledge about insect pests and diseases is poor in the region. The most significant constraints in apricot production were lack of appropriate fruit drying technology, followed by high insect pest infestation, lack of marketing opportunities, lack of fencing around the field, insufficient water for irrigation purposes, and non-availability of nursery plants. Growers were open to a wide variety of sources of information on apricot production, with the most commonly selected response being friends/ relatives (53.2 %), followed by television (22.4 %), training and awareness camps (15.8 %), and radio (3.6%). The findings will help researchers, extension personnel, administrators, and policymakers to bring reforms to the apricot industry.

Establishing the water resources implications for closing the land and water productivity gaps using remote sensing – A case study of sugarcane

ContextTwo of the key limitations for sustainably increasing agricultural production are the scarcity of land and fresh water resources. Establishing land and water productivity gaps is, therefore, essential for measuring how efficiently these resources are being utilised and assessing the scope for increasing feed and food production. Monitoring the productivity gaps at large scales or over time using field data is challenging and expensive. Remote sensing offers an alternative data source to reveal spatial and temporal variations in productivity. ObjectiveThis paper presents a framework that integrates remote sensing derived data and field data to assess (1) land and water productivity gaps, (2) bright spots – fields exhibiting land- and water productivity equal to or higher than the target, and (3) net irrigation water demand for increasing production. MethodsThe framework is developed and applied to the Xinavane sugarcane estate in Mozambique, demonstrating its practical application through systematic evaluation on a 6637 ha section of the estate divided by different irrigation application methods. ResultsThe results reveal that the productivity gap is the highest on fields irrigated by furrow (13.1 tonnes (ton) per ha), followed by sprinkler (12.6 ton/ha) and centre pivot (9.4 ton/ha). Bridging the productivity gap on the same cropland results in an increased sugarcane production of 12.5 % requiring 8.5 % additional irrigation water, whereas achieving the same production increase through irrigation expansion requires more blue water. ConclusionsThe analyses show that remote sensing provides a viable source of information to diagnose the productivity constraints and how bright spots can provide insights into the best field management practices to overcome them. The framework demonstrates its usefulness for policy makers and stakeholders to make informed decisions on the scarce blue water allocation for enhancing agricultural production.

Stakeholder analysis and their roles in livestock disease reporting and response in Northern Kenya

IntroductionLivestock are central to pastoral livelihoods. A major constraint in pastoral production is livestock diseases, which is often exacerbated by inadequate surveillance systems. Reporting of disease outbreaks from pastoral communities to animal health workers is one of the challenges that affects effective and timely response to disease outbreaks. This study aimed to understand animal disease reporting and response in pastoral areas of Northern Kenya. Stakeholders, their roles, information flow among them and methods used for both livestock disease reporting and response and their strengths and challenges were identified.MethodsThe study was carried out in Marsabit County, a pastoral county in Kenya. Pretested tools were used to guide data collection through Focus Group Discussions, Narrative and Key Informant Interviews with pastoralists, County government Animal Health Workers, agrovets and private animal health workers, Community Disease Reporters, Chiefs, County Public Health Officers and local Non-Governmental Organization staff. Net mapping was further used where participants drew links among the various stakeholders and assigned them perceived influence and power. Output from thematic analysis, notes taken during data collection and net maps were used to produce a network of stakeholders and their links using Gephi software. Centrality measures were generated and recorded. Perceived power and influence scores were used to produce a graph and the reasons for the scores documented. Methods used for livestock disease reporting and response were obtained from thematic analysis.ResultsA network of 19 stakeholders with 67 links among them was identified. Major stakeholders were the Animal Owners/Pastoralists, Government Animal Health Workers, County Director of Veterinary Services, the Chief and radio based on network indices of Total degree and Betweenness Centrality, and also based on perceived scores of influence and power. Pastoralists had pivotal roles in both livestock disease reporting and response, Government Animal Health Workers (GAHWs) were mainly involved in disease surveillance and mass interventions including treatment and vaccinations. Non-state actors like NGOs and iNGOs collaborated and supported the County Government with resources to manage outbreaks. Various methods were used for reporting diseases, with use of mobile phones highly mentioned while for response to disease occurrences, the methods included trainings and treatment by both Government and Private AHWs and use of alternative veterinary practices by pastoralists. Various challenges constraining livestock disease response were highlighted, the most frequent challenges centered around low numbers and under resourcing of Animal Health Workers.ConclusionThese findings show that designing an efficient livestock disease surveillance system in pastoral areas requires recognition and utilization of all stakeholders and understanding of their roles. Gaps highlighted in disease response should be prioritized by the government and its development partners for improved animal health service delivery in pastoral areas. These inadequacies in livestock disease response have a direct effect on veterinary practice as mandated by the Government of Kenya Veterinary Surgeons and Para-professionals Act. The results are important for guiding policy formulation to support mitigation of disease impacts in similar areas with limited access to quality veterinary services.

Depth Wise Distribution of Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Nutrients Across a Toposequence Located at KVK Farm, Sakhigopal, Odisha, India

This study aims to identify soil-related constraints for crop production and provide insights for soil management by analyzing soil profiles across different topographic positions (upland, medium land, and lowland) at KVK farm, Sakhigopal, Puri located in the East and Southeastern Coastal Plain Agro-Climatic Zone of Odisha. The profiles were evaluated for key physico-chemical properties and nutrient contents, revealing significant variations influenced by topography. The results showed that the soil's physical and chemical properties and available nutrient status showed distinct variations among the pedons. Among soil physical properties, the sand percentage, bulk density, and particle density increased with soil depth. Whereas, the clay percentage, total porosity, and water-holding capacity decreased with soil depth. Soil pH ranged from 6.32 to 7.50 and the electrical conductivity was recorded below 1 dSm-1. The organic carbon content ranged from 8.6 to 10.3 g kg-1. In general, soil pH, base saturation, and exchangeable cations increased with soil depth. On the other hand, soil organic carbon content and exchangeable acidity decreased with soil depth. Available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur contents decreased with soil depth. However, in general, their concentrations increased along the slope (towards low land), which may be attributed to increased levels of organic carbon and clay contents in the lower topographic positions owing to high moisture content and higher cropping intensity. The findings of this study provide valuable insights regarding soil property characterisation across a transect for sustainable land use planning.

Evaluating the effect of organic NPK granules on yield, nutrient uptake, post-harvest soil fertility and soil microbial population in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice is the most important and staple food crop for more than two third of population of India. India is the second largest rice producing country in the world after China. Although, rice planted area in India is 40 per cent higher than in China, Indian rice production is 30 percent below Chinese production because of lower yields. Among several constraints of production, nutrient management plays a key role in realizing sustainable yield from any given cultivation practices. Integrated nutrient management system plays a vital role in balancing the soil fertility and plant nutrient supply to an optimum level through the judicious and efficient use of chemical fertilizers, green manure, FYM and biofertilizers leading to an eco-friendly approach and economically viable solution for this problem. Continuous integrated use of organic manures with chemical fertilizers would be quite promising in assessing the sustainability of a cropping system vis-à-vis monitoring the soil properties. To investigate further, a field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu from June to September 2023 with a key objective of evaluating the effect of combined application of graded levels of conventional fertilizers along with organic NPK granules in lowland rice. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seven treatments comprised of different levels of conventional fertilizers along with organic NPK granules. Among the nutrient management evaluated, all the yield attributes of lowland rice viz., grain yield, straw yield, uptake of nutrients and post-harvest soil available nutrients were significantly influenced by the application of 70% NPK through synthetic fertilizers and 30% NPK through organic granules. Combining conventional fertilizers along with organic NPK granules improved nitrogen use efficiency via metabolite production, enzyme activity stimulation, and microbial rhizosphere interactions significantly enhancing the yield attributes and yield.

Constraints in Production and Marketing of Ginger in state of Telangana, India

Constraints in Production and Marketing of Ginger in state of Telangana, India

Evaluating the Gendered Credit Constraints and Uptake of an Insurance-Linked Credit Product Among Smallholder Farmers in Kenya

Using data from a multi-arm experiment among maize and bean smallholder farmers in Kenya, we evaluate the gender differences in credit rationing, and whether an insurance-bundled credit product, known as risk-contingent credit (RCC) could enhance credit access for both men and women. Using 3 years of household survey data, we find that female-headed households are significantly more risk-rationed (or demand-side rationed) than men. Post-intervention, we find that the impacts of RCC on credit uptake decisions are significantly larger than those of conventional credit. We also find that RCC impacts do not vary across the different gender categories.

Advancements in Lentil Genomics for Enhanced Crop Breeding: A Review

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) is an essential pulse crop that is widely grown for its high nutritional value, notably its high protein content, making it an important dietary component for vegetarians and vegans. Despite being the world's fifth most produced pulse, with large contributions from Canada and India, lentil production confronts obstacles such as poor productivity due to limited genetic improvement against biotic and abiotic stresses under rainfed cultivation conditions. Recent advances in lentil genetics and genomics, such as the discovery of genes related to yield, disease resistance, and nutritional content, have boosted breeding efforts to generate improved lentil varieties. The use of contemporary genomic techniques like molecular markers, marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection (GS), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has sped up the discovery of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and the production of novel cultivars with superior agronomic characteristics. Databases such as NCBI and ENA, as well as specialized resources like KnowPulse, provide critical genomic data, while the creation of lentil genome assemblies, notably the CDC Redberry variety, has improved our understanding of lentil genetics. These resources help to solve the constraints of traditional breeding, particularly for complex characteristics impacted by genotype-environment interactions, opening the way for more robust and productive lentil varieties. Although the application of advanced tools such as genetic engineering, cisgenesis, and genome editing has moved more slowly in lentils than in other crops, their potential to improve lentil output is encouraging. Recent studies on lentil genomes, together with the creation of increased genetic resources and cutting-edge techniques, offer the ability to overcome production constraints and dramatically increase lentil production and quality throughout the world.

Sustainable scheduling of TFT-LCD cell production: A hybrid dispatching rule and two-phase genetic algorithm

TFT-LCD manufacturing process involves Array, Color Filter (CF), Cell, and Module. The Cell process is pivotal in the TFT-LCD production supply chain; it bridges the front-end (Array and CF) and back-end (Module), maintaining a balance of production capacities. Supply from the front-end is transmitted to the back-end, ensuring prompt responsiveness to customer demands. As awareness of environmental conservation grows, implementing sustainable development in the TFT-LCD manufacturing industry has become crucial. Specifically, reducing the machine setup frequency in TFT-LCD scheduling decreases energy consumption during machine operation and wait times and prolongs equipment lifespan by minimizing wear from repeated shutdowns. To tackle the intricate scheduling challenges within TFT-LCD production, this study proposes an intelligent, sustainable scheduling approach that employs a rolling dispatching and line balancing mechanism and a two-phase genetic algorithm (HDTPGA) for Cell scheduling. The goal is to minimize makespan considering product diversity, production constraints, work-in-process balancing, and machine setup frequency. This holistic approach promotes energy-efficient and sustainable manufacturing practices. According to the empirical study, the proposed HDTPGA reduces the makespan by approximately 10% compared to the baseline. Additionally, it reduces the average daily setup frequency of bottleneck stages (ODF and CCT) in the Cell process by approximately 68.25% and 66.25%, respectively. The main contribution of this paper is to propose an intelligent scheduling algorithm to optimize Cell production scheduling in practice. The HDTPGA achieves equilibrium between front-end and back-end production, utilizing an efficient line change mechanism to reduce energy consumption. The enhancement in efficiency not only restricts material waste but also reduces the environmental impact, enabling manufacturers to adopt green production practices and promoting a transition of the entire panel industry toward sustainability.

Barriers to Successful Beekeeping: Insights from the Jammu Region of Jammu and Kashmir, India

This study focused on the constraints faced by the beekeepers of Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, evaluating constraints perceived by the beekeepers identified from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) who have been involved in beekeeping for the last five years at least and the list contained eight beekeepers. By using the sampling method with replacement, the sample size of eight beekeepers were interviewed two times and comparison made for three time periods or years viz; 2019-20, 2021-22 and 2023-24, which made the ultimate sample size of twenty four (24) beekeepers. For analyzing the data collected for three time periods, Henry Garrett’s ranking and Chi-square test were used. Findings indicated that major production constraints were the disease of honey bees (78.60), death of the colony (70.00), and heavy rainfall (61.00). Marketing constraints included the fluctuating price of raw honey (69.20), unorganized and unregulated markets (63.20) and lack of government concern or support for the marketing of honey (55.80). Economic constraints featured the huge cost of investment is ranked first with an average score of 71.00, followed by no insurance facilities for the beehives with an average score of 53.67 and lack of credit supply for costly implements used in processing, packaging and quality testing (50.67). Chi-square test revealed that only two constraints under production problems such as, the lack of beehive equipments and materials in the local market (14.77) and pesticide poisoning (7.88) were significant and were showing dependency over the years. By addressing all these constraints through targeted interventions could significantly enhance the viability of beekeeping.