Percent Level Of Significance Research Articles

Effect of Sowing Date and Variety on Pigeonpea Production in Nepal

Aims: An unsuitable sowing time and selection of inappropriate variety were the main yield limiting factors in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) cultivation. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of sowing dates on growth and yield of pigeonpea varieties.
 Study Design: The experiment was laid out in spit plot design.
 Place and Duration of Study: This experiment was conducted at the Grain Legumes Research Program (GLRP), Khajura, Banke, Nepal in two consecutive years, 2020/21 and 2021/22.
 Methodology: The experiment consisted five sowing dates treatments viz., 2nd July, 17th July, 1st August, 16th August and 31st August as the main-factor and two promising varieties viz., ICPL-88039 and MA-6 as the sub-factor, with three replications.
 Results: Both the sowing time and variety significantly influenced all the tested growth and yield parameters of pigeonpea at one percent significance level. Early sowing (2nd July) recorded longer days to flowering and maturity and taller plants that affected the yield. Pigeonpea produced the highest (P ≤ 0.01) seed yield (1482 kg/ha), while seeded on 2nd July. Moreover, the pigeonpea sown on 2nd to 17th July produced 36% more seed yield than sown on 1st to 31st August. Similarly, a promising variety of pigeonpea MA-6 (1028 kg/ha) produced significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) seed yield compared to the variety ICPL-88039 (888 kg/ha).
 Conclusion: The study identified the 2nd July as the most appropriate time of sowing and the MA-6 as a high yielding variety of pigeonpea for the study area in Mid-Western Terai Region of Nepal.

Effect of Effective Reading on Students’ Academic Performance in Tertiary Institution: A Case Study of Computer Science Department Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Academic performance is the measurement of students’ achievement across various academic subjects. Teachers and perhaps educationists measure academic achievements using classroom performance, graduation grades and results from standardized tests. In this paper, we carried out some statistical analysis to determine if the Grade Point Average (GPA) of students’ academic performance in Computer Science department 2020/2021 National Diploma (ND) one academic session, do depend on the number of hours students spend over the weekends reading their books using simple linear regression analysis and correlation analysis at 5 percent level of significance. The findings of the study shows that there is a linear relationship between the two variables y(GPA) and the number of x(hours) the students spent reading for their examinations, and it also indicates a strong significant difference on the effect of effective reading of students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions.

Does Foreign Exchange Rate Moderate the Relationship Between Foreign Capital Outflows and Economic Growth? A Panel Data Investigation of Kenya’s Economy (1986-2021)

Purpose – This study aims to evaluate the nexus between foreign exchange rate, foreign capital outflow and economic growth in Kenya. This study focused on analyzing the moderating role of foreign exchange rate on the relationship between foreign capital outflow and economic growth in Kenya. The foreign exchange rate is an important measure in the economic development. Its fluctuations affect the levels of foreign capital outflow. The loss of foreign exchange reserve due to foreign capital outflow translates to great amount of savings lost in the country.
 Design/methodology/approach – This study employed a Panel Data approach and the World Bank’s residual model in the estimation of the magnitude of foreign capital outflow from Kenya during the period between 1986 to 2021.
 Findings – The panel data results revealed that the interaction variable MOD_FER had a coefficient of 0.05 and a significant probability value of 0.0001 which is significant at 5 percent level of significance. This means that foreign exchange rate moderated the relationship between foreign capital outflow and economic growth in Kenya during the period of this study. When the relationship with foreign capital outflow was moderated by 0.05 units then GDP grew by 1 unit. As such, foreign exchange rate is a significant factor in the relationship between foreign capital outflow and economic growth in Kenya.
 Originality/value – This study calculates the magnitude effect of foreign exchange rate in the relationship between foreign capital outflow and economic growth in Kenya for the first time. In addition, the study calculates the magnitude change of foreign capital outflow for MNE’s due to foreign exchange rate oscillations. This study suggests many policy proposals to deal with the challenge of foreign exchange rate, foreign capital outflow and economic growth in Kenya. The results of this study will benefit policy makers by providing them with data-based evidence that will guide them in making appropriate policies that discourage foreign capital outflow and institute proper management of foreign exchange rate to boost economic growth in Kenya.

Outward Foreign Direct Investments and Economic Growth: An Investigation of Kenya

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of outward foreign direct investments on economic growth in Kenya.
 Design/methodology/approach – The study applied the panel data model to analyze the data collected. Unit root tests were also conducted on the variables to avoid the problem of having a spurious regression or white noise in the model. The Levin, Lin and Chu T- statistic test for stationarity which is suitable for panel data sets was used for this study. A Hausman test was conducted to determine whether to use the fixed effects model or the random effects model to address the objectives of the study.
 Findings – OFDI had a coefficient of 0.06 and a probability value of 0.0011 which is significant at 5 percent level of significance. This means that when OFDI grew by 0.06 units then GDP grew by 1 unit during the period of study. 
 Practical implications – As such there is a positive and significant relationship between Outward FDI and economic growth to a magnitude that a o.06% increase in outward FDI will translate to a 1% increased economic growth. As such, outward FDI is beneficial to Kenya’s economic growth.
 Originality/value – This study advances OFDI theory and contributes to the growing discussion on the effect it has on the developing country’s economy. The study also offers practical contributions on how the government can take a deliberate effort to spur economic growth by regulating the level of outward FDI as this determines the effectiveness of policymaking and fosters international mutual understanding, cultural exchange and firm growth and innovation. Ultimately, this contributes to a healthy economy.

Availability and Utilization of Paperless Technology among Staff of Technical Colleges in Osun State, Nigeria

Utilizing paperless technologies in educational institutions is gaining broader popularity in developing countries. The study investigated the extent of adoption of paperless technologies in Technical Colleges in Osun state by their availability and utilization. The sample for the study consisted of 179 administrative and technical staff randomly selected from the technical colleges in Osun state, Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study while two hypotheses were tested at five percent level of significance. A well-validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.78 was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using simple mean to answer the research questions, while the hypotheses were tested using t-test. The study found that Personal computers, overhead projectors, iPads and internet are slightly available in Government Technical Colleges in Osun state, with small extent usage of the few available ones. It was also found that teaching and administrative staff do not significantly differ in their ratings on availability and extent of utilization of paperless technologies in the colleges. The study concluded that when paperless technologies are readily available and well utilized, the colleges will enjoy the benefits associated with utilization of these technologies. The study recommended that necessary paperless technologies be provide for effective teaching/learning activities in the technical colleges is Osun state.

Effectiveness of Shuddhabala Taila Matra Vasti on Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal abnormality found in women worldwide. Rotterdam criteria is used to diagnose the PCOS. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is characterized by excessive production of androgen, and it interfere with ripening of ovarian follicles and aetiology is not known. A Clinical Study was carried out to find out the effectiveness of Shuddhabala Taila Matra Vasti in case of polycystic ovary syndrome, at special subfertility clinic, Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda teaching hospital. Sixty PCOS patients were randomly selected according to inclusion, exclusion and diagnostic criteria and randomly divided in to two groups as group A and B. Group A were treated with oral drugs and Group B treated with oral drugs and Matra Vasti for one month, after taking the written consent. Kanchanara guggulu and Punarnawashtaka Panta were used as oral drugs and Shudhabala Taila was used for Matra Vasti. Data was collected through an interview-based questionnaire and findings of day 12 Trans-Vaginal Scan Reports. Data was analysed by using Wilcoxon sign rank test and Mann-Whitney U tests. According to the data, Acne identified as the most common symptom (65%) and hirsutism and boldness were identified as the least common symptoms (51.66%) related to this study. When comparing the treatment efficacy between group A (only oral drug treatment) and group B (oral drugs with Vasti treatment), it shows that the treatment of group B was significantly effective for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with respect to Oligomenorrhea and Dysmenorrhea, while it (treatment of group B) has not shown a significant efficacy over the group A (oral drug treatment) with respect to improvement of endometrial thickness and Follicular maturity, in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome at 5 percent level of significance.

Analysing the SPAD dynamics of water-stressed vs. well-watered sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) accessions and establishing their relationship with seed yield.

The chlorophyll content is susceptible to deficit moisture stress and may affect the plant yield. Leaf chlorophyll content is directly related to tolerance and higher productivity under deficit moisture stress (WS). The SPAD meter is an excellent tool for rapid analysis of crop chlorophyll content. Therefore, establishing a relationship between leaf chlorophyll content and seed yield is crucial in sesame, particularly under deficit moisture stress. Seeds of 37 sesame genotypes with checks were used in this study. These genotypes were mostly landraces, adapted to different agro-ecological zones in India. The selected genotypes were evaluated under well water (WW) and deficit moisture stress (WS) conditions. The SPAD readings were recorded ten (10) times each at every seven days intervals from the juvenile/first bud (30-35 days after sowing) to ripening/ physiological maturity (95-100 days after sowing) stage. This study aimed to identify the association between leaf SPAD readings (recorded at 7-days interval) and seed yield of sesame genotypes. The analysis of variance revealed the presence of significant variation in SPAD readings due to treatment (WW and WS), genotypes, and their interaction effects. The SPAD readings at all stages were positively correlated with seed yield in both WW and WS. High values of correlation coefficients were observed at 52 (r: 0.672) and 59 (r: 0.655) DAS under WS; whereas at 59 (r: 0.960), 66 (r: 0.972) and 73 (r: 0.974) DAS under WW at one percent significance level (p<0.01), which coincided with the mid-bloom stage of the sesame crop. The best-fit multiple regression model revealed that the dependence of sesame seed yield is significantly influenced by SPAD reading at 52 DAS under WS and 59 to 73 DAS under WW. Both these models provide a good fit with the chi-squared test, which compares the predicted and observed yield.

The Determinants of International Tourism: Evidence from European Countries and China’s Provinces

Tourism has been reported as one of the largest economic sectors in the world. It is shown by more than hundreds of jobs involved in this sector which directly escalate the welfare and economic growth of a country. Thus, government will support any actions that could improve competitiveness and profitability of tourism industry. The main objective of this paper is to determine the significant factors of international tourism receipts by 18 European countries and 12 provinces of Western China between 1995 and 2019. Based on data, Europe known as the world’s largest international tourist receipt in 2019 followed by Asia and the Pacific including China. It is interesting to note that China, particularly in western part, has contributed more on achieving tourism receipt. China has potential to grow its tourism sector in significant trend due to its large land size and massive human resources that might further defeat Europe’s total tourist receipt. By using panel Autoregressive Distributed lag (ARDL) model, there would be different responses related to determinant factors of tourism over long run and short run. The result revealed that population, carbon dioxide emission and trade openness have positive effect to the international tourism receipt in Europe in the long run while the rest explanatory variables such as transportation infrastructure and energy consumption have negative effect to the international tourism receipt in Europe. While in case of China, population and energy consumption are statistically significant and positive to international tourism receipt in the long-run correlation, but the rest variables are having negative effect. Unfortunately, in the short-run effect, it was found that all variables are not statistically significant at least at the ten percent significance level in both Europe and China. From the result, the Europe and Chinese policy makers can evaluate the policy based on each result. For instance, the fact that the high level of population density could reach larger tourism receipt is not always true, government need to provide some training for the party who will be involved in tourism industry to gain knowledge and encourage them to be more creative and innovative. Hence the good quality of listed tourism destination would attract more tourist to the destination country

Impact of Farm Diversification on Income and Expenditure of Small Scale Farm Households in Rangpur District of Bangladesh

Farm production diversification has the potential to broaden and strengthen the sources of farm and non-farm incomes of rural households. This study intends to estimate the impact of farm diversification on income and expenditure of smallholder farm households. A total sample of 100 farmers were randomly selected from the three villages namely South Panapukur, Gaghottari and Betgari under Gangachara upazila of Rangpur district in Bangladesh. Both tabular and quantitative analyses were done to achieve the major objectives of the study. The findings show that the socioeconomic characteristics, cropping pattern, land type, soil type of Gangachara upazila are suitable for farm diversification. From 100 farmers about 55 percent farmers practiced 11-16 numbers of crops, vegetables, livestock and fish. Smallholder farm households were also involved in both farm and non-farm activities which were 71 percent of farm households. Average annual income from farm and non-farm activities were Tk. 75150.00 and Tk. 23350.00 respectively. Average annual expenditure on farm and non-farm practices was Tk. 43000.00 and Tk. 12000.00, respectively. In the present findings, the average annual expenditure on food and non-food items was Tk. 41000.00 per family. The Poisson regression was run to predict the determinants of farm diversification in the last 12 months where soil type, farm size and employment member of family were statistically significant at one percent level of significance and education was statistically significant at five percent level of significance. The Multiple regressions were done to estimate the impact of farm diversification on income and expenditure where farm size and combination of farm and non-farm practices were statistically significant at one percent probability level. But all the explanatory variables included in the model were not statistically significant as were generally expected. Farmers faced different problems and constraints in diversifying farm. In spite of the entire problems, this study has thrown light on some important issues regarding farm diversification of the study areas. Overall results indicate that rather than farm diversifications, diversification of income from farm to non-farm sources positively and significantly affect the household income and expenditure.

The Moderating Effect of Virtual System Upgrades in The Effect of Electronic Fiscal Devices on Value Added Tax Collections in Tanzania: The Case of Kinondoni Tax Region

Tanzania Revenue authority introduced the virtual electronic fiscal devices as part of the modernization on top of existing fiscal devices (EFDs), however there a scant information on their effect. This study examined the moderating effect of virtual electronic fiscal devices in the relationship between electronic on Value Added Tax (VAT) collections in Kinondoni Tax Region, Tanzania. The study collected primary data from a randomly selected sample of 59 tax officers, 90 taxpayers and 21 tax consultants from TRA Kinondoni Tax Region, making a total of 170 respondents. The questionnaires with Likert scale questions was used to collect this data. Additionally, the study used secondary monthly time series VAT collection data from January 2005 to August 2022, a total of 212 months. The primary data was analyzed descriptively (using percentages) and secondary data inferentially (using ordinary least squared (OLS) regression analysis). From descriptive results majority of respondents (over 70 percent) agreed and strongly agreed that EFDs had positive effects on VAT collections and that Virtual EFDs have positive enhancing effect to the role of EFD in VAT collections. The univariate OLS regression analysis shows that EFDs had a positive and statistically significant effect on revenue collections (coefficient = 37.9 billion and p-value = 0.0073), the 1 percent level of significance and that the moderation of VEFD to EFD introduction has a positive and statistically significant impact on revenue collection (coefficient of 8.63 billion, p-value =0.000), at 1 percent level of significance. It is recommended that the government improves EFD and VEFD electronic systems, promote taxpayer education and awareness to use the systems. Future studies should use countrywide data, qualitative analysis and compare the VEFD-VAT collection relations across tax Regions.

Financial Development, Exchange Rate Stability and Trade in Nigeria

This study examines the impact of financial development, exchange rate stability, economic progress, FDI, and population on trade in Nigeria using the ARDL approach of estimation from the period 1980 to 2022. The outcome of the unit root test indicates that all the variables are stationary at one percent level of significance. Similarly, the bound test also confirms the long-run association among the model variables. The result of the short-run estimates reveals that financial development; exchange rate stability, economic progress and FDI increased the level of trade in Nigeria. However, population is not a determinant factor of trade in the nation. The long-run result shows that financial development, exchange rate stability, economic progress, FDI, and population significantly increase the level of trade performance in the country. Hence, the study suggests financial development policy reform through monetary policy instruments that will enhance the level of credit allocation and maintain the stability of exchange for effective trade and economic growth in the country. Nonetheless, the limitation of the study may consist of the incorporation of other important variables like energy use, industrial growth, and pollution. Accordingly, future studies should consider these factors to improve the policy analysis and recommendations.

Public Debt and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria

This study examined the impact of public debt on economic growth in Nigeria using annual secondary data from 1981 to 2021 and the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag technique. The variables used in the study were real gross domestic product (RGDP), which is the proxy for economic growth, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), external debt (EXDT), exchange rate (EXCR), domestic debt (DODT) and debt service repayment (DSRT). The results of the findings show that the past value of RGDP, GFCF, EXDT and DSRT have positive impact on economic growth in Nigeria. Also, EXCR and DODT have negative impact on economic growth in Nigeria. Judging from the p values, the lagged value of RGDP, GFCF, EXDT and DSRT are statistically significant as their p values are lower than critical values at 5 percent level of significance, while EXCR and DODT have no significant impact on economic growth in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommends that government should formulate and effectively implement policy that would boost domestic revenue generation by broadening the revenue base, improving capacity to tax and curtailing ineffective government spending. Also, borrowed funds should be utilized for the diversification of the productive base of the economy.

School Structure as an Institutional Determinant of Strategic Plan Implementation in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya.

The study sought to investigate the influence of school structure on the strategic plan implementation. The study used of a descriptive survey research design. The study targeted 351 public secondary schools, 351 public School principals, 1,404 class teachers, and 1,755 academic Heads of Departments from which the sample of 105 principals, 176 academic Ho Ds and 140 class teachers was derived. The respondents were sampled using stratified sampling technique. A questionnaire and an interview guide were the data collection instruments. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Data was presented by use of frequency distribution tables and pie charts. Person’s product moment correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the inferential data. The set level of hypothesis testing was at 0.05 level of significance. This study may be significant to the school board of management members and policy makers in terms of know how skills on formulation, implementation and evaluation of strategic plan implementation in schools. This study found that school structure in school development plan has a positive and significant influence on the strategic implementation in schools. Based on these findings, the study recommended that there is need for the schools to have forums to evaluate achievement of the goals and objectives in strategic plan. The researcher conducted Hypothesis testing using a multiple regression model at the 5 percent level of significance. The results of hypothesis testing gave a positive coefficient of 0.0470 on school structure results with a p-value of 0.314 and not statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Hence we fail to reject the hypothesis that, school structure has no effect on strategic plan implementation. This indicates that, school structure does not have a statistically significant effect on strategic plan implementation in public secondary schools in Machakos County.

Stakeholders’ Participation as an Institutional Determinant of Strategic Plan Implementation in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya.

This study sought to investigate institutional determinants of strategic plan implementation in public secondary schools in Machakos County, Kenya. The study objective sought to determine the influence of the stakeholders’ participation in school development plans on strategic plan implementation. The study used Descriptive survey research design. The study targeted 351 public secondary school principals 1,404 class teachers, and 1,755 academic Heads of Departments from which a sample of 105 principals, 176 academic HoDs and 140 class teachers was derived. Stratified sampling technique was used to sample the respondents. A questionnaire and an interview guide were the data collection tools. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyses data. Data was presented by use of frequency distribution tables, and pie charts. Person’s product-moment correlation Coefficient and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the inferential data. The set level of hypothesis testing was set at a 0.05 level of significance. This study may be significant to the school Board of Management members and policy makers in terms of know how skills on formulation, implementation and evaluation of strategic plans implementation in schools. This study found that stakeholder participation in school development plans have a positive and significant influence on the strategic plan implementation. Based on these findings, the study recommended that the stakeholders’ need to honor the invitation to take part in the school development plans in the strategic plan and in essence parents ought to be part and parcel in formulating the school strategic plan, and ensure the strategic plan implementation through school fees payment in time. Likewise Constituency Development Fund as stakeholders need to perform its duty in order to ensure adequate strategic plan implementation. The researcher conducted Hypothesis testing using a multiple regression model at the 5 percent level of significance. The results of hypothesis testing gave a positive coefficient of 0.2519 on stakeholder participation in school development plans was realized with a p-value of 0.000 indicating a statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Hence we reject the hypothesis that, stakeholder participation in school development plans has an effect on strategic plan implementation. This indicates that, stakeholder participation in school development plans does have a statistically significant effect on strategic plan implementation in public secondary schools in Machakos County.

Inhibition of ACCO (1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylic Acid oxidase) Activity of Mangoby Modified Atmosphere Storage

Inhibition of ACC Oxidase Activity of Mango by Modified Atmosphere Storage is aimed to extend the storage life were carried out at Food Technology Laboratory, University of Mataram from by using Completely Randomized Design and continued with Least Significant Different at five percent significance level. Mangoes were stored at Polyethylene (PE) bags; PE + KMnO4; Polypropylene bags (PP); PP + KMnO4 and unpacked (Control) for three weeks. The physical properties of fruit such as weight loss and decay percentage were determined, while physiological properties such as the rate of respiration, ethylene production including ACCO activity. Inactivation of ACCO occurred to almost half-time of its activity in mango stored at MAS as compared to unpacked mango. Therefore, paralleled the rate of respiration and production of ethylene at MAS leads to extend the storage life of mangoes. Weight loss and decay percentage of mango kept in MAS for 3 weeks were lower than unpacked.

Determinants of consumer buying behavior towards Nepali products

This study has objected to locate the determinants affecting consumer buying behavior towards Nepalese industrial products in Nepal. Consumer Buying behavior is dependent variable and price fairness, accessibility, opinions, and status are the independents variables. The primary as well as secondary sources of data is used to reach the opinions of the respondents regarding price, availability, opinions, and position in Nepal. This study is based on respondents from particular area from Kathmandu Valley. To achieve the purpose of the study, structured questionnaires had been prepared. This study shows that price fairness is positively correlated to consumer buying behavior. It signifies the fair prices on Nepalese products leads to increase in consumer buying behavior. It indicates that higher the availability of Nepalese products, higher would be the consumer buying behavior. In addition to this, the study shows that status is positively related to consumer buying behavior. It indicates that an individual may have a very favorable decision toward purchasing Nepalese industrial products, if he/she believes that buying those products helps them to enhance their status to the society. The results also show that coefficients are positive for price fairness, availability, opinions, and prestige with consumer buying behavior. However, the coefficients are significant only for availability, opinions and prestige at 5 percent level of significance.

Social Overhead Capital and Output Nexus in Nepal: A Toda-Yamamoto Causality Analysis

Social overhead capital (SOC) is complementary to increasing productivity, particularly when the economy is also experiencing technological progress, thus spurring economies of scale and spillover effects. In its absence, the objective of developing nations to increase national output may be difficult to achieve. Such logjams are also found in Nepal. The objective of the study is to explore and evaluate the causal relationship between SOC and national output using VAR (k + dmax) based on the Toda-Yamamoto Granger no-causality test. The study uses the time series data of 36 years from 1986 to 2021. Nominal GDP is the dependent variable used to represent national output. Similarly, energy, road, telephone, vehicle, irrigation, gross fixed capital formation, health, and student enrollment in higher education are the independent variables used to represent SOC. The study found that roads, telephones, vehicles, and irrigation cause the NGDP, whereas overall SOC variables also caused the NGDP at a one percent significance level. It is also found that NGDP causes the energy, telephone, and enrollment of students in higher education. The study concluded that there is a significant causal nexus between SOC and NGDP directly or indirectly. The study underscores the vital need for the government of Nepal and policymakers to take measures to increase the national output and productivity. This means significantly strengthening key sectors like energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and higher education enrollment and promoting fixed capital formation.

Fisherfolks’ Perception on Artisanal Fishing Enterprise in North Central, Nigeria

The study identified the fisherfolks’ perception of artisanal fishing enterprises in North-Central, Nigeria. Information were collected with the use of questionnaire and analysed using frequency count, percentage, mean score and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The result revealed that 68.4 % of the respondents preferred fishing grounds, about 59.4 % of the respondents preferred group discussion and visit by extension agents and about 61.5 % of the respondents preferred radio. About 38.9 % of the respondents indicated the evening as the preferred time to acquire training. The result showed that 92.8 % of the respondents had knowledge of the basic safety and precaution measure. Fish products should be free of any chemical (x ̅=4.47) was the highest-ranked perception statement. The result revealed that there is a significant relationship between the respondents’ perception of fishing enterprise and knowledge of sustainable fishery practices (r= 0.119; p= 0.001) at 1 percent level of significance. The study recommended that there should be the provision of training in the low knowledge areas on sustainable fishery practices and extension service delivery should be timely.

Increasing the productivity of rajma through proper sowing date and plant geometry

Rajma (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation is gaining popularity in Terai to Hills of Nepal. The poor plant establishment and yield due to the results of unsuitable sowing time and row spacing are the main reasons for lower productivity of it. Therefore, the date of sowing and row spacing trials were conducted in two consecutive years, 2017 and 2018 at the Grain Legumes Research Program, Khajura, Banke. A widespread and registered variety of rajma PDR 14 was used in the experiment. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with four sowing dates (a) 11th October, (b) 26th October, (c) 10th November and (d) 25th November as the main-factor, and three rows spacing (a) 30 cm, (b) 40 cm and (c) 50 cm as the sub-factor, consisted of three replications. The effect of the date of sowing on all the yield and yield attributing characters was found significant at a one percent significance level. Similarly, row spacing has resulted in a significant difference in grain yield. Rajma sown on 26th October (Kartik 9) produced 12, 38 and 64% higher grain yield than sown on 11th October, 10th November and 25th November, respectively. Moreover, rajma seeds sown on 26th October with 30 cm × 10 cm plant geometry produced the highest grain yield (2185 kg/ha). The narrow row spacing seemed well than the wider row in rajma production. There is a great potential to increase the production and productivity of rajma through an appropriate time of sowing and row spacing.

Effect of Climate Induced Changes in the Ecosystem Services of Chilika Lake Wetlands of Odisha from the Perspective of Agriculture and Fisheries

Aims: The aim of the study is to find out the effect of climate induced changes in the ecosystem services of Chilika Lake of Odisha.&#x0D; Study Design: The study has been conducted in Chilika Lake, including the peripheral districts Khurda, Puri and Ganjam. Secondary data have been used for rice yield, fish production and for various weather parameters.&#x0D; Methodology: The statistical analysis like Mann-kendall’s test is used for trend analysis, Fixed panel data regression to find out the influence of climatic parameters on yield of paddy and multivariate multiple regression to study the effect of climate change on fish production has been used.&#x0D; Results: The fixed effect model was found relevant during panel data regression. The weather parameters annual mean rainfall and soil profile moisture were found positively significant at one per cent level of significance in influencing the yield of paddy. Whereas annual mean temperature, squared rainfall and root zone wetness were found negatively significant. Both the temperature and root zone wetness were significant at one and five percent level of significance respectively. Squared rainfall term is found negatively significant at the five percent level of significance which shows a quadratic relationship between rainfall and yield. The estimates of fish production, shrimp and crab production in the Chilika lake revealed that the water salinity and water temperature were found significant at five and ten percent level of significance respectively in the case of fish production. The water salinity founded negatively influences fish production. There were no parameters were found significant in the shrimp production in the lake for the period of 2000 to 2015. The variables water pH and dissolved oxygen were found positively significant at ten and five percent in influencing the Crab production of the lake. The parameter water transparency was found insignificant for all three independent variables viz. fish, shrimp and crab production. &#x0D; Conclusion: It is found that annual mean rainfall and soil profile moisture have a significant positive influence of paddy whereas temperature and root zone wetness have a significant negative influence on paddy yield. Only water salinity was found negatively significant for fish production. The parameters, water pH and dissolved oxygen were found to have a positive influence on Crab production in Chilika lake.