Variety Of Products Research Articles

Effect Of Animal And Plant Organic Fertilizers On Growth And Yield Of Rice In Tana Delta, Kenya

Rice is the 3rd most consumed cereal in Kenya while production is merely 20% of the demand making the country a net importer of the commodity. With increased global concern on healthy foods, producing more rice to contribute to achieving food secure nation while conforming to environmental sustainability remains a subject of concern in the country. In this case, good agricultural practices are needed to strike the balance. This study was carried out during rice growing season (February – June, 2024) to investigate the effect of basal organic fertilizers; Rich Farm (RF), Han Daebak (BK) and Han Yoobak (MK) on growth and yield of AT054 and Komboka rice varieties in Tana Delta Irrigation Project-Rice (TDIP-R) Scheme during the trial Phase undertaken by Agri All Africa (AAA) in preparation for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project programme. The study was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Rich Farm (RF) at 200 Kg/Ha, Han Daebak (BK) at 200 Kg/Ha and Han Yoobak (MK) at 200 Kg/Ha were applied as basal fertilizers. Conventional fertilizers (200 Kg/Ha DAP + 120 Kg/Ha MOP) was applied as the positive standard check (CF). Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The basal application of Rich Farm, Han Daebak and Han Yoobak organic fertilizers had significant positive effects on grain yield. Among the tested basal fertilizers, Rich Farm performed better at 4.9 and 5.3 ton/ha, followed by Han Yoobak at 4.7 and 4.1 ton/ha and Han Daebak at 4.3 and 3.9 ton/ha in AT054 and Komboka variety, respectively. Therefore, Rich Farm and Han Yoobak can be recommended as basal organic fertilizers in both AT054 and Komboka varieties, while Han Daebak can be used in AT054 variety for rice production. Further studies are of need to investigate the effects on these organic fertilizers on the soil properties of the area, as well as evaluating the optimal rates for higher rice production

A Comprehensive Review of the Occurrence, Distribution, Characteristics and Fate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the African Continent

AbstractPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent synthetic organic compounds extensively utilized in a variety of domestic and industrial products due to their distinctive characteristics. Designated as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention, PFAS are recognized for their long-lasting presence, widespread prevalence, and adverse impacts on both the environment and human health. Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) revised the guideline limits for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water, setting them at 0.02 and 0.004 ng/L, respectively. Despite the global emphasis on the necessity for monitoring and treating PFAS in environmental media, there is a scarcity of information on PFAS studies in Africa. This gap may be attributed to a lack of modern laboratory facilities, weak governance, and the enforcement of environmental regulations. This study comprehensively reviews PFAS, focusing on key areas such as global guidelines and regulations, sources and distribution in the environmental matrix in Africa, characteristics, environmental fate, reported methods for sampling and analysis in Africa, and the role of government in the National Implementation Plan (NIP) on the continent. Additionally, the study offers recommendations and identifies knowledge gaps. In Africa, PFAS have been detected in various environmental compartments, including drinking water ranging from 0.03 to 200 ng/L, surface water ranging from 0.0254 to 788 ng/L, sediment ranging from 0.50 to 248.14 ng/g, wastewater ranging from 0.9 to 507 ± 257.6 ng/L, seafood ranging from 0.12 to 179.2 ng/g, sludge ranging from 0.01 to 0.098 ng/g, plants ranging from 0.160 to 29.33 ng/g, and indoor dust ranging from 1.3 to 69 ng/g. Notably, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are prevalent in samples from various environmental matrices across Africa. Reported sources of PFAS in African countries include municipal waste, hospital waste from medical equipment, discharge from industries, and wastewater treatment plants. Urgent attention is required from decision-makers and researchers in Africa to address PFAS monitoring, regulation, and treatment within the continent. Graphical abstract

Graduation-inspired manufacturing system and synchronization mechanism for hybrid assembly cell lines

This paper presents an innovative flexible assembly system – hybrid assembly cell lines (HACL) to adapt to small batch, high product variety and dynamic demands. HACL provides specially designed trolleys for assembly operations, materials and tools to form the workstations flexibly and quickly at low reconfiguration cost. To conduct accurate and effective control for this complex assembly system, this paper presents a modified Graduation-inspired Manufacturing System (GMS), a recently proposed new card-based control system. GMS for HACL designs three kinds of tickets and the ticketing mechanism to absorb the uncertainties of HACL. Job tickets are for workload control and synchronization of part deliveries; setup tickets are for cell line formation and synchronization of resources of tools and machines; operation tickets are for production execution and synchronization of workers and operations in cell lines. GMS for HACL develops Internet of Things-enabled (IoT-enabled) architecture for managing the smart tickets to achieve automatic and intelligent interoperability between GMS and the physical workstations of HACL. This work designs synchronization mechanism based on specific model and genetic algorithm to synchronize manufacturing resources under GMS for HACL

An import(ant) price of Brexit uncertainty

We estimate the impact of trade policy uncertainty (TPU) on CES import price indices, focusing on the implications of Britain’s exit from the European Union (Brexit). Our analysis reveals that a higher probability of Brexit increases U.K. import price indices by raising the prices of existing products and reducing product variety from the E.U. We find evidence that the risk of higher import protection from the 2016 referendum increased current import price indices by 11 log points. This amounted to a 2 log point increase in manufactured goods prices and a 0.6 log point decrease in consumers’ real income.

A STUDY ON CONSUMER SATISFACTION TOWARDS ONLINE SHOPPING WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO KALYANA KARNATAKA

This study examines consumer satisfaction in the context of online shopping, with a focus on Flipkart, one of India's leading e-commerce platforms. The research explores various factors that influence consumer satisfaction, including time-saving features, product variety, discounts, pricing, delivery speed, and the impact of social media on purchasing decisions. A sample of 150 respondents was surveyed using a structured questionnaire, with data analysed through statistical tools such as pie charts and tables. The results indicate that younger consumers, particularly those under 30, and female shoppers constitute the majority of online shoppers. Social media was identified as the most significant medium influencing purchasing behaviour, surpassing traditional channels such as television and newspapers. Key findings highlight the importance of fast delivery, competitive pricing, and a wide variety of product options in driving consumer satisfaction. The study also reveals that concerns about online payment security and return policies remain barriers to achieving full customer satisfaction. Based on the findings, the study suggests that e-commerce platforms can improve customer trust and loyalty by enhancing payment security, streamlining return policies, and leveraging social media for personalized marketing. The study concludes by emphasizing the role of consumer satisfaction in maintaining a competitive advantage in the growing online retail sector. KEYWORDS: Consumer satisfaction, online shopping, e-commerce, Flipkart, purchasing behaviour, product variety, discounts, social media influence, delivery speed, payment security, return policies, customer loyalty, demographic trends.

Evaluation of new sorghum varieties for grain production cultivated in mineral soil

Sorghum bicolor L. (Sorghum) has been recognized as the fifth largest cereal crop in the world, following maize, wheat, rice, and barley, with a mean annual production of more than 5.89 million tons over the past five years. Grain sorghum is one of the cultivated varieties of the sorghum genus. It is primarily used as human food and animal feed due to the beneficial effects of bioactive compounds in the grain. Sorghum is less popular and unrecognizable in Malaysia, as it was not included in the reports by the Agriculture Department regarding plantation areas. In Malaysia, sorghum is limited because this crop is considered new, and no studies were conducted on the adaptability of its varieties to Malaysian soil and local climatic conditions. Crop production practices such as variety selection, planting density and fertilization will affect yield production. Therefore, a study on grain sorghum varieties (Brachy Sorgho, Jumbo Super, India and Pacific Seed 99) was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield performance of sorghum. Jumbo Super had a significantly higher value for plant height, followed by Brachy Sorgho, India and Pacific Seed 99. India showed the highest value of leaf fresh and dry weight, but no significant difference compared with Brachy Sorgho. Brachy Sorgho recorded the highest value of stem fresh and dry weight, while the least was recorded for Pacific Seed 99. Brachy Sorgho and India showed significantly higher grain yields than Jumbo Super and Pacific Seed 99 in terms of panicle length, panicle weight without grain, grain weight without panicle per plant, number of grains per panicle, and 100-grain weight. The highest gross weight of grain sorghum is Brachy Sorgho (140.00 g/plant), which showed no significant difference compared to the India variety (131.13 g/plant). Meanwhile, Jumbo Super and Pacific Seed 99 varieties showed the lowest grain weight, 77.27 g/plant and 80.16 g/plant, respectively. Overall, all four varieties are adaptable in mineral soil and are considered potential alternative crops for grain production. Bachy Sorgho and India varieties showed the best performance on grain yield compared to Jumbo Super and Pacific Seed 99 varieties. Thus, Brachy Sorgho and India varieties can be recommended for future grain production in mineral soil.

Indian marine products exports: Growth, instability and geographical diversification

The export of marine products is a significant source of foreign exchange and plays a crucial role in the Indian economy by generating income and employment opportunities. The marine sector contributed 25% (4.13 million t) to the overall fish production in India during the fiscal year 2022-23. The primary objective of this study is to analyse the growth rate, instability, and geographical diversification of marine product exports in terms of both quantity and value. Secondary data related to the major export destinations (Japan, USA, European Union, China, South-East Asia, Middle East and others) and item-wise export (shrimp, finfish, cuttlefish, squid, dried, live, chilled and others) of marine products from India during the period 2000-01 to 2019-20 were collected from the Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA). The growth rate, instability and geographical diversification of exports were estimated using the semi-log regression model, instability index (Ray’s method) and Simpson’s diversity index, respectively. The findings reveal that the overall growth rate of marine product exports over the last two decades was 7.13%. Dry fish exhibited the highest growth rate (15.34%) among all products, and South-East Asia showed the highest growth rate (16.05%) among destinations. However, a significant decline in growth rates of export quantity and value was observed between the two decades for all items, except for frozen shrimp, accompanied by an increase in export instability. The Simpson’s diversity index indicated a significant diversification of 70%, reflecting wide variety of marine products exported as well as the broad range of destination countries. Keywords: Ray’s instability index, Seafood exports, Simpson diversity index, Growth rate

Factors Affecting the Quality of Ethiopian Coffee (Coffea Arabica L.)

Ethiopia is fortunate in this regard, as it is home to many different types of. Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is the main coffee variety in global coffee production, accounting for more than 60% of total production. Arabica coffee accounts for 30% of Ethiopia's foreign exchange earnings. Arabica coffee is a popular coffee variety in coffee producing and consuming countries due to its unique aroma and taste and lack of caffeine. Ethiopia's most important export is coffee, which is also its most important crop. Ethiopia is well known for producing very high-quality coffee, renowned for its excellent aroma and taste, and is also the birthplace of Arabica coffee. The coffee industry attaches great importance to coffee quality. Cup quality is a complex trait that depends on many factors, including species or variety (genetic factors), environmental conditions (ecological factors), agronomic practices (cultivation factors), processing systems (post-harvest factors), storage conditions, and industrial factors. process, beverage preparation and consumer preferences. However, the quality of coffee produced by Ethiopian farmers sometimes deteriorates. Additionally, local genotype, climate and soil characteristics, agricultural practices, harvesting strategy and timing, post-harvest handling procedures, grading, packaging, storage and transportation conditions all affect coffee quality, either improving or decreasing coffee quality.

Analyzing Sunflower Trait Patterns Using MANOVA, PCA, and Correlation Across Seasons and Locations

Sunflower is an important agricultural crop valued for its high oil yield, versatility in culinary and industrial applications and adaptability to diverse environments. Eight advanced sunflower genotypes were tested in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at six locations over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of environmental and genotypic variations using MANOVA, PCA, and correlation analysis to discover trait patterns and relationships. The MANOVA results revealed highly significant effects of genotype, environment, and their interaction on the 11 dependent variables (p < 0.001). The four principal components account for 74.23% of the total variation, with key traits such as seed yield per hectare, oil yield per hectare, days to maturity, plant height, and grain filling period significantly contributing to the overall variability. Oil yield per hectare and seed yield per hectare exhibited a very strong association (0.974). Days to maturity (DM) and grain filling period (GFP) showed a strong correlation (0.666), suggesting that longer grain filling periods may enhance both maturity and yield. Additionally, plant height (PH) and seed yield per hectare (YELDK) had a moderate correlation (0.491). Breeding programs should target traits with strong correlations to boost sunflower productivity and adaptability. Future research should prioritize selecting genotypes that perform well across diverse environments, focusing on seed yield, oil yield, and traits such as maturity and grain filling period. Additionally, breeding should incorporate disease resistance and optimize days to flowering to develop more robust and productive sunflower varieties.

Recent Insights into the Physio-Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms of Low Temperature Stress in Tomato.

Climate change has emerged as a crucial global issue that significantly threatens the survival of plants. In particular, low temperature (LT) is one of the critical environmental factors that influence plant morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes during both the vegetative and reproductive growth stages. LT, including abrupt drops in temperature, as well as winter conditions, can cause detrimental effects on the growth and development of tomato plants, ranging from sowing, transplanting, truss appearance, flowering, fertilization, flowering, fruit ripening, and yields. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the comprehensive mechanisms underlying the adaptation and acclimation of tomato plants to LT, from the morphological changes to the molecular levels. In this review, we discuss the previous and current knowledge of morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes, which contain vegetative and reproductive parameters involving the leaf length (LL), plant height (PH) stem diameter (SD), fruit set (FS), fruit ripening (FS), and fruit yield (FY), as well as photosynthetic parameters, cell membrane stability, osmolytes, and ROS homeostasis via antioxidants scavenging systems during LT stress in tomato plants. Moreover, we highlight recent advances in the understanding of molecular mechanisms, including LT perception, signaling transduction, gene regulation, and fruit ripening and epigenetic regulation. The comprehensive understanding of LT response provides a solid basis to develop the LT-resistant varieties for sustainable tomato production under the ever-changing temperature fluctuations.

The Influence of Word of Mouth, Product Quality, and Perception of Benefits on the Decision to Purchase, with Consumer Trust as a Mediator

Consuming milk is part of a healthy lifestyle for people worldwide, including in Indonesia. Among mammal milk types, goat's milk offers greater benefits. In Indonesia, the milk market, particularly for maintaining bone strength with high calcium content, is quite popular. The variety of goat milk products encourages consumers to assess them, influencing purchase interest and decisions. This research aims to determine the impact of word of mouth, product quality, and perceived benefits on Etawa Goat Milk purchasing decisions, with consumer trust as a mediator. The sample consisted of 150 active Etawa milk (Provit) consumers. Data was collected via questionnaires distributed through Google Forms using a 1-10 interval scale. Data analysis employed the Partial Least Squares approach using structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that word of mouth, product quality, and perceived benefits positively influence purchasing decisions, mediated by consumer trust. This research provides insights into improving Etawa milk (Provit) product quality to enhance consumer purchasing decisions.

Diversity Representations in Advertising: Enhancing Variety Perceptions and Brand Outcomes

Abstract We present a novel business case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) by showing that DEI representations in advertisements have important, and yet unestablished, implications for brands. We show that depicting observably diverse (e.g., in race, gender, or age) models in advertisements creates a perception that the brand offers greater product variety, even when the advertisement neither showcases nor directly suggests greater variety. This effect arises because people believe that observably different customers have more varied needs. Diversity representations, therefore, increase the perception that the brand offers greater product variety, presumably to meet the varied needs of its observably different customers. The findings are important because perceptions of variety improve brand impression, perceptions of a brand’s creativity, willingness to pay, willingness to use, and choice. The findings are particularly relevant for brands that offer limited variety, face resource constraints to diversify, and/or want to benefit from generating perceptions of large product variety while avoiding the drawbacks of managing large assortments.

Identifying factors of online shopping and influence on purchase intention of product among Saudi consumers: The mediating role of consumer trust

The rise of Internet technology has transformed consumer shopping behaviors, offering convenience and a wide range of options, making online shopping increasingly popular. In Saudi Arabia, this trend has grown significantly due to higher internet penetration, technological advancements, and shifting consumer preferences. However, building and maintaining consumer trust remains a crucial challenge. Despite the growing interest, there is limited research on the unique aspects of Saudi consumers’ online shopping behaviors. This study aims to address this gap by identifying key factors influencing these behaviors and examining their impact on purchase intentions, with a focus on the mediating role of consumer trust. This study explores factors influencing online shopping behavior and their impact on purchase intention, with a focus on consumer trust as a mediator. Using a survey of 573 respondents from Jeddah and Medina, Saudi Arabia, key factors identified through literature review include perceived usefulness, ease of use, risk perception, website quality, and social influence. The quantitative analysis revealed that customer service and return policies, information quality, perceived convenience, ease of use, usefulness, cost-saving, product variety, and social influence significantly affect consumer trust, which in turn enhances purchase intention. These findings provide valuable insights for businesses to optimize digital strategies, enhance consumer engagement, and foster long-term customer relationships, thereby boosting satisfaction and online business success.

The multiple dimensions of resilience in agricultural trade networks

Abstract The global food and agricultural trade network is crucial for food security. Shocks such as those posed by extreme weather events, conflicts, pandemics, and economic crises can test the resilience of the trade network to the sudden interruption of trade flows. Depending on the level of connectivity in the trade network and its structure, such shocks have the potential to propagate through the entire network and can affect countries’ food availability and variety. The paper contributes to the literature on food and agricultural trade networks in two main ways: (1) understanding the global trade network as a complex system that can be affected by and responds to shocks, we define and operationalize its resilience as a multidimensional concept which is shaped by the interdependencies in the network and their structure; (2) applying techniques from network analysis to examine the evolution of three dimensions of resilience within the global food and agricultural trade network between 1995 and 2019. The main findings show that, between 1995 and 2007, trade connectivity among countries increased. Overall, this bolstered countries’ and the network's resilience to trade shocks. However, vulnerabilities persisted in terms of ensuring sufficient product variety and quantity. Adding to these vulnerabilities, trade integration stalled in the second half of the series, pointing to a slight tendency towards trade disintegration and potentially lower resilience of countries to trade shocks already in 2019.

Structural insights into type III polyketide synthase CylI from cylindrocyclophane biosynthesis.

Type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) catalyze the formation of a variety of polyketide natural products with remarkable structural diversity and biological activities. Despite significant progress in structural and mechanistic studies of type III PKSs in bacteria, fungi, and plants, research on type III PKSs in cyanobacteria is lacking. Here, we report structural and mechanistic insights into CylI, a type III PKS that catalyzes the formation of the alkylresorcinol intermediate in cylindrocyclophane biosynthesis. The crystal structure of apo-CylI reveals a distinct arrangement of structural elements that are proximal to the active site. We further solved the crystal structures of CylI in complexes with two substrate analogues at resolutions of 1.9 Å. The complex structures indicate that N259 is the key residue that determines the substrate preference of CylI. We also solved the crystal structure of CylI complexed with the alkylresorcinol product at a resolution of 2.0 Å. Structural analysis and mutagenesis experiments suggested that S170 functions as a key residue that determines cyclization specificity. On the basis of this result, a double mutant was engineered to completely switch the cyclization of CylI from aldol condensation to lactonization. This work elucidates the molecular basis of type III PKS in cyanobacteria and lays the foundation for engineering CylI-like enzymes to generate new products.

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.

Association between serum levels of 4-tertiary-octylphenol and thyroid function in a young cohort study

4-tertiary-octylphenol (4-t-OP) is a commonly used alkylphenol present in a variety of consumer products. Earlier experimental investigations have suggested that 4-t-OP leads to thyroid dysfunction. However, it is unclear whether these effects translate to humans. We recruited 886 adolescents and young adults (aged 12–30 years) from Taiwan and explored the associations between serum levels of 4-t-OP and various thyroid panel parameters including free and total thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG). Our findings indicated that a one-unit increase in the natural logarithm (ln) of 4-t-OP levels was positively associated with both total T3 and ln free T4, with β values of 3.122 (SE = 1.400, P = 0.026) and 0.046 (SE = 0.015, P = 0.002), respectively. Furthermore, we observed a statistically significant upward trend in the mean values of total T3 and ln free T4 as the quartiles of 4-t-OP exposure increased (P for trend = 0.001 and 0.025, respectively). Nevertheless, our analysis did not uncover any differences in the odds ratio of thyroid diseases based on exposure to 4-t-OP in the logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, our study reveals an association between serum concentrations of 4-t-OP and biomarkers of thyroid function. However, these effects may manifest as subclinical. Further investigations are essential to establish a causal relationship between 4-t-OP exposure and thyroid function in human subjects.

Process optimization, quality evaluation, and dynamic changes of metabolites in Houttuynia cordata yogurt

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (YXC) is a significant homologous plant valued for its medicinal and culinary properties. However, there are no reports on the study of YXC yogurt. The quantities of YXC liquid, starter culture, and white sugar were used to evaluate their impact on yogurt quality, followed by metabolite profiling analysis. The optimal formula for yogurt consisted of 23 g YXC liquid, 9 g white sugar, and 0.7 g starter culture, resulting in well-balanced coagulation, delicate and smooth taste, and a unique aroma of YXC. Additionally, most differential metabolites were significantly accumulated during the production process of YXC yogurt, of which amino acids, free fatty acids, organic acids, and saccharides were associated with the texture, taste, and flavor of yogurt. Correlation analysis further suggested that saccharides, amino acids, and lipids were positively correlated with sensory quality of YXC yogurt. Collectively, YXC-based yogurt enriches the variety of yogurt products and enhances their nutritional values and flavor properties.

Organic Farming for Sustainable Agriculture: Future Outlook and Options

Organic products are grown under a system of agriculture without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, with an environmentally and socially responsible approach, and provide healthy food. It is developing rapidly and is practised in more than 120 countries. In 2022-23, the total area under the organic certification process (registered under the National Programme for Organic Production) is 10.17 million ha. This includes 5.39 million ha of cultivable area and another 4.8 million hectares for wild harvest collection. Madhya Pradesh has covered the most significant area under organic certification. In contrast, India produced around 2.9 million MT of certified organic products, which include all varieties of food products, namely Oil Seeds, fibre, Sugar cane, Cereals and millets, Cotton, Pulses, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Tea, Coffee, Fruits, Spices, Dry Fruits, Vegetables, Processed foods etc. The production is not limited to the edible sector; it produces organic cotton fiber, functional food products, etc. Among different states, Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer. In terms of exports, the total value was 0.31 million Mt. The organic food export realisation was around Rs. 5525.18 Crore (708.33 million USD). Products are exported to the USA, European Union, Canada, Great Britain, Switzerland, Turkey, Australia, Ecuador, the Korean Republic, Vietnam, Japan, etc. The objectives of organic farming ensure that food production has high nutritional value in adequate quantities and preserves and enhances the long-term fertility of soils.

VOLCANBOX: a software platform for Volcanic Hazard Assessment

Volcanic eruptions have an intrinsic multi-hazard nature, in which a variety of volcanic products (lava flows, fallout, lahars, and pyroclastic flows) and associated hazards (seismic shocks, landslides, tsunamis, or floods) may interact and impact sequentially. Volcanic hazard assessment relies on probabilistic approaches based on the past eruptive history, from which scientists identify eruptive scenarios and their expected recurrence. However, not enough attempts have yet been made to address volcanic hazard assessment in a systematic way, based on principles that may be equally applicable to different volcanoes and volcanic zones regardless of their particular nature. Hence, we present VOLCANBOX, a new multiplatform (GNU/Linux, MacOS, Windows) system designed to conduct long-and short-term volcanic hazard assessment and risk analysis in a systematic and rational manner, aimed at reducing volcanic risk by anticipating future eruptions. VOLCANBOX includes several sets of software tools designed to evaluate long and short-term volcanic hazards, to conduct vulnerability analysis, and to assist decision-makers during the management of a volcanic crisis. VOLCANBOX can be implemented before an emergency, in order to identify optimum mitigating actions and how these may have to be adapted as new information is obtained. VOLCANBOX is aimed at experts in volcanic hazard and risk assessment and management and is designed to facilitate the interaction and cooperation between scientists, policy makers and civil protection agencies to anticipate volcanic disasters in a timely manner, by quantifying volcanic hazards, understanding volcanic unrest, forecasting volcanic eruptions, and identifying the most probable scenarios in a simple and clear manner.