Malda District Of West Bengal Research Articles

Long Memory Time-series Model (ARFIMA) Based Modelling of Jute Prices in the Samsi Market of Malda District, West Bengal

The objective of this paper is modeling and forecasting the weekly jute prices of Samsi market in the Malda district of West Bengal in the presence of long memory process. The long memory behavior of series is investigated by the ACF plot and Hurst R/S analysis. A fractionally integrated autoregressive moving-average (ARssFIMA) model is fitted using 668 weekly data (January 2009-November 2022). This study shows the efficiencies of the Hurst exponent, GPH, Smoothed periodogram, Local Whittle, and Wavelet methods used to estimate the fractional difference parameter in the ARFIMA model. Furthermore, we compared the forecasting abilities of the ARFIMA and ARIMA models. The results show that long memory is present in the jute price series. The models selected according to each method are ARFIMA (3,0.348,0), ARFIMA (3,0.291,1), ARFIMA (2,0.487,0), ARFIMA (3,0.461,0), ARFIMA (2,0.311,0), and ARIMA (2,1,1) on the basis of minimum AIC and BIC using 534 in-sample data. Finally, the wavelet method based ARFIMA (2,0.311,0) model is found to be the best optimal model in terms of MAE, RMSE, and MAPE criteria using 134 out-of-sample data. A comparative study indicates that the forecasting performance of the ARFIMA model is strongly better than that of the ARIMA model in this regard.

Watershed Management for Sustainable Livelihoods: Integrating Local Pond Ecosystems in Malda, West Bengal

This research article explores the intricate relationship between watershed management, local pond ecosystems, and sustainable livelihoods in the Malda district of West Bengal. The study investigates the potential of integrating local pond ecosystems into watershed management strategies as a means to enhance economic prosperity, ecological resilience, and community well-being. Through a multidisciplinary approach, combining ecological assessments, socioeconomic surveys, and participatory engagement, the research aims to provide insights into the synergies that exist between watershed management practices and the sustainable livelihoods of the local villagers. The research methodology involves field studies encompassing hydrological analysis, biodiversity assessments, and community consultations, aimed at understanding the dynamics of local pond ecosystems and their interconnectedness with the broader watershed. Special attention is given to the diverse ecosystem services provided by these ponds, such as water provisioning, nutrient cycling, and supporting aquatic biodiversity, and how they contribute to the overall resilience of the watershed. The findings of this study are expected to contribute valuable information for policymakers, environmental practitioners, and local communities in Malda district, offering a comprehensive understanding of how the integration of local pond ecosystems into watershed management plans can foster sustainable livelihoods. The article discusses potential strategies for optimizing the co-management of these resources, balancing the ecological health of the ponds with the socioeconomic needs of the local population. Ultimately, this research aims to provide a blueprint for sustainable watershed management practices that prioritize the conservation and utilization of local pond ecosystems, fostering a harmonious balance between ecological integrity and the livelihood aspirations of the communities in Malda, West Bengal.

Flood Susceptibility Assessment and its Management in Malda District of West Bengal through Geospatial Technique

Flood is one of the most popular natural hazards that create havoc in the society. Flood involves inundation of a huge tract of area under water owing to heavy rainfall. Occurrence of flood lays a severe impact upon the agricultural sector. Flood not only brings about destruction of crops but also brings down the productivity of the soil. Malda district of West Bengal is not an exception in this regard. The district is one of the most flood prone districts and involves a lot of loss in crop production. The present study aims to identify the flood susceptible zones of the district through the application of Analytical Hierarchy Process and geospatial techniques and also makes an attempt to detect how much cropland falls within the very high susceptible flood prone area so that proper precautionary measures can be taken to minimize the maximum damage. The study results reveal that the western part of the district is more flood prone and about 55.27% of very high flood prone area is dominated by croplands. Hence, proper flood management techniques have to be adopted in this area to reduce the loss of production of crops owing to floods.

Integration of RS-GIS with Frequency Ratio, Fuzzy Logic, Logistic Regression and Decision Tree Models for Flood Susceptibility Prediction in Lower Gangetic Plain: A Study on Malda District of West Bengal, India

Integration of RS-GIS with Frequency Ratio, Fuzzy Logic, Logistic Regression and Decision Tree Models for Flood Susceptibility Prediction in Lower Gangetic Plain: A Study on Malda District of West Bengal, India

A mixed-method analysis of associated socio-cultural and environmental factors of child marriage in Malda district of West Bengal

A mixed-method analysis of associated socio-cultural and environmental factors of child marriage in Malda district of West Bengal

Questioning the public policies for the adolescent girls of Malda district: A Sociological Study

The paper seeks to study the impact of the public policies on the education and marriage among the young girls in the Malda district of West Bengal. That many policies are in vogue in the state are quite well known, but how far they have fared in coordinating the adolescent girls in the right order is questionable. The paper will try to understand how far the public policies have been able to issue the burning issues of literacy and early marriage among the adolescents in the Malda district of West Bengal.

Some Records of Eriophyoid Mites (acari: Eriophyoidea) from Malda District of West Bengal, India

This paper reports a total of 15 eriophyoid species collected from Malda district of West Bengal, India providing their host records, collection localities (including GPS data) and a remark wherever observed. Out of this 15 species except only 1 species viz., Aculops spondiasis Chakrabarti and Sarkar all other 14 species has been are reported for the first time from Malda district of West Bengal, India.

A comparative analysis of pattern of homicidal deaths among males and females in a district of West Bengal

An observational, cross-sectional study was undertaken among all cases of unlawful homicidal deaths during one year in Malda district of West Bengal to find out the pattern of homicidal deaths, to compare the differences between male and female homicidal deaths and also to find any relationship with social and demographic factors. It was found that most of the female victims are in reproductive age-group and they were most commonly killed by manual and ligature strangulation whereas the male victims of homicide were mostly in economically productive age group and they were most commonly killed by mechanical injuries like incised wound, penetrating wound, head injury and gunshot injuries. The difference between males and females regarding cause of death was significant. The antecedent history of illicit sexual relations leading to homicide was significantly more among females. It was also seen that illicit sexual behaviour led to homicide in most of the unmarried or divorced female victims whereas in case of married woman, illicit sexual behaviour of the husband led to homicide of that woman in about fifty percent of the cases. Disputes regarding money or property was the major antecedent history among male homicide victims. So awareness should be built-up among unmarried, separated and divorced woman against illicit sexual relationship. Adult and earning male members of the family should be cautioned about debt traps and also should be made aware about procedures of legal action to be taken in case of property dispute with relatives and neighbours.

Exploring the Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Girl Child Marriage and its Impact on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Study from Malda District of West Bengal.

Background:Child marriage is not a new phenomenon in India. The prevalence of child marriage remains high in many districts of West Bengal.Objectives:The present study aims to address socioeconomic factors associated with girl child marriage and its effect on selected pregnancy outcomes among women in the Malda district of West Bengal.Methods:The study is based on primary data, collected from the Manikchak CD block by adopting a random sample survey technique. The participants in the study consisted of 357 ever married women aged 15–49 years.Results:Multivariate analysis revealed that the prevalence of child marriage was substantially higher among women who had no formal education resided in the marginalized family. Similarly, educated parents were less likely to marry their daughter at an early age. Besides, the likelihood of miscarried or stillbirth, complications during pregnancy and delivery were significantly higher among those married <18 years than those married at 18 years or later.Conclusions:The findings of this study suggest preventing child marriage by increasing opportunities for girls' education and employment. The targeted approach should be made among rural and poor girls to reduce the vulnerability of child marriage.

Girl child marriage in Malda district of West Bengal: analysis of prevalence and socio-economic factors

ABSTRACT This paper examines the prevalence and socio-economic factors on child marriage in the Malda district of West Bengal using a mixed-methods approach: in-depth qualitative interviews of female victims of child marriage as well as quantitative data collected using structured interviews of women. Quantitative analysis reveals that educational attainment had an inverse relationship with girl-child marriage. This study also found that women who belonged to low-income families were more likely to married-off their daughter at an early age compared to high-income families. The qualitative information indicated multiple themes related to the causes of child marriage such as economic vulnerability due to land erosion, siblings as sisters, and comeliness of girls. The findings of the study suggest that child marriage could be prevented by increasing opportunities for girls’ education and employment. The targeted approach should be made among rural and poor girls to combat the practice of child marriage.

Status of Ichthyofaunal Diversity of River Ganga in Malda District of West Bengal, India

The river Ganges is the largest river in India and the fifth longest in the world. Although, many studies on fish ecology and systematic have been conducted largely to improve fisheries but fish diversity and their distribution pattern from conservation point of view have never been adequately addressed in the Ganges River . The objective of present study was to explore the present Ichthyofaunal diversity of the stretch of Ganga at Malda district of West Bengal. The result showed that 69 freshwater fish species belonging to 9 Orders, 24 Families was found in Ganga stretch of Malda District of West Bengal, India.

Arsenic safe water and changes in severity of arsenical symptoms

Limited information is available in the literature regarding the long-term effect of chronic arsenic toxicity after stoppage of consumption of arsenic-containing water. Treatment options for the management symptoms of chronic arsenicosis are also limited. Mitigation option available for dealing with the health problem of ground water arsenic contamination rests mainly on supply of arsenic safe water in arsenic endemic region of Indo-Bangladesh subcontinent. The current study was therefore done to study the prevalence of arsenicosis and to assess the effect of drinking arsenic safe water (&lt;50µg/L) on disease manifestation of arsenicosis. Manifestations of various skin lesions and systemic diseases associated with chronic arsenic exposure was ascertained initially by carrying on baseline study on 191 families having 1097 family members along with 44 children studying in Chouduar Primary School in Chouduar village of Malda District of West Bengal. The study population was taking water solely from a particular Chouduar primary school tube well with arsenic level &gt;50 µg/L. The base line study findings were compared objectively at the end of six months follow up period after installation of a community filter at the Chouduar primary school tube well. Around 11.36% of school children had clinical features of suspected arsenicosis with mild keratosis either in the palm or sole. The prevalence was more common in males. 15.8% of the remaining study population was having one or more dermatological and non dermatological manifestations of arsenicosis and there was 1.94% decrease in prevalence of non dermatological manifestations without any change in dermatological manifestations after taking arsenic safe water at the end of 6 months of follow up study. Around 70% of population was not aware about adverse health effects of arsenicosis and not taking animal protein regularly.

Assessment of relationship of braiding intensities with stream power and bank erosion rate through Plan Form Index (PFI) method: a study on selected reaches of the upstream of Ganga river near Malda district, West Bengal, India

River bank erosion is a hazardous and common phenomenon in diara region near Malda district of North East India during monsoon and post monsoon periods of every year. The left bank of Ganga river is texturally very weak along diara region of Malda district. The present work explores relations between stream power, braiding intensities and bank erosion in certain stretches of upstream of the Ganga river near Malda district of West Bengal in India. In the present study, we have tried to do a quantitative assessment of channel braiding process of the Ganga river by applying the Plan Form approach and equivalent measurement of stream power. A comparative study of discrete years has been done through braiding index to understand morphological behaviour of the channel. Beside its stream power of the selected stretches of the study area is estimated and compared with braiding intensity and bank erosion. This paper presents the dynamic behaviour of the channel pattern of the Ganga river system in Malda district over a time span of 40 years. This procedure addresses the selection of input parameters from digital satellite images comprising scenes for the years 1975, 1995 and 2015 with specific dates, from Rajmahal in Jharkhand district to Farakka barrage in Malda district. To obtain Plan Form Indices for the entire study area, required parameters were extracting through using GIS techniques. Stream power is measured through analyzing latest flood records and satellite images. The present study concluded that a wide spread and continuous braiding process has occurred in the study area due to aggradations of riverbed and temporal declination of stream power.

Infant Feeding Practices in a Rural Muslim Community in Malda District of West Bengal

Introduction: Exclusive breast-feeding for first six months of life and semi-solid food after six months in addition to breast feeding is recommended as optimal feeding for infant and young children. There is dearth of data about infant feeding practices among mothers of Muslim Community. Objectives: To study infant feeding practices of Muslim mothers and identify feeding problems. Methods: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 infants in the rural area of Chanchal 2 block of Malda district of West Bengal. Results: Ninety one per cent mothers of infants below 6 months were currently breast feeding their babies, whereas only 76% were giving exclusive breast feeding. About Seventy-nine per cent infants above 6 months were on exclusively breastfed up to 6 months, 98% continuing breast feeding. Only 42% of children between 6-8 months started complementary feeding, which was raised to 96% among children of 9-11 months. Cause of discontinuation of EBF before six months was stated to be inadequate milk and mothers’ ill health. Conclusion: Appropriate interventions are required to train grass-root level workers, involve family members &amp; counsel mothers on infant &amp; young child feeding.

Vegetable Based Multitier Cropping System: A Model for Higher Income for the Farmers in Old Alluvial Soils of West Bengal

The weather condition prevailing during the crop season always plays very crucial role in crop production. Off and on crops face aberrant weather like flood that causes total crop failure in low line or flood prone areas. Vagaries of weather spoil the source of income which aggravates the farmer’s poverty. To overcome the problem of crop failure and financial loss in flood prone areas of Gangetic plain in Malda district, vegetable based multi-tier cropping system was propagated in farmers fields on upland situation. The study was conducted with five combinations of horticulture crops at upland situation of 15 farmers fields in Narayanpur village of Malda district of West Bengal for six years from 2014-15 to 2019-20.The farmers are usually growing single climber crop in upland on bower system and most of the land down under remains unutilized. In this situation, multi- tier cropping system is a resilient practice which opens a new door to the farmers for providing more production and income from succeeding crop. The study showed that practice enhanced production, farm income and subsequently increased the benefit cost ratio up to 3.13. Bitter gourd + elephant foot yam cropping system is economically viable and profitable because it provides highest land equivalent ratio and higher Monetary Advantage Index (MAI) value.

Studies on rearing performances of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori Linnaeus, 1758) in hooghly district of West Bengal (India): A newly explored area

Article Details: Received: 2020-02-23 | Accepted: 2020-04-08 | Available online: 2020-06-30 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2020.23.02.85-93 This study is aimed at proposing mulberry sericulture as an alternative to strengthen the agricultural economy of Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. Exploration of four breeds of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori (Linnaeus, 1758), popular in West Bengal (viz., two multivoltine breeds – Nistari Plain and Nistari Marked, One Bivoltine breed – SK6 X SK7 hybrid and one F1 Hybrid from cross between Nistari Plain and SK6 X SK7 hybrid) have been conducted in the Sericulture Research Laboratory, Post Graduate department of Zoology, Hooghly Mohsin College, Chinsurah, Hooghly, West Bengal, India, for three consecutive years (2016-2019) for various rearing parameters (viz., larval duration, matured larval weight, cocoon weight, shell weight, shell ratio , effective rate of rearing , absolute silk content and yield) along with common meteorological data (viz., average temperature, average relative humidity, photoperiod). The study reveals Hooghly district to be very conducive for mulberry sericulture with the multivoltine breeds to be most suitable, although rearing of F1 hybrid and bivoltine breeds should also be promoted for their better economic value. Among the seasons, late Autumn (Oct.-Nov.) and early Spring (Feb.-Mar.) are found to be most suitable commercial rearing seasons for almost all the breeds, whereas the extended summer months including Spring, Summer and rainy season (Mar.-Aug.) are unfavourable, indicating deleterious effect of temperature and humidity on the rearing performance of these breeds, for which remedies such as sub-lethal heat shock can be explored. Keywords: Silkworm rearing, cocoon weight, absolute silk content, yield, effective rate of rearing, commercial rearing season References CHANDAN, R., SANCHARI, R. M. and GHOSH, S. (2012). Sericulture as an Employment Generating Household Industry in West Bengal (A Study on its Current Problems &amp; Prospects). Artha Beekshan : Journal of Bangiya Arthaniti Parishad., 21, 131–155. DEWANGAN, S. K. (2017). Role of women in sericulture, observation of two tribal block of Raigarh district – Chhattisgarh – India. International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 4(12), 524–531. HIRASAKA, T. and KOYAMA, N. (1970). Effects of photoperiodic conditions on the larval growth of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. II. Relationship between non-duly photoperiods and the larval growth. The Journal of Sericultural Science of Japan, 39(6), 437–442. HOQUE, A. and TAUFIQUE, M. (2018). Status and performance of sericulture in west Bengal. India: a geographical analysis. Asian profile, 46, 181–193. KUMAR, H. et al. (2013). Effect of Different Mulberry Varieties and Seasons on Growth and Economic Traits of Bivoltine Silkworm (Bombyx mori). Journal of Entomology, 10(3), 147–155. MAJUMDAR, M., SARKAR, K. and SINHA, S. (2017). A Critical Analysis on Major Problems Faced by Reelers and Weavers of Silk Industry at Field Level in Murshidabad District of West Bengal. International Journal of Social Science, 6(3), 199–210. RAHMATHULLA, V. K. (2012). Management of Climatic Factors for Successful Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Crop and Higher Silk Production: A Review. Psyche, 2012, 12. RAJANNA, S. P. (1986). Effect Of Photoperiod On Silkworm, Bombyx Mori Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). M.SC Thesis. Bangalore: University of Agricultural Sciences. SISODIA, N. S. and GAHERWAL, S. (2017). Effects of temperature and relative humidity on commercial product of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) in Indore region of (M.P.) India. International Journal of Zoology Studies, 2(5), 52–55. TAUFIQUE, M. and HOQUE, A. (2019). Sericulture in Malda District of West Bengal: A Block level Analysis

Land Size Class Wise Change in Cropping Pattern in Malda District – A Block Level Analysis

Proportion of area under different crops and change therein remains a concern before policymakers, researcher, public policy analysts and, academia like geographers. As cropping pattern determines food security, internal consumption demand and export of crops, sustainable cropping arrangement is essential to follow. The paper examined the pattern and extent of cropping across land size categories at block level in Malda district of West Bengal. The change in cropping pattern from 1995-96 to 2015-16 has been assessed through secondary sources of data. The data for 2015-16 is extrapolated based on previous years (2005-06 and 2015-16) interpolated data. Data were processed in Excel spread sheets and results are shown through maps and tables. The maps were prepared in QGIS 2.18. The findings of the study show that gross cropped area under cereals, pulses and vegetables indicated negative growth while fibres, oilseeds and fruits area increased across land size classes but gain is maximum under marginal land size class. Total area under food crops decreased substantially over non-food crops. The study suggests policy intervention measure to boost up economically profitable crops for the sake of the development of Malda district.

Analysis of qualitative and quantitative traits in seedlings of some crop field weeds (dicot) of Kaliachak-II Block of Malda district of West Bengal, India

Analysis of qualitative and quantitative traits in seedlings of some crop field weeds (dicot) of Kaliachak-II Block of Malda district of West Bengal, India

Role of Panchayet Raj Institution in Rural Development for the Implementing MGNREGA: A Study of Gazole Block in Malda District of West Bengal in India

Role of Panchayet Raj Institution in Rural Development for the Implementing MGNREGA: A Study of Gazole Block in Malda District of West Bengal in India

Correction to: Application of analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for flood risk assessment: a case study in Malda district of West Bengal, India

This correction stands to correct a typing error mistakenly made by the author to the numerical value for RI that is located in the text under Table 9 under Sect. 4.3.