Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) existed in Papua New Guinea, for more than 12,000 years from where it spread to southeast Asia and India. Sugarcane which forms a major source of sugar and other sweetening agents for human consumption is one of the most abundantly grown crops across the globe which is used in sugar industries mainly for sugar production. Sugar, a traditional sweetener, contributes to the colour, texture, and flavour of food. Even in the Indian market, different types of sugars with various qualities are available meeting the needs of different customers. Growing instability in the market due to competition and imbalances in the demand-supply position of sugar, global surplus, sugarcane vis a vis sugar price etc, sugar industries urge the formation and application of new tools to improve its efficiency, potential, and productivity. Through innovative processes and products, sugar plants can develop competitiveness to compete in this continuously changing global market position. Hence, there is a need to explore other possibilities like industrial exploitation of by-products obtained from sugarcane. Besides sugar production, the by-products produced in the sugar plant during various stages of processing are press mud which is sent to farms to be used as fertilizer, ash to brick industries, molasses to distilleries, bagasse which is used either as a fuel for boiler or sent to paper industries and effluent which is used as irrigation water after treating it in an effluent treatment plant. Global warming and the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions have urged the use of biofuels and the sugar industry holds the promise of being a hub of it. Therefore in this aricle, an attempt has been made to review the production process of sugar at the industrial level and the potential and efficient use of by-products of sugar industries. In continuation, different feedstocks, and process for bioethanol production have been discussed.

A field study was carried out to study the spacing trial in high-density planting in guava cv. Hisar Safeda. There were total of seven different treatments i.e. 5 m x 3 m, 5 m x 4 m, 5 m x 5 m, 6 m x 3 m, 6 m x 4 m, 6 m x 5 m and 6 m x 6 m with four replications and the design followed was Randomized Block Design (RBD). Maximum plant height (5.23 m) was recorded in 5 m x 3 m spacing, whereas maximum stem girth (59.3 cm) was found in 6 m x 5 m spacing. At the age of ten years, maximum fruit yield (96.0 kg/plant) was recorded in 6 m x 6 m spacing. However, maximum yield per hectare (327.4 q) was found in 6 m x 4 m spacing, which was significantly higher over all other treatments except 5 m x 5 m spacing. Maximum fruit weight (79.9 g and 115.0 g) was recorded at 6 m x 6 m spacing during rainy and winter seasons. Total soluble solids (TSS) of fruits were recorded maximum (10.5 °Brix) at 6 m x 5 m spacing during the rainy season, whereas it was maximum (11.5 °Brix) at 6 x 6 m spacing during the winter season. During both seasons, the ascorbic acid content of fruits was found maximum (163.7 and 192.7 mg/100 g pulp) at 6 m x 5 m spacing.

The present investigation was conducted for two consecutive years (2018-19 and 2019-20) to find out the optimum method and suitable dates of transplanting for seed production in broccoli under Jammu sub-tropics. The treatment combinations comprised three dates of transplanting viz., 30th September, 15th October and 30th October and two methods viz., in-situ and ex-situ conducted in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with four replications. The analysis revealed that in-situ method of seed production significantly influenced all morphological and yield traits and was statistically superior to ex-situ method. Among dates, the 30th September date of transplanting proved significantly superior to all the characters except days to 50% bolting, days to 50% flowering, number of siliqua per plant, and days to seed maturity. The interaction effects revealed that treatment combinations in-situ and 30th September (M1D1) were significantly influenced and better performance for maximum traits than other treatment combinations. Thus, it can be concluded that in-situ method and transplanting of seedlings on the first week of October performed better concerning most characters and are the most suitable period for broccoli seed production. These findings recommend that the adoption of promising variety can increase the profitability and production efficiency of broccoli and livelihood security to the farmers of mid hills of Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite so many efforts to revive the age-old silk industry of Jammu and Kashmir we are not able to harvest the tangible results due to multifarious reasons. Among these reasons outbreak of silkworm diseases caused by various microbial pathogens poses a great threat to the survival of this economically important insect. The extent of damage to cocoon crops on account of these diseases is huge (30-40%). Despite adopting all the disease management measures, the pathogen is still making its way toward the rearing areas and infecting the worms. During the present study, various agricultural pests were screened and characterized to identify the alternate hosts of silkworm pathogens. Morphological characterization of the isolated spores revealed that Nosema spp isolated from Pierisbrassicae measured 3.5µm x 1.8 µm in size with oval shape, while Beauveria sp isolated from Oxyaindica, Glyphodespyloalis and Cicadulinambila measured 3.7 µm x 2.5 µm, 4.2 µm x 2.3 µm and 3.9 µm x 2.4 µm respectively.

Clove oil has demonstrated insecticidal, antimicrobial, antifungal, and nematicidal activity, but its use is limited due to its insolubility in water, high volatility, rapid oxidation, and degradation upon exposure to air. To overcome these constraints, an experiment was conducted to prepare water-soluble formulations from clove oil and evaluate their antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causative agent of post-harvest anthracnose disease in mango. The main challage during the study was to prepare water souble and ready to use formulation from clove oil. In vitro testing showed that all concentrations of clove oil tested resulted in 100% inhibition of C. gloeosporioides. Ready-to-use formulations were prepared by mixing clove oil with various adjuvants, including Tween 20, Tween 80, silicon antifoaming agent, castor oil, xanthan gum, and gum arabic. Of the formulations prepared, two were found to be water-soluble: CT-20 (20% clove oil + 70% Tween 80 + 10% water) and CT-10 (10% clove oil + 80% Tween 80 + 10% water). The physical parameters of both CT-20 and CT-10 met the criteria for EC formulations according to World Health Organization (WHO) specifications (2016). Of the two water-soluble formulations, CT-20 at 0.5% and higher concentrations resulted in 100% inhibition of C. gloeosporioides. The study highlights the potential of clove oil as a natural alternative to chemical pesticides for controlling post-harvest anthracnose disease in mango caused by C. gloeosporioides. The preparation of water-soluble formulations from clove oil will also help to overcome the limitations of clove oil’s water insolubility, high volatility, rapid oxidation, and degradation on exposure to air.

The vegetative development in gramineae is characterized by the regular initiation and appearance of successive leaves. Phyllochron is the period of time between the emergence of one phytomer (a set of tiller, leaf, and root which emerges from the base of the plant) and the emergence of next other hands interval between similar growth stages of successive leaves on the same culm, has been used extensively to describe and understand development of rice plant and other grass family. A phyllochron is not a thing but rather a period of time, 5 days at best but usually longer, 12 phyllochrons before the plant begins initiating panicles and starts its reproductive phase. The first tiller off the main stem appears at the fourth phyllochron. The first tiller appeared when the third leaf was completely expanded and the emergence of the fourth leaf tip was initiated in the main stem. The rate of leaf initiation on the apical meristem and the rate of leaf appearance above the pseudostem or whorl are primarily controlled by biotic and abiotic factors that reflect on the growth and yield of crop plants.

To determine the role and status of rural women in the process of empowerment, a study was conducted in 2023 in the Astarang and Kakatpur blocks of the Puri district and the Bijepur and Bargarh blocks of the Bargarh district of Odisha. A comparative analysis was done because Bargarh is an interior district and Puri is a coastal district which was selected purposively. A total of four blocks, each with fifty rural women, were surveyed using the personal interview and focused group discussion methods. Two villages from each block of the district were considered, and each had twenty-five respondents resulting in a total of 200 rural women. The triple role framework developed by Caroline Mosher was used to determine the status and role of rural women in the productive, reproductive, and community contexts. Regardless of the region, more women were involved in reproductive activities i.e., 38% and 40.66% of rural women than in productive i.e., 20.08% and 18.71%, community, or sociocultural activities i.e., 8.75% and 8.00% of rural women in Puri and Bargarh district respectively. This research study faces challenges related to obtaining accurate and sensitive data, and navigating cultural intricacies that impact traditional gender roles, potentially hindering a comprehensive understanding of the topic. A consistent gender analysis is necessary before improving agricultural extension programs, achieving gender-balanced sustainable development of rural and urban areas in emerging nations, and promoting development effectiveness.

In the present investigation, dehusked rice seeds were tissue cultured on seven MS basal media with the supplementation of divergent concentrations and conjunction of kinetin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid to avail in vitro seed germination and callus formation. It was noticed that medium M1 (MS + 2.50 mg/L 2, 4-D) revealed the higher formation of callus but the lowest seed germination in rice varieties. Among auxins, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid is detected to be the utmost potent auxin for in vitro callus formation in rice. Moreover, the higher concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid in the remaining six media, namely, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, and M7 enhanced the formation of callus and decreased germination of rice seed. Additionally, the highest kinetin concentration enhanced the germination of seed and decreased the formation of callus in rice. Thus, the formation of the callus can accelerate the rice improvement through somaclonal variation. Furthermore, in vitro-formed calluess, shoot buds, and roots can be employed as rudimentary explants for successful genetic transformation. Therefore, a highly efficient and reliable protocol was established for in vitro germination of seeds and the formation of callus from cultured rice seeds. This protocol will be very reproducible for acquiring in vitro germination of seed and formation of callus based on varied biotic and abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms in rice.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has emerged as an integral part of the business world around the world. The usage of ICT tools by entrepreneurs increases women’s capacities, knowledge, and decision-making and aids them in expanding their entrepreneurial business activities. The present study was aimed at measuring ICT usage and e- readiness or electronic- readiness among women entrepreneurs. The study was conducted in three districts of Telangana state. A total of 180 respondents comprised the sample of the study. Data was collected through an e-readiness scale. The results of the study revealed that most of the women entrepreneurs had a medium level of ICT usage, followed by low and high levels of ICT usage. Limited Access to ICT Infrastructure, Affordability, Infrastructure Inequality were some of the challenges faced by them. In e-readiness, the majority of the respondents had a high level of e-readiness, followed by medium and low. Education, annual income, and ICT usage were found to have a significant relationship with e-readiness at 0.01 level of probability.

The present study aims to evaluate the best rice varieties on the basis of their biochemical parameters that are affected by biochemical processes or insect infestations during the storage period through the different morphological, histological, and biochemical techniques and it may be helpful for providing the quality food and national food security as well as farmer’s economically value also. The present investigation was carried out at the Department of Biochemistry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) from 2013 to 2015. The grains of different hybrid and traditional rice varieties were evaluated for various morphological, quality and biochemical characteristics under four-month storage intervals till the non-significance changes in their parameters. In this study, we selected a dry and cool place for the storage of rice grain that was placed in airtight containers. During the one-year storage (Different time intervals; 4 M (month), 8 M, and 12 M) of hybrid and traditional rice varieties, In hybrid rice, the minimum change in amylose content, ash content (total mineral), protein content, total sugar, reducing and non-reducing sugar content was recorded in traditional rice NDR 97 (9.836 %, 5.245%, 6.452%, 9.323%, 10.309% and 14.405% respectively) followed by traditional rice such as Narendralalmati and NDR 2064 and maximum change of amylose content, ash content, protein content, total sugar content, reducing sugar content and non-reducing sugar content was recorded in XRA 27934 (25.978%), KPH 466 (34.883%), XRA 27934 (16.267%), MEPH 113 (39.314%), KPH 466 (28.338%) and MEPH 113 (55.52%) respectively. During the histological observation, the most of traditional rice such as NDR-97, NDR-2064 had lower degradation than hybrid rice MEPH-113, Ankur-7042 and KPH-466.On the basis of morphological, histological, and biochemical studies of different hybrid rice and traditional rice varieties we can say that the Traditional rice variety NDR 97 and also other traditional rice varieties found superior over other rice varieties because it is a good source of protein, sugar, amylose and minerals. Hence, NDR 97 and other traditional rice varieties have the good keeping qualities, and food security which can open new vista for benefiting farmers and the high class of urban society of people and thus have enormous marketing potential in the domestic as well as global scenario.