Central Agricultural University

About: Central Agricultural University is a education organization based out in Imphal, Manipur, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Agriculture. The organization has 1116 authors who have published 1157 publications receiving 9217 citations.

Feed and Fodder Value Chains in Bihar: Some Empirical Evidences

Abstract: Livestock production, especially dairy, has long been an important activity for smallholder and resource-poor farmers in India, both for household nutrition and income. Most of the livestock are kept in mixed farming systems, where crop residues, mainly cereal straws have been an important feed resource. India is deficient in the supply of fodder, resulting in very low levels of productivity that limit marketable surplus of milk. In Bihar State, over 50% of the land area is planted to rice, and rice straw along with wheat straw and some pulse residues form the main animal feeds. Recent studies in the Indo-Gangetic Plain have highlighted the problem of insufficient fodder and the poor nutritive value of fodder, a problem which becomes more acute in the more eastern parts of the region where agricultural resources–particularly arable land and water–become scarcer. Fodder scarcity affects most farmers but is particularly acute for landless and those with access to only small area of land. Chronic feed deficit is the major constraint to animal production in Bihar. Most of the dairy farmers are smallholders having one or two local-breed milch animals, which are raised on crop residues and natural pastures with under-employed family labour. Feeding grains, oil cakes and green nutritious fodder are generally restricted to some crossbred cattle. The feed and fodder deficiencies, in fact, have been the main limiting factors in raising livestock productivity. The present study is an attempt to look into various issues of feed and fodder markets and the role of various stakeholders in fodder value chains.

Diallel analysis of yield and its important components in aromatic rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

Abstract: Eight parents of aromatic rice were crossed in half diallel mating design without reciprocal including parents. The parents were evaluated for eleven different characters. Genetic analysis was done through Griffing’s Method II Model I. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among parents and their crosses for all the characters. Combining ability analysis revealed that gca and sca variance were highly significant for most of the characters studied in F1 generation. Amongst the parental lines, Basmati Kasturi was a good general combiner for plant height at maturity, total number of spikelets per panicle, total number of filled grains per panicle and grain yield per plant in F1 generation while the most promising specific combiners for grain yield per plant were Basmati x Chakhao Angangba and Basmati Kasturi x Basmati 370.

The Potato Value Chain and Benefits of Cold Storages: Evidence from Bihar (India)

Abstract: The Indian government has provided large subsidies to stimulate the take-off of the cold storage sector. However, the impact of this policy is not well understood. In a case study of the potato sector in Bihar, we find that there have been dramatic increases and rapid up-scaling of cold storages, seemingly driven by these government subsidies among others. While availability has improved, we further find that the subsidies do not show up in lower storage costs for the farmer. Wealthier farmers participate more directly and relatively more in cold storages, especially towards the commercialization of potatoes. Small farmers benefit relatively more indirectly, i.e. through the higher prices in the harvest period, as well through the cheaper storage of seed potatoes. However, a more competitive environment for the cold sector in Bihar seems called for as to drive down the relatively high cost of storage as well as to improve services delivery in input, output, and financial markets from these cold storages that especially the smaller farmers might benefit from.

Utilizing dissimilar feedstocks derived biochar amendments to alter soil biological indicators in acidic soil of Northeast India

Abstract: Biochar application to soil has been projected as an approach to improve soil quality, which can also influence soil microbial activities. In this experiment, we have utilized four dissimilar feedstocks derived biochar amendments. The highest microbial biomass carbon was found in Lantana camara (LC) biochar followed by pine needle (PN), maize stalk (MS) and lowest in black gram (BG) biochar. The dehydrogenase activity in different biochar treatment increased significantly along with control with increase in incubation days except pine biochar where dehydrogenase decreased. Biochar application in soil increased acid phosphatase compared to control. The highest alkaline phosphatase was found in MS and it was 20.56, 31.27, 42.52, 57.62 and 69.56 at 1, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation, respectively. The highest urease was found in LC followed by BG, MS and lowest in PN among the biochar at both the biochar application rate. The biochar application augmented the protease enzyme activity in soil, which might be due to augmenting the accessibility of inorganic nitrogen. The highest fluorescein diacetate was found in LC and it was 10.12, 17.62, 24.62, 32.86 and 37.56 at 1, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation, respectively. The increased biological indicator was more at 2.5 t/ha biochar application rate than 5.0 t/ha i.e. lower concentration of biochar enhanced more than higher concentration. This laboratory study demonstrated that biochar application can profit incubated acid soils by improving microbial biomass carbon up-lift while increasing potential soil enzyme activity.

Gel properties of sutchi catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) surimi as affected by selected washing process and number of washing cycles

Abstract: The gel properties of sutchi catfish surimi prepared by conventional washing and alkaline–saline washing method were studied for four washing cycles. Decrease (p < 0.05) in myoglobin content was found in alkaline washing process compared to conventional washing at each washing cycle. The highest hardness, breaking force and deformation was observed in gels prepared from alkaline–saline washing method. Whiteness in conventional washed surimi gels increased non-significantly (p < 0.05) compared to alkaline–saline-washed surimi gels. Protein bands on Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the protein extractability was more in alkaline–saline washing and disappearance of bands in conventional washing method was observed between 116 and 45 kDa indicating less yield of protein.