Punjab Province Research Articles

Efficacy of Different Fungicides Against Brown Rust of Wheat in Pakistan Punjab Province

Efficacy of Different Fungicides Against Brown Rust of Wheat in Pakistan Punjab Province

Ceratocystis fimbriata Causing Postharvest Fruit Rot of Pear in Punjab, Pakistan.

Pear (Pyrus communis) is an important deciduous fruit cultivated on a worldwide scale including Pakistan. During August 2021, a postharvest fruit rot disease was observed on several pears at various farmers market in Okara- a district of Punjab Province, Pakistan. The incidence of the disease varied from 7 to 20% with 35% disease severity. Necrotic spots (10 to 20 mm diameter) were first observed on the infected pear fruit. The spots enlarged gradually and developed into a brown, water-soaked and rotted lesion. Eventually, the whole fruit became soft, rotted and covered with a gray-brown mycelium. The isolates were obtained from the symptomatic tissues (n = 18) incubated on carrot discs that had been surface sterilized in 100-ppm streptomycin solution. After consistent sporulation of a fungus on the carrot discs, the ascospore masses formed at the tip of perithecia were transferred to malt extract agar (MEA). Primary conidia were cylindrical and hyaline (7 to 11 × 4 to 7 μm) and secondary conidia were hyaline and barrel-shaped (7 to 12 × 5 to 8 μm). Endoconidiophores with primary conidia were (12 to 27 × 2.6 to 5.5 μm). Perithecia produced on carrot discs were dark brown to black, and the base was 157 to 278 μm in diameter. Ascomatal necks were 512 to 656 µm long, dark brown to black, lighter in color at apices, tapering from base (23 to 45 μm diameter) to apex (13 to 24 μm diameter). Ostiolar hyphae were 41 to 79 μm long. Ascospores were hyaline, hat shaped, 3 to 4 μm long, and accumulated in a sticky matrix at the tips of perithecial necks. Mycelium was initially hyaline but became dark greenish brown after 7 days. Dark brown, thick-walled aleuroconidia (13 to 19.5 × 9 to 14 μm) appeared on culture plates after 2 months. Based on morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified as Ceratocystis fimbriata (Engelbrecht, 2005; Suwandi et al. 2021). To further confirm species identification, genomic DNA of two representative isolates (UO-05 and UO-06) was obtained using an extraction kit. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified using ITS1/4 (White et al. 1990). A BLAST search with GenBank accession nos. OR185451 and OR185456 indicated 99 to 100% identity with several C. fimbriata including type species (MH856050.1; KC493160.1; MT560374.1). Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating nine disease-free pear (cv. Concord) fruit after disinfesting in 75% ethanol. A prepared spore suspension (1.0 × 106 spores/ml) was dropped on the wounds (a depth of 1 mm diameter) on the pear surface, which were made by a sterilized needle. 10 μl of a prepared spore suspension was dropped onto nine pears. Sterile water (10 μl) was dropped on the wounded sites of nine pear fruits as negative controls and all fruits were incubated in a growth chamber at 30/26°C (day/night, 90% relative humidity). Symptoms similar to those on the naturally infected fruits began after 4 to 5 days of inoculation, while controls remained healthy. The fungal isolates recovered from inoculated pears were morphologically identical to the C. fimbriata isolates originally recovered from symptomatic fruits fulfilling Koch's postulates. The pathogen has been reported to cause postharvest fruit rot of passion fruit and cucumber (Firmino et al. 2016; Li et al. 2019). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. fimbriata causing fruit rot of pear in Punjab Province. The detection of this disease will help pear growers to take actions to monitor and prevent disease outbreak as well as develop an effective management practice when it occurs.

Atitude e componentes de capacitação de jovens rurais para práticas agrícolas sustentáveis: estudo de caso da província de Punjab, Paquistão

ABSTRACT: Inclusion of rural youth is of great importance to facilitate nutritional security and make the food chain more sustainable. A positive attitude is necessary for active participation in agricultural activities. This case study was an attempt to check the attitude of rural youth regarding sustainable farming and its contributing factors. The study was carried out in the Punjab province of Pakistan and a transverse research design was used for this quantitative study. An interview schedule was used for getting the face-to-face response of rural youth. To make the unknown population of rural youth in Punjab, the Fisher formula was used and a sample of 413 was selected from purposely selected three districts of Punjab. After recording data, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. Descriptive Statistics was used to explain the response of rural youth for the decision on the base of data. Only 53 young farmers said that they have never been part of the formal education system and maximum number of farmers was close to 24 years of age or more than that. Rural youth of Punjab is lacking in non-formal education for acquiring or maintaining their skills & interests. Unemployment and having limited farm income are the biggest challenges that rural youth is facing. Rural youth show a strong inclination towards opting for sustainable farming alongside the availability of a supportive network. Regarding to learning capacities rural youth is lacking related to knowledge, communication means, novel approaches and in promoting sustainable farming initiatives. To achieve the goal of sustainability in changing environment, rural youth must have access to continuous training, communication sources, membership, or association with organizations with novel ideas covering all the changes happening in the farming business.

Evidence of Salmonella enterica in Pakistani backyard poultry breeds: isolation, molecular characterization, and pathology.

The present study evaluated the presence of Salmonella enterica in Pakistani backyard poultry. A total 48 chickens from 4 backyard poultry breeds with the clinical presentation of S. enterica infection were randomly selected from villages in the Punjab Province. Cloacal swabs from live poultry and liver samples from the dead birds were collected for bacterial culture and biochemical identification. Liver and spleen samples from dead birds were evaluated for gross and histopathological changes. Bacterial isolates were subjected to PCR and sequencing of ratA gene. Biochemical identification revealed 5/48 (10.42%) chickens positive for S. enterica. Gross pathology included enlarged, discoloured and congested liver and congested spleen. Histopathology demonstrated congestion of sinusoidal capillaries, cellular swelling and cellular/ballooning degeneration, congestion of central hepatic vein, granular hepatocytic cytoplasm and the presence of variable-sized vacuoles in hepatocytes. The PCR yielded a S. enterica specific amplicon (1047 bp). All liver samples that were positive for S. enterica by biochemical tests, were also positive by PCR. The ratA gene sequencing revealed a close resemblance with S. enteritidis isolates from humans. The present study highlights zoonotic risk from backyard poultry and suggests that PCR can be used as an alternate method for rapid detection of Salmonella serovars.

Emerging Threat: First Case of West Nile Virus Encephalitis in Peshawar, Pakistan

West Nile Virus (WNV), once confined primarily to Africa, is now an emerging communicable disease in Pakistan. Clinical cases and serological evidence of WNV infection have been documented in both human and animal populations in the Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. We report the first case of WNV encephalitis in an 80-year-old hypertensive and diabetic lady from district Peshawar. Sadly, the patient did not survive. This case highlights the importance of thinking of zebras in addition to horses when confronted with the sound of hoofbeats, as ‘zebra diagnoses’ do exist. Clinicians shall consider novel infections when evaluating patients with fever and altered mental status.

Isolation and identification of Clostridium perfringens and its toxins from mutton in Lahore City, Punjab, Pakistan.

The present study was aimed to detect C. perfringens and identify its toxins in mutton samples collected from Lahore City in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A total of 40 samples of minced and non‑minced mutton were collected from local butcher and retail shops representing four areas of the city. The samples were subjected to ELISA for the detection of C. perfringens alpha, beta and epsilon toxins. The samples were simultaneously processed for bacterial isolation. The isolates were confirmed both by biochemical testing and a multiplex PCR targeting alpha, beta and epsilon toxin genes of C. perfringens. While 10% (4/40) of the samples were positive for C. perfringens alpha toxins, 17.5% (7/40) of the samples were positive for the alpha toxin gene. The present study indicated that the samples collected from the local butcher shops were contaminated with C. perfringens and its toxins. Interestingly, no such contamination was detected in any of the samples collected from retail meat shops. In conclusion, improper hygienic conditions at butcher shops could lead to the contamination of mutton with C. perfringens and its toxins.

Inclusive Finance for SMEs in Pakistan: A Supply-Side Perspective

Objective: Inclusive finance aims to escalate the access and usage of financial services among SMEs and individuals as well. Therefore, it is mainly concerned with efforts towards financial inclusion, which means easy access and usage of a wide range of affordable financial products and services by everyone, provided by a variety of sound, responsible, and sustainable financial institutes. In Pakistan, SMEs face severe issues towards access to formal finance and bound to meet their financial needs by using informal finance. This study aims to highlight the supply-side factors impacting SME's access to finance in Pakistan. Methodology: This quantitative research has been conducted in the five big cities of Punjab province. By using a stratified sampling technique SMEs from three main sectors have been included in this study manufacturing, services and trading. Findings: In line with prior research study concluded that for inclusive growth and development, provision of resources, favourable policies and regulatory reforms, financial and other national institutions, international bodies support can bring significant change in the status of SMEs in Pakistan. Implications: Current study will be helpful for policy makers and financial institutions to formalize their structure and strategies to facilitate SMEs in Pakistan.

INSECT BIODIVERSITY AND ASSESSMENT OF POST-HARVEST GRAIN LOSSES IN STORED COWPEA (Vigna aunguiculata L.)

Insect pests cause huge economic losses to stored grain cereals and pulses in tropical and subtropical areas around the globe. The level of damage and losses caused by different insect pests varies depending upon the infesting species, type of food materials, duration of storage and structures. The information about the diversity of infesting species, their dispersal and abundance are key for devising effective pest management techniques against storage insect pests. The present study aimed to collect information on the distribution, relative abundance and biodiversity of major insect pests of stored cowpeas in Dera Ismail Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and its adjoining Punjab province areas of Pakistan. The areas selected for biodiversity studies were Paniala, Mankera, Bhakkar, Paharpur, Kulachi, Ramak, Dera Ismail Khan, Darya Khan, Notak and Behal. A vast survey of godowns was conducted to find out the population dynamics of insect pests of stored cowpeas and to explore the % grains damage and weight losses in the mentioned areas. For the collection of samples, a spear sampler was used to collect 500-gram samples from the top, middle and bottom portions of the bags. Samples were preserved in plastic containers and after 30 days, were sieved out with the help of a 2mm mesh sieve to remove different types of dead and alive insects. A total of five species representing two distinct orders i.e., Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Coleopterans are Callosobruchus maculatus, Tribolium castaneum, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Trogoderma granarium belonged to four families including Chrysomelidae, Tenebrionidae, Silvanidae, Dermestidae and Lepidopteron are Sitotroga cerealella belonging to family Gelechidae. The most abundant species among all the recorded insect pests of cowpea was C. maculatus (53.60%) followed by T. castaneum (18.60%), S. cerealella (16.97%), O. surinamensis (6.49%) and T. granarium (04.34%). The maximum infestation (26.98%) and weight loss (28.91%) of cowpea was recorded in Darya Khan followed by Dera Ismail Khan (22.70% and 26.33%), whereas; minimum % infestation and weight losses were recorded in Bhakkar (16.91% and 17.14%) area showing significant differences between the surveyed areas. The C. maculatus is the most abundant specie of the stored cowpea grains in the surveyed areas and needs management tactics to minimize the post-harvest grains losses. The population of C. maculatus starts to build up during the month of March (23.30⁰C and 56.25% RH) and reaches at peak in May (35.32⁰C and 68.88% RH). Special measures should be taken during these months to minimize the infestation and losses caused by C. maculatus.

Relationship between Vaccine Hesitancy and Psychological Distress in Elderly Population of South Punjab

Vaccines have eliminated and prevented several deadly diseases, yet they face skepticism from the public. This research aimed to find the moderating role of optimism in elderly people on the relationship between vaccine skepticism of COVID-19 booster dose and the psychological distress because of it. The purpose of this research was to find out hesitant attitude of elders towards COVID-19 booster dose, explore level of psychological distress among elderly people who were already vaccinated and find out life optimism among elderly people (age range of 45-65 years, M=55.75, SD=6.51). Correlational research design and systematic random sampling technique were used to collect data from elders (n=427, M= 264, F=161). The data was collected from different cities of Punjab province namely Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, Multan, and Bahawalpur. Vaccine skepticism, psychological distress and optimism were checked using “Oxford COVID-19 Scale of Vaccine Hesitancy, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) and Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Data was analysed using Correlation, t test, and ANOVA. The results found a positive relationship between psychological distress and life orientation. On the other hand, vaccine hesitancy was found to be negatively correlated with psychological distress and life orientation. The males were found high on vaccine hesitancy and psychological distress. People above age 60 years had lowest psychological distress.

Investigating the Complications Associated with Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients through a Retrospective Case-Control Association Mechanism

The study aimed to find the complications associated with diabetic patients with its different parameters. This study is based on the retrospective case-control association, in which patients with Diabetes type II along other complications were the sample taken from different hospitals in Pakistan. They will undergo Diabetic examination whereas their medical records will be assessed carefully. The research has identified that diabetes mellitus is frequently found among the patients with cardiovascular syndromes with its frequency around 40% in KP and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. This proportion of diabetics among patients with cardiovascular diseases one out of every three is very high i.e., 1: 4. The study reported that Diabetes is more dominant among the female in comparison to the male. However, it is found that the cardiovascular risk is higher among the females. Similarly, study has identified 13.2% nephropathy in the diabetes patients; again, its prevalence was high in the females. The study found that foot ulcer is also found in the women i.e., 10% among diabetes patients. The study concludes to create awareness among patients for such complication. It could be helpful in early detection and prevention of such diseases because it will help improve the life of diabetic patients. This study was helpful to see the complications in the diabetic patients and help in its control. The objectives of this study included: Survey to Government General Hospital Faisalabad from Punjab and Government hospital of Dera Ismail Khan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Enrollment of Diabetic patients type II from Punjab and KPK. Determine diabetes with its different types of risks and parameters in the patients.

Drivers’ Experiences of Traffic Police Corruption and Their Compliance with Traffic Laws in Lahore City

This paper examines drivers’ perceived traffic police corruption and its impact on their compliance with traffic laws in the capital city of province Punjab i.e. Lahore. For this purpose quantitative methodology was employed and cross-sectional survey was conducted on 400 driver participants recruited through simple random sampling. Questionnaire was used as a tool of data collection and regression analysis was done in order to assess the impact of independent variables on dependent variable. Results show that personal and vicarious corruption experiences decreased the drivers’ likelihood to comply with traffic laws. Moreover, it was found that the drivers’ personal and vicarious corruption experiences in Lahore city were less that still affect their level of compliance with traffic laws. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Directive Leadership Skills and Visionary Leadership Skills: Impact of In-Service Training Among Educational Managers of Punjab

The current quantitative study aimed to determine the impact of Quaid-e-Azam Academy for Educational Development (QAED) in-service training on the directive leadership skills of educational managers from the Punjab province. The study sample was 359 through a random sampling technique from the Punjab province. Data were collected through adopted questionnaires from indicators of QAED used during in-service training sessions. A Google form was designed based on a five-point Likert scale to get online data from the participants. Most participants showed significant progress in result-driven, decisive leadership capabilities regarding setting academic goals, monitoring instructional performance, and making decisions after in-service training. Moreover, the positive response also explored the impact of in-service training in developing competencies such as vision, communication, objective oversight procedures, and evidence-based action that allow one to be transformed. The development of such directive leadership is necessary for school improvement in challenging environments.

Student Performance at Tertiary Level: The Role of Social Work Education

This paper has been designed to examine the role of satisfaction towards discipline, spiritual orientation, and commitment to be professional in student performance at the tertiary level in the Punjab province. Social work has become an essential component of higher education globally, especially with the rise of globalization and internationalization. The study has been based on a quantitative approach. It uses the data from a sample of 347 social work discipline students from public sector universities through a proportionate random sampling technique. It is important to mention that the students have been enrolled in the BS (4 Years) program. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and a structured questionnaire was administered to collect information from social work students. It was pretested from 30 randomly selected students, and reliability was confirmed. It used three independent, two paths, one dependent, and one intervening variable. In the same way, the study found that satisfaction towards discipline, spiritual orientation, and commitment to be professional indirectly affect social work student performance through the mediation of practice learning and supervision of academic activity.

Collaborative Learning: An Assessment of the Students’ Essay Writing Skills

The present experimental study aimed to assess the students’ essay-writing skills at the graduate level. Writing is highly pertinent among all four English language skills related to communication. The results of the students who were taught in the classroom through collaborative learning techniques were compared with the results of the students who were taught through traditional methodology. Female students at the graduation level from a government college in the Chakwal district of Punjab province were considered the population of the present study. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 30 students. The sample of 30 students was divided into experimental and control groups by dividing 15 students in each group. The traditional methodology was used to teach the students of the control group, whereas the collaborative learning technique was used to teach the treatment group students. Both groups were observed twice. The results were analyzed using the independent sample t-test. The findings revealed that the students of both groups performed almost the same in the pretest, whereas a significant difference was observed in the mean score of both groups in the post-test. It was recommended that the traditional teaching methodologies be replaced with collaborative learning techniques.

Exploring Women's Involvement in Agriculture and Livestock Sectors: A Study of Punjab Province, Pakistan

This paper presents a quantitative study on the pastoral women’s part in Pakistan's cutting-edge cutting-edge area of agriculture and livestock. As Pakistan is an agricultural country, ladies also perform an important role in Pakistan's agronomy growth by actively participating in various crops and livestock activities. Despite this role, this contribution by women is not duly acknowledged, is often underestimated, and results in low rewards. The paper describes the landscape and scope of ladies’ contribution to agronomy and cattle activities in selected rural areas of Punjab, a major agriculture province of Pakistan. Semi-structured interviews of randomly selected 400 female respondents and five focus group discussions support in-depth and meaningful conclusions based on both quantitative and qualitative data. The findings of the training reveal the level of females’ active partaking in farm actions in addition to their household responsibilities that range from the acquisition of farm supplies to the product sale. However, the share of women in the income is found to be quite low compared to their contribution. Limited involvement in the judgement manufacturing activities associated with agronomic and cattle is the major factor hampering women’s empowerment in the areas. Therefore, the study suggests appropriate participation in decision-level activities, just monetary rewards and equipment with modern farming skills, to increase their empowerment.

E-Commerce Adoption: Enablers within Small and Medium–Sized Enterprises in Punjab

The purpose of this research is to examine the influence of e-commerce on Small and Medium–Medium-sized enterprises in Punjab a province of Pakistan. There is resistance to the adoption of e-commerce in certain parts of underdeveloped countries, even though the most successful companies have adopted e-commerce and gained increasing success. This study describes the drivers for e-commerce adoption and investigates the benefits obtained by the companies when they adopt e-commerce. The targeted population for the study was the Small and Medium Sized Companies registered in the Lahore District of Punjab province of Pakistan. The Study selected 400 SMEs in the Lahore District. A structured adapted questionnaire was used to collect the data. The quantitative approach was adopted. Seven dimensions namely ecommerce adoption, top management support, perceived benefits, adoption cost, payment mode/type government support and technology awareness and knowledge were measured by using the Likert scale measurement items, acknowledging the previous studies. The results revealed that top management support, perceived benefits, adoption cost, payment mode/type and technology awareness and knowledge had a significant positive influence on e-commerce adoption within SMEs while government support had a negative influence on e-commerce adoption.

Beyond Subsistence: Linking Citrus Smallholders to High-Value Markets for Sustainable Supply Chain Development in Pakistan

Recent evidence suggests that Modern Supply Chains (MSC) in the agrifood industry have the potential to improve production efficiency and scale. However, the inclusion of smallholders for Sustainable Supply Chain Development (SSCD) is a growing concern for policymakers aiming to increase the profitability of farming communities. This study investigates the efficiency and inclusiveness of farmers in the citrus supply chain at the upstream level and factors responsible for SSCD using survey data from the Punjab province of Pakistan. The study employs endogenous treatment effect and principal component analysis apart from the descriptive analysis to explore study objectives. Results indicate that large farmers with abundant resources tend to participate in MSC, whereas smallholders are more likely to be inclined to Traditional Supply Chain (TSC) networks. The study also finds that participating in MSC has a positive impact on farmers' efficiency, and factors such as off-farm income, orchard size, education level, and access to extension services significantly affect profitability. The results of the principal component analysis revealed that for SSCD, six sets of factors, such as performance and quality, risk and climate, economics and market exploitation, knowledge and information, geographic and transportation, and innovation capability, are addressable. Therefore, these results suggest that policymakers should provide training programs, agriculture extension services, improved infrastructure, and educational facilities in rural areas to help smallholders alleviate poverty by creating sustainability in the agri-food industry.

Strategies for Enhancing Food Safety-A Policy Appraisal in Punjab, Pakistan

Ensuring the security and safety of the food supply across Pakistan is a complex challenge that demands continual evaluation as well as robust policy responses. This policy paper outlines a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges to enhance food safety across the province of Punjab, Pakistan. In this regard, this research takes into account a number of factors, such as international cooperation, technological developments, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder roles. It also explores the dynamic nature of food safety risks, highlighting the necessity for proactive and adaptable policies to counter new hazards. A complex web of interrelated factors, from farming and food processing methods to factors impacting food distribution and consumption, define the comprehensive landscape of food safety. Regulatory frameworks are essential for reducing risks at every stage of this spectrum. This paper assesses the efficacy of the regulatory body, that is, Punjab Food Authority, in ensuring the safety of the food through an examination of its inspection procedures. This also involves a review of the current working of this authority, aiming to identify gaps for future improvements.

Food Security: A Critical Analysis of Wheat Procurement, Transportation, and Storage Challenges in Punjab, Pakistan

This research aims to analyze food insecurity in Pakistan, with a specific focus on wheat crop within the Punjab province. It investigates the key issues, their causes, and proposes potential solutions to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of wheat procurement, transportation, and storage systems in Punjab. The study employed a mixed-methods approach incorporating field observation, data analysis, and questionnaires administered to district food controllers regarding the smuggling of wheat crop. Wheat procurement by the Punjab government was thoroughly analyzed and an overview of the wheat value chain is presented based on interviews with key informers, site visits, and observation. A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted to evaluate the viability of implementing grain storage silos in Punjab. The project is financially viable with a payback period of 5-6 years. Moreover, a survey of field officers was carried out to determine the scope and the determinants of wheat smuggling from Punjab. The findings of this research provide valuable information to policymakers, government agencies, and stakeholders in designing effective interventions to enhance food security and to address the specific challenges faced in the wheat sector of Punjab, Pakistan.

Unearthing the Synergy of Entrepreneurial Skills, Smallholder Farming, and High-Value Agriculture: A Case Study from Punjab, Pakistan

Entrepreneurship is a key to the improvement in the quality of individuals, households, and communities viz a viz sustained economic growth of the country. Smallholder farmers’ entrepreneurship is the response to new opportunities to gain economic gains rather than subsistence agriculture. For example, to grow High-Value Agricultural (HVA) crops rather than conventional crops. The present study aims to assess the entrepreneurial characteristics of smallholders in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. For this purpose, cross-sectional data of 450 farmers were collected through a well-designed questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using simple statistics and inferential statistics. The probit model results show a positive significant impact of education, prior experience, risk aversion, knowledge and skills about crops, and self-actualization on the opportunity exploitation by the entrepreneurial HVA farmers. The finding of the factor analysis shows three important groups labeled as marketing, policy, and institutional support in the cultivation of HVA crops. Moreover, the outcomes of the multiple regression analysis reveal that emphasizing technological opportunities provides a novel viewpoint for entrepreneurial HVA farmers. Even in the absence of modern technological innovations, these farmers can still identify and capitalize on technological opportunities. Therefore, to foster entrepreneurship in HVA farming, it is suggested that the accessibility of improved seed varieties of HVA crops and access to market intelligence should be made more favorable for entrepreneurs.