Navsari District Research Articles

Effect of Vibrio Bacterial Product CIBASTIM Administration on Productivity in Commercial Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon Culture Ponds in Gujarat

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of an immunostimulant product prepared from vibrio bacterial components on production of Penaeus monodon culture in five commercial shrimp farmer’s ponds in the Navsari district of Gujarat. The product was administered at the concentration of 2 × 108 cfu/kg pelleted feed as top dressing using a commercial binder for two consecutive days in a week. In general, we observed improvement of up to 33.33% in average body weight, up to 44.83% in survival rate, up to 11.11% in FCR, and up to 50.00% in production per ha over untreated control ponds on the same farm. Administration of this vibrio bacterial product could improve shrimp production in Gujarat.

Impact of frontline demonstration of SRI technology of paddy cultivation in Navsari district of Gujarat

The front line demonstration on SRI technology of paddy cultivation was conducted for two year (2012-13 and 2013-14) on farmers field in two talukas of Navsari district in Kharif season. It was observed that average yield performance of SRI technology of 10 and 36 demonstrations in area of 2.5 and 8.6 hectares of 8064 and 8168 kg/ha during the year 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively. The percentage increase in demonstration yield over local cultivation practices was 58.6 and 70.6 per cent during the year 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively. The farmers have incurred average higher gross return of Rs. 101476/ha and benefit cost ration of 3.06 through these demonstrations over local paddy cultivation practices, which was recorded Rs.. 61607/ha and 2.21, respectively. The average additional gain of Rs. 39869/ha was obtained by farmers through these demonstration. Results of the demonstration had shown that the SRI technology of paddy cultivation obtained higher productivity of paddy.

Information requirement of paddy growers in Navsari district of South Gujarat

The present investigation was confined to Navsari district of South Gujarat. The information need of the 100 rice growers was measured using three point continuums. Major area of information needs expressed by the rice growers, respectively in descending order of rank were schedule of water supply by canal, weed management, marketing, irrigation management, variety, preparation of seedlings, plant protection measures, land preparation and sowing, fertilizer management, harvesting and post harvesting technology and supportive facts. This means that the rice growers gave highest emphasis on schedule of water to be supplied by canal related information, as this information can help them to make a great management on schedule of water to be supplied by canal. They were also conscious about information on weed management as well as marketing and many other aspects of paddy.

Knowledge level of sapota growers about scientific package of practice

Knowledge of farmers plays an important role in adoption of scientific package of practices. Study was conducted out in Navsari district of Gujarat to study the knowledge level of sapota growers about scientific package of practice. Total 200 respondents were selected. Study on overall knowledge of scientific package, knowledge regarding selected scientific package, overall adoption of scientific package and adoption of critical operation for sapota production technology were carried out. The study indicated that majority (51.00 %) of the sapota growers had medium level of knowledge. There were only 14 per cent of the sapota growers who had high level of knowledge about scientific package of practices of sapota.

Adoption of improved goat rearing practices in Southern Gujarat

A study was undertaken to investigate the adoption of improved goat rearing practices in Navsari district of Gujarat. Data collected from 250 owners revealed that kid management (49.23%) had highest adoption index followed by breeding (49.1%), health care (34.2%) and feeding practices (24.8%) for goat. The overall adoption index for improved practices by goat keepers was 39.33% which indicated poor adoption of improved goat rearing practices. Thus to improve the adoption of goat rearing practices in study area, extension agencies have to arrange training and demonstration of improved practices to goat keepers.

Information seeking behaviour of the rice growers

The present investigation was confined to Navsari district of South Gujarat. The information need of the 100 rice growers was measured using three point continuums. Major area of information needs expressed by the rice growers in descending order of rank were schedule of water supply by canal, weed management, marketing, irrigation management, variety, preparation of seedlings, plant protection measures, land preparation and sowing, fertilizer management, harvesting and post harvesting technology and supportive facts. This means that the rice growers gave highest emphasis on schedule of water to be supplied by canal related information, as this, information can help them to make a great management on schedule of water to be suppled by canal. They were also conscious about information on weed management as well as marketing and many other aspects of paddy. They articulated high need for information on market price followed by quality parameters that affects price and time of market inflow. It can be seen that the rice growers expressed their needs for information about subsidies, insurance and government policies related to rice cultivation. It was also observed from this study that five variables viz ., use of information sources, extension participation, land under rice cultivation and cosmopoliteness were observed positive and significantly related with the information needs of the paddy growers. Age, education, social participation, size of land holding, irrigated area to total land, annual income, economic motivation and market orientation was observed positively and non-significantly related with the information needs of the paddy growers.

Crop yield forecasting of paddy, sugarcane and wheat through linear regression technique for south Gujarat

Multiple regression models were developed for yield forecasting of paddy, sugarcane and wheat for two districts of Gujarat (Navsari and Bharuch). The historical weather and crop yield data of 31 years of Navsari (1980-2010) and 27 years of Bharuch (1984-2010) were used. The data of de-trend yield and generated weather variables for 27 years of Navsari (1980-2006) and 23 years of Bharuch (1984-2006) were used for generation of the model for both districts. Significant weather variables are obtained on the basis of highest R2 and significant P-value. The multiple regression analysis was executed by trial and error method. The models were validated with 4 years independent data set (2007 to 2010) of these two districts. During the validation period, Navsari district model deviations for paddy, sugarcane and wheat were between -7.30 to 3.41%, 1.68 to 2.05% and -8.27 to 11.51% respectively. Similarly Bharuch model deviations for paddy, sugarcane and wheat were between 5.35 to 11.76%, -12.65 to 7.18% and -12.07 to 6.86% respectively.

Newborn care practices of mothers in rural areas of Navsari district

Background: Newborn mortality is one of the world’s most neglected health problems. It is estimated that globally four million newborns die before they reach 1 month of age and another four million are stillborn every year. Aims & Objectives: (1) To study the maternal care in terms of Antenatal, Intranatal and Postnatal care practices; (2) To assess newborn care practices in rural areas. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study in rural areas of Navsari district, Gujarat, included 243 women who had one child aged 12 to 23 months preceding data collection. Data were analyzed using statistical software Epi Info 6. Results: All the mothers under study had adequate ANC check-ups. All the mothers had received Iron supplements during ANC but 72.8% of them completed it for 3 months. Majority (99.2%) had institutional delivery. Regarding thermal care practices, half of the women reported that the baby was dried and wrapped within 15 minutes of birth. More than one third (37.8%) of babies were bathed in less than 24 hours of birth. Most of the mothers (93.4%) had put substances on the umbilical cord. About 32% of the infants had received pre-lacteals feeds. The colostrum was fed by 90.9% of mothers. Only 56.4% mothers initiated breast-feeding within 1 hour of birth. Conclusion: In majority of cases, correct practices regarding newborn care were observed among mothers and this should be promoted through improved coverage with existing health services.

Feasibility Studies of Par-Tapi-Narmada Link Project

This report contains revised feasibility studies of Par-Tapi-Narmada Link project. This Link in the western part of India is planned to transfer water from the water surplus regions of Western Ghats to the water deficit regions of Saurashtra and Kutch. The link project includes seven reservoirs proposed in north Maharashtra and south Gujarat. The water from the seven proposed reservoirs would be taken through a 395 km long canal including the 33km length of the feeder canals to take over a part of the command of the on-going Sardar Sarovar Project, while irrigating small enroute areas. This would save Sardar Sarovar water which will be used to extend irrigation in Saurashtra and Kutch region. The main aim of Par-Tapi-Narmada link is to transfer the surplus waters of Par, Auranga, Ambica and Purna river basins to take over part of Narmada Canal command (Miyagam branch) after providing enroute irrigation. Water thus saved in Sardar Sarovar Project, as a result of this transfer, could be taken further northwards to benefit water scarce areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions in Gujarat. This link mainly envisages construction of seven dams, three diversion weirs, two tunnels (5.0 km & 0.5 km of length), 395 km long canal (205 km in Par-Tapi portion including the length of feeder canals and 190 km in TapiNarmada portion), 6 power houses and a number of cross-drainage works. Besides providing irrigation benefits to the enroute command and Narmada command, the link will generate hydropower of the order of 93.00 Mkwh through the power houses installed at four dam sites viz. Jheri, Paikhed, Chasmandva and Chikkar and in two feeder canals taking off from Dabdar and Kelwan dams. The reservoirs will also provide flood relief to the people residing in downstream areas. Location of project area The project of Par-Tapi-Narmada link generally falls in the state of Gujarat except Jheri reservoir which falls in Maharashtra state. Jheri dam is located in Nasik district of Maharashtra, while remaining dams viz. Mohankavchali, Paikhed, Chasmandva, Chikkar, Dabdar and Kelwan dams are located in Valsad and Dang districts of Gujarat. Par-Tapi reach of canal passes through Valsad, Navsari, Dang and Surat districts of South Gujarat whereas Tapi-Narmada reach of canal passes through Surat, Bharuch and Vadodara districts of Gujarat. Thus, the project area is mainly spread in the districts of South Gujarat except for Jheri dam and reservoir. However, the irrigation benefits of this scheme would ultimately reach Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat after providing enroute irrigation in the specified commands in Par-Tapi and Tapi-Narmada reaches of the link. Present report

Evaluation of drinking water quality

Navsari District is located in the south eastern part of Gujarat State in the coastal lowland along Purna River in India. It’s geographical coordinates are 20°51' 0 North, 72°55' 0 East. In the present study, the physico-chemical parameters of Navsari District (Gujarat, India) have been analyzed regarding their suitability for drinking purpose. The study was carried out by collection of water samples from six sampling sites. These samples are analyzed for turbidity, pH, total solids, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, total hardness, magnesium hardness, calcium hardness, phenolphthalein alkalinity and total alkalinity. The analyze results is compared with permissible limits as prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO), Gujarat pollution control board (GPCB) for drinking water quality. Key words: Drinking water, hardness, total solids, pollution, Navsari.

Prevelence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness in Older Adults in an Area of India with a High Cataract Surgical Rate

Background: The cataract surgical rate (CSR) in Gujarat, India is reported to be above 10,000 per million population. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and causes of vision impairment/blindness among older adults in a high CSR area.Methods: Geographically defined cluster sampling was used in randomly selecting persons ≥ 50 years of age in Navsari district. Subjects in 35 study clusters were enumerated and invited for measurement of presenting and best-corrected visual acuity and an ocular examination. The principal cause was identified for eyes with presenting visual acuity < 20/32.Results: A total of 5158 eligible persons were enumerated and 4738 (91.9%) examined. Prevalence of presenting visual impairment < 20/63 to 20/200 in the better eye was 29.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.5–31.2) and 13.5% (95% CI: 12.0–14.9) with best correction. The prevalence of presenting bilateral blindness (< 20/200) was 6.9% (95% CI: 5.7–8.1), and 3.1% (95% CI: 2.5–3.7) with best correction. Presenting and best-corrected blindness were both associated with older age and illiteracy; gender and rural/urban residence were not significant.Cataract in one or both eyes was the main cause of bilateral blindness (82.6%), followed by retinal disorders (8.9%). Cataract (50.3%) and refractive error (35.4%) were the main causes in eyes with vision acuity < 20/63 to 20/200, and refractive error (86.6%) in eyes with acuity < 20/32 to 20/63.Conclusions: Visual impairment and blindness is a significant problem among the elderly in Gujarat. Despite a reportedly high CSR, cataract remains the predominant cause of blindness.