Prem Jose Vazhacharickal

Uday Kumar M.S

Floriculture is emerging as an important commercial crop sector in India from the point of view of both domestic and foreign markets. Demand for floricultural products is steadily increasing both in the domestic as well as export markets. The industry is gaining prominence from three broad counts: creating more employment, ensuring higher incomes to rural people and earning more foreign exchange. India is the second largest producer of flowers after China. According to National Horticulture Board (NHB), area under floriculture at all India level had increased from 53,000 hectares in 1993-94 to 2,48,000 hectares in 2015-16. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the area was 7.66 per cent, while the CAGR of production of loose and cut flowers were 9.44 per cent and 23.10 per cent, respectively. The proportion of the area under high-tech floriculture to the total floriculture area is 70 per cent in Netherlands and 90 per cent in Colombia, whereas in India it is hardly 500 hectares accounting for just 0.56 per cent of the total area under floriculture, while the rest is under traditional flowers. In India, nearly 77 per cent of area under floricultural crops is concentrated in eight states viz., Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. India has a scope to bridge the gap between demand and supply, as global demand of floricultural products is growing at a faster rate. India is enriched with diverse agro-climatic conditions such as, fertile land, suitable climate, abundant water supply, low labour cost, availability of skilled manpower etc. which are quite beneficial for growing a variety of flower plants throughout the year. Floricultural crops are highly labour intensive and in a country like India floriculture as an industry has tremendous potential for generation of gainful employment in rural as well as urban areas.

Economics of Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Floriculture

M. Sabu

Sajeshkumar N.K

Jiby John Mathew

P. E. Sreejith

Ninu Maria James

Banana is an important fruit grown and consumed in tropics and sub tropic regions. It is the edible fruit usually seedless which can be grown in any climatic condition. It is rich in carbohydrates, fat, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. A comparative study between 10 different Musa sp. in Kerala was conducted to study the various morphological characteristics. Each of the banana plant differ from each other on the basics of its height, length, colour, pseudostem, leaf, flower bud and fruit. The nutritional components such as moisture, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and total ash of pseudostem and leaf of selected varieties of Musa were analysed. For this pseudostem and leaf of 4 different varieties were selected and tested. The test was based on the AOAC method. The result shows that the crude fibre content of pseudostem and leaf is high with certain nutritive value.

Morphological characterization and nutritional analysis (leaf and pseudostem) of selected banana varieties in Kerala: an overview

Eldho Mathews Boby 

P. E Sreejth

Banana is one of the most common and widely used food all over the universe from ancient time. In this work mainly the nutrition analysis of various commonly cultivated banana varieties in Kerala has been used such as Najalipoovan, Poovan, Etha, Palenkodan, Robesta, Chemkadali, Pachakadhali, Sundari and Kannan. The peel contain about 40% of weight of banana fruit it's nutrition analysis is been also done to analyse various contents of significance. Further there is chance of occurrence of nutrients in peel since banana fruit is rich in various nutrients. And the peel of banana ,a biomass just discarded into nature can thus be converted to various value added products like drugs, soaps, animal feed etc. It is been observed that these peel is source of various natural antioxidants, dietary fibre, crude fat and crude protein. On analysis Pachakadali fruit has highest moisture content and moisture content of peel is highest for Etha. Crude protein content of fruit and peel is highest for Kannan. Crude fibre content of fruit is highest for Kannan and crude protein content of peel is highest for Sundari. Ether extract in fruit and peel is highest for Kannan. Total ash content of fruit is highest for Kannan and ash content of peel is more for Pachakadali. Gross energy of fruit is highest in case of Najalipoovan fruit and gross energy of peel is highest for Robesta. On comparing these varieties on the basis of test result Kannan is the most superior variety on the basis of nutritional quality. Further on analysing test results it has been found that the peel has superior nutrient and moisture content. So from the analysis it is revealed that one of the most useful part of a banana is it's peel. By the above analysis one can easily understand importance of many varieties of banana and further detailed researches can extend the scope of study.

Characterization and nutritional analysis of commonly cultivated banana varieties in Kerala: an overview

Asish Issac Mathew

Solid state fermentation holds tremendous potentials for the production of the enzyme amylase by Aspergillus niger. Different solid substrates like banana pseudo-stem and leaf vein are rich in starch. These agro-industrial residues are cheap raw materials for amylase production. Aspergillus niger isolated from the bread was identified to be the best producer of amylase. When A. niger was incubated for 10 days at 37°C on pseudo-stem and leaf vein of locally available banana varieties like Ethan, Poovan, Palayamkodan and Kaali, as substrate in solid state fermentation. It showed high yield of amylase in Ethan leaf vein, followed by Palayankodan vein. All other substrate also showed moderate amount of amylase production.

Comparative study using banana pseudostem and leaf vein as substrates for amylase production using Aspergillus niger in Kerala: an overview

Banana one of the most popular consumed fruits in the tropical and sub-tropical region. Most of the edible bananas present now a days are derived solely from Musa accuminata Colla or Musa balbisiana Colla or a hybrid between the two wild diploid species. The main objective of this research work is to provide an overview of various pest and diseases affecting Banana in South India. Diseases and pests of edible banana became problems when certain genotypes were grown as monocultures. Fusarium wilt and Sigatoka leaf spot were also affect the banana production in South-India. Bacterial wilt and Xanthomonas wilt are other bacterial diseases affecting the banana production. Bunchy top and bract mosaic are damaging virus diseases, which have a limited distribution at present. Virus diseases mosaic and streak are less damaging, but more widespread. Pre- and post-harvest diseases of fruit also cause losses. The burrowing nematode is the most important root parasite of banana, and the most damaging banana insect pest is the rhizome-attacking banana weevil. Genetic engineering and other biotechnology-based approaches could produce better diseases tolerant varieties. Chemical control has been employed successfully in the past to counter pests and pathogens, but resistance to fungicides and pesticides is becoming a major issue. Biological control methods are being employed more often in integrated pest management programmes could offer a promising result to address this issue.

Common pest and diseases affecting Banana in South-India: an overview

Noby Mathew

Elizabeth Cherian

Scientific Study from the year 2017 in the subject Biology - Botany, grade: 1.5, Mar Augusthinose College, language: English, abstract: In this study, the callus initiation and rhizogenesis of Justicia gendarussa from nodal and leaf explants were established in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different hormonal concentrations and also optimization of callus initiation at hormonal concentrations. As a result the callus was initiated on MS medium supplemented with different hormones. The higher concentration of NAA and BA induced callus from nodal and leaf explants. The higher concentrations of 2, 4 – D and kinetin induced callus on nodal explants. Lower concentration of 2, 4 – D and kinetin induce callus on leaf explants. The combination of NAA and kinetin induce rhizogenesis from nodal explants. The antimicrobial activity of callus was evaluated by well diffusion method. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilus, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia were used as test organisms. The results showed that Justicia gendarussa have antimicrobial activity on Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus. Keywords: Justicia gendarussa, callus initiation, direct organogenesis, antimicrobial assay.

The Uses and Advantages of an Exotic Medicinal Plant in Kerala

Optimization of Media Formulations for Callus Induction and direct Organogenesis in Justicia Gendrussa Burm Fil

Jeena Joseph

Arrowroot (Curcuma angustifolia) is a herb belongs to Zingiberaceae family and widely cultivated in Tropics. Roots and tuber crops are the second popular cultivated species in Tropical countries after cereals. Tuber crops play a major role in fulfilling human nutritional requirements and provide a good source of variety of vitamins, fibre, K, Cu, Mn and Fe. Given lacking qualitative and quantitative data on Curcuma angustifolia in Kerala, the objectives of this research work were: (1) to identify and characterize morphological variations and (2) to determine antimicrobial properties against Staphlococus aureus and E.coli. Samples of Curcuma angustifolia were collected based on an elaborative literature survey as well as information’s collected from farmers. A total of 4 varieties were collected from different regions of the Kerala from January 2016 to February 2016. Morphological characterization of Curcuma angustifolia and specific characteristics of different varieties were studied. Branch leaf and stem were also collected and analysed for various parameters including stem length (SL), stem texture (ST), leaf color (LC), leaf shape (LS), leaf texture (LT), leaf length (LL), leaf breadth (LB), margins or lines, flower color (FC), flower shape (FS), rhizome shape (RS), rhizome color (RC), rhizome texture (RT), rhizome length (RL), rhizome breadth (RB), rhizome diameter (RD), and rhizome weight (RW). The experiment were conducted in a factorial manner, with three varieties (V1, V3 and V4); two concentrations (2 and 5%); and three solvents (methanol, chloroform and isoamyl alcohol). Antimicrobial assay was performed on Muller-Hinton agar plates with the Staphylococus aureus and E.coli. The triplicates plates were incubated at 36 ºC and the area of inhibition zones were measured on coming three consecutive days. Rhizome colour is different in the 4 varieties and shape also varied. In the chloroform extract, V3 variety shows more activity than the other two varieties. Concentration of the variety with 5% shows more zone of inhibition ie, 2.81 ± 0.5cm. The antimicrobial activity of Curcuma angustifolia against E.coli and Staphlococus aureus can be further explored for its full potential.

Antimicrobial property and effects of various solvent extracts of Arrowroot (Curcuma angustifolia) powder against E.coli and Staphylococus aureus under varying concentrations

Mahin Sharif

P. K. Dixit

Water is one of the critical factors of animal production drawn from nature. Milk production in India witnessed sharp rise through operation flood programme and retaining veritable position as the world’s largest milk producing nation. Groundwater resources account for 64 per cent of irrigation. On the other hand, groundwater table is falling due to extensive use of irrigation water. Dairying is a water intensive activity and direct water use is only a negligible portion of total water use in dairying as virtual water use is very high. In this context, present study was carried out in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Districts of Karnataka State with the objectives (i) To study cost of milk production and water use efficiency in milk production under different levels of groundwater exploitation (ii) To estimate the technical efficiency of milk production under different levels of groundwater exploitation (iii) To work out private and social cost of groundwater use in milk production. The study was undertaken during 2012-13 enveloping 8 villages and 240 households rearing dairy animals. Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Districts provided a good background for the undertaken study as the region represented different levels of ground water use & progressive dairy farming area. Appropriate analytical tools were employed for analysis.The study indicated variations in cost of milk production across the region and animal breeds. By and large, 60 to 70 per cent of the milk production cost was on account of feed cost and it was slightly higher in overexploited area. About 90 per cent of the total cost of milk production was shared by total variable cost. Milk production cost crossbreds was highest (₹19.38/liter) in overexploited areas and least (₹16.68/liter) in safe areas.Cost of local cow milk production was highest (₹29.51/liter) in critical and overexploited ₹ (27.58/liter) and comparatively less (₹24.04/liter) safe areas. Cost of milk production of buffalo was highest in overexploited (₹26.34/liter) and was relatively lower (22.19/liter) safe area.

Economics of milk production under different levels of ground water exploitation in southern Karnataka

Unnikrishnan P.S

Poisonous plants are those plants having chemical constituents that are harmful for animals as well as humans. Since plants cannot move they adapt this system as an escape from its predators. The toxic chemical substances include tannins, alkaloids, phenolic, polyacetylenes, terpenes, essential oils. Poison from plant can occur by injection, inhalation, or direct contact and can cause effect from mild irritation to death. The poisonous plants diversity is very high in Kerala in which most of the poisonous plant remains underutilized or neglected. Present investigation is to identify different verities of common poisonous plants seen in Kerala, and study its morphology, poisonous parts, toxic element, symptoms, medicinal uses and anti-larvicidal activity of selected plants. Seventeen poisonous plants where observed from which four plants where taken for further studies on anti-larvicidal activity which includes Datura stramonium, Ricinus communis, Calotropis gigantean, Nerium oleander. Leaf, stem, flower, fruit where separated according. The toxic effect of these plants parts where studied on targeted (larva) and non-targeted (Fish and snail) organism using three extracts; Methanol, Chloroform and Distilled water with two concentrations (2% & 5%). The results shows fruit extracts of Ricinus commuis shows lethal effect on mosquito larva (targeted) and less or no effect on snail and fish (non-targeted). The extracts of fruits of Ricinus commuis can be used as cheap anti-larvicidal agent which is easily available and has less effect on other non-targeted organism.

A brief overview

Poisonous plant diversity in Kerala and the antilarvicidal properties of various plant parts against target and non-target organisms

Lakshmi B Nair

A simple and reproducible protocol for in vitro callus induction from explants of three endemic plants (Cyclea peltata, Naregamia alata and Kaempferia galanga Linn.) have been developed. Explants collected from the field grown plants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentration/combination (s) of phytohormones. During the study period we evaluated the effect of different growth regulators in callus induction and its morphological analysis of the targeted plants. To optimize the callus induction of three different targeted explants were cultured on different concentration phytohormones. Among which the system include 2,4-D has the most efficient effect on the three experimental plants, Five different concentration taken for three explants, among that Cyclea peltata and Kaempferia galangal Linn. has the highest potential to induce callusing at 2 mg/L of 2,4 -D. In this study we found that there was no effect on callusing of the targeted plants was MS medium containing combination of auxin and cytokinin for callusing.

Efficient in vitro callus induction protocol for three endemic medicinal plants (Cyclea peltata, Naegamia alata and Kaempferia galangal Linn.) in Kerala

Athira T Rameshan

Caesalpinia pulcherrima flowers have excellent antibacterial property. The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial property Caesalpinia pulcherrima flower extract against clinically isolated eye infection causing Staphylococcus auerus. The (MIC) minimum inhibitory concentration and (MBC) minimum bactericidal concentration was found to be 200 µg/ml and 400 µg/ml. Antioxidant activity, spectroscopic and phytochemical analysis of the extract was also studied. This study concludes that Caesalpinia pulcherrima can be used as a potential natural remedy to treat eye infection.

Antibacterial activity of the flower extracts of Caesalpinia pulcherrima L. against eye infection causing pathogens

Twinkle Jose

Scientific Study from the year 2016 in the subject Chemistry - Bio-chemistry, grade: 1.5, Mar Augusthinose College, language: English, abstract: Amylase is an enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of α (1, 4)-glycosidic linkages in amylose (a linear form of starch), amylopectin (a branched form of starch) and glycogen into simpler carbohydrate molecules such as oligosaccharides or disaccharides. Alpha-amylase is the major form of amylase found in human, most prominently in pancreatic juice and saliva. The salivary amylase is an amylolytic enzyme, which can acts on cooked or boiled starch and converts it in to maltose. So it became interesting to study the behaviour of salivary amylase, when it is secreted as result of different stimuli. And thus began to study the effect of five different stimulatory temperatures, and also the effect of four tastes on the behaviour of salivary amylase. For the study of stimulatory effect of temperature on salivary amylase, five different temperatures are selected (4, 27, 37, 55 and 75°C). And likewise four tastes also selected (sweet, sour, salt and bitter). The DNS method was done in the both tests to obtain the absorbance at 520 nm. The samples were collected from three people, of same age. The saliva was collected at same time, after one and a half hour of their breakfast in order to maintain a controlled condition for this study. In each cases the incubation temperature also kept as variable (4, 27, 37, 55 and 75°C). This study was also aimed to determine the behaviour of salivary amylase with reference to the kinetic parameters like Km and Vmax of salivary alpha amylase by incubating the enzyme (stimulated by different stimulatory conditions of temperature and taste) with varying concentration of substrate. The study revealed the consistency in kinetic parameters like Km and Vmax of salivary alpha amylase secreted in response to various stimuli.

Behaviour of Salivary Amylase in Various Reaction Environments with Reference to Km and Vmax. An Overview

Rathi C.R

S. N. Suresh

S. Geethalakshmi

M. Ilangovan

Niranjan V Das

Mirabilis jalapa a perennial, herbaceous, bushy plant that reaches stature heights of mostly 1 meter, rarely up to 2 meters, in height. It may also be grown as an annual, especially in the temperate zone. The single-seeded fruits are spherical, wrinkled and black upon maturity, having started out greenish-yellow. The stems are thick, full, quadrangular with many ramifications and rooting at the nodes. The posture is often prostrate. A curious aspect of M. jalapa is that flowers with different colors grow simultaneously on the same plant. Additionally, an individual flower can be splashed with different colors. Flower patterns are referred to as sectors (whole sections of flower), flakes (stripes of varying length), and spots. A single flower can be plain yellow, red, magenta, pink, or white, or have a combination of sectors, flakes, and spots. Furthermore, different combinations of flowers and patterns can occur on. Artificial seeds are the living seed-like structure which are made experimentally by a technique where somatic embryoids derived from plant tissue culture are encapsulated by a hydrogel and such encapsulated embryoids behave like true seeds if grown in soil and can be used as a substitute of natural seeds. different flowers of the same plant. The viability of the artificial seeds depend on several factors related to conditions of storing the seeds and parts of the flower from which the explant is obtained. The protoplast is prepared from several parts like flower, leaf, stem, root, buds and meristem. These explants are grown in different concentrations of sucrose like 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%. The production of synthetic seeds are also studied in this experiment.

Evaluation of protoplast viability of Mirabilis jalapa and synthetic seed production

John Joseph

Aswathi M.V

Keratin is an insoluble protein macromolecule with high stability and low degradation rate the keratinase enzyme degrade keratin the present study deals with isolation and identification and optimization of feather degrading bacterium. After the identification, analyzed the keratin degradation by crushed feather as a substrate of the media. The colony showed were keratinase production was identifies as Bacillus sp as per Bergey’s manual method. The isolated organism shows keratin degrading property. The maximum degrading property shows at pH 9. The minimum degrading activity shows at pH 6.

Isolation of keratin degrading microorganisms from poultry waste: an overview

Sajan Jose K.

Scientific Study from the year 2014 in the subject Biology - Zoology, , language: English, abstract: Stingless bees are highly social insects which populated the tropical earth 65 million years ago longer than honey bees. They are limited to tropics and subtropics lacking venom apparatus and cannot sting. Impacts of anthropogenic influences on honey bees were already reported. Based on these back ground, the objectives of this study were to 1) to characterize the swarming and drone movements of Trigona iridipennis Smith in Kerala 2) to identify the foraging behaviour, colour preference and various plants associated with Trigona iridipennis Smith for nest construction as well as dietary sources. Feral as well as hived colonies of stingless bees were located and fixed at different parts of Kerala for observations on their foraging activity. Bee traffic was also measured during various timings across a bright sunny day in November 2013 and between colonies. Bee traffic among Trigona iridipennis Smith varied widely among the selected four colonies during various time intervals. In all the colonies bee traffic starts between 6 to 7 am and end by 7 to 7.10 pm. Bee traffic exhibited two peaks. One during 10 to 10.10 am and the other 2 to 3.10 pm. But in colony 4 the picture is different, where the morning peak was 11 to 11.10 am and the afternoon peak was 3 to 3.10 pm. Trigona iridipennis Smith shows great diversity in plant selection for dietary as well as resin sources. The shift towards ornamental plants for foraging may be an adaptation evolved in response to human modification of the environment. The bees collect resin from a variety of sources for building nest, its maintenance and also for defence. Bee traffic is found to be related to time, season, and strength of the colony. The bees preferred white and yellow coloured flowers than pink and red. The study also highlights the various food sources of Trigona iridipennis Smith in Kerala which can be further explored for flourishing melliponiculture.

An overview

Swarming, drone movements, foraging behavior and associated plants of stingless bees (Trigona iridipennis Smith) in Kerala

Anu Augustine

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) is the seventh most important food crop among the root and tuber crops grown in the world which is widely cultivated in tropic, sub tropic and warmer temperate regions. A wide variation exists among sweet potato varieties. The molecular markers Is an important genetic diversity analysis tool for enhancing duplicates identification. The samples were collected based on an elaborative iterative survey as well as traditional knowledge from local people. Thirteen different varieties Ipomoea batatas Lam. varieties (Kuravanpady 1, Kuravanpady 2, Jellipara 1, Jellipara 2, Kottathara, Kadanadu, Kanaka, Aruna, Kanjagad, Cherukizhangu 1, Cherukizhangu 2, Thodupuzha. Palakkad) were used for morphological characterization. Morphological data were collected 60 days after planting based on the descriptors for sweet potato (IBPGR, 1991) in all the 13 samples. The variable scored were twining, plant type, ground cover, vine inter node, vine pigmentation, vine tip pubescence, mature leaf shape, mature leaf size, abaxial leaf vein pigmentation, foliage colour, petiole length, petiole pigmentation, storage root and skin colour. Molecular characterization could be more effectively used in screening varieties among sweet potatoes if coupled with other molecular markers especially ISSR, matK and rbcL markers.

Morphological characterization of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) varieties in Kerala: an overview

Sajeshkumar N.K.

Mili Rose Michel

Scientific Study from the year 2017 in the subject Agrarian Studies, grade: 1.5, Mar Augusthinose College, course: Biotechnology, language: English, abstract: Black pepper belongs to piperaceae family and is known as “king of species”. This piperaceae family contain approximately 2,000 species. Phosphorus is one of the most important micronutrients and they are essential for the biological growth, development of plants and it is the most essential nutrient for plants. Phosphate deficiency is wide spread and phosphate fertilizers universally required in the form of inorganic P fertilizers, only a small portion is utilized by plants and the remaining are in insoluble form and they are solubilised by the microbes present in the soil. Soil, they are rich in micro and macronutrients and sixteen elements or nutrients are essential for plant growth and reproduction. Several soil bacteria, particularly belonging to the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus posses ability to bring insoluble soil phosphate into soluble forms by secreting acids like formic, lactic and acetic. The rhizosphere soil sample were serially diluted up to 10-4 using sterile distilled water and plated on Pikovskaya’s agar medium by pour plate method. The P solubilising isolates was evaluated on agar plates of Pikovaskya growth medium by solubilising the tricalcium phosphate of the medium. After incubation the phosphate solubilising microorganisms were selected based on different colonies. Out of so many bacterial isolates, 8 isolates were selected for the further study to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis. Phosphate solubilising microorganisms are possible to use as bio fertilizer for all crops. Among the isolates some of are almost identical in biochemical test but they have different morphology characters.

Isolation of phosphate solubilsing bacteria from rhizosphere of different black pepper (Piper nigrum) varieties in Kerala

K.R Anilakumar

Deepthi James

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) the flowering wine belongs to the family piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as spice and seasoning. The black pepper high variability was also noticed for yield contributing characters like runner shoot production, holding capacity, adventitious root production, lateral branch habit, spike length, number of spikes per lateral branch, fruit set, dry weight. Pharmacological, toxicological, clinical applications and general uses of pepper are bioavailability enhancement, carminative, anti-cancer, natural antioxidant, black pepper as an anti-Inflammatory drug, cholesterol lowering and Immune enhancer, anti-pyretic, anti-periodic and rubefacient, black pepper Improves digestion and promotes intestinal health, preservation of the flavour content. Four different pepper varieties in Kerala were selected based on a baseline survey. The proximate composition includes estimation of dry matter and moisture content, estimation of crude protein, estimation of crude fibre, estimation of crude ash and insoluble ash, ether extract, determination of dietary fibre, gross energy, analysis of component of different varieties of Piper nigrum were determined. The sample Munthirimunda fruit has high moisture content. The sample Chengannor leaf has high dry matter content. The sample Chenganoor leaf has high crude protein content. The sample Panniyor leaf has high crude fibre content. Ether Extract is high in sample Chenganoor leaf. The sample Munthirimunda leaf has high comparatively high Total Ash content. Gross Energy is high in sample Panniyor fruit. A wide gap in the nutritional properties of Piper nigrum varieties exist in Kerala which could be further explored.

Nutritional analysis of different plant parts among black pepper (Piper nigrum) varieties in Kerala: an overview

Veerabhadrappa Bellundagi 

Hamsa K.R 

India is an agrarian country, where half of the working population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities, for their livelihood, contributing 15.30 per cent to the country’s GDP in 2015-16. Insurance is a tool, inverse of game theory where losses suffered by few are covered from funds accumulated through small contributions made by many who are exposed to similar risk. The question of introduction of crop insurance in India was taken up for examination soon after independence in 1947. A special study to work out modalities of crop insurance was commissioned in 1947-48. World scenarioA wide range of agricultural insurance schemes based on different approaches exist in the world. The USA is currently the only country where revenue and income insurance exists. Revenue insurance is very important in USA, the 73 per cent of the premiums collected are coming from these types of insurance. In Japan there is a whole-farm insurance which covers against all climatic hazards for all crops on the farm. The Canadian system is mainly led by public insurance agencies, from the provincial governments. Indian scenarioIn 1972-73, the Department of Life Insurance Corporation of India introduced a Crop Insurance Scheme on H-4 cotton. Later many crop insurance schemes were implemented in India. At present, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was introduced. PMFBY is a crop insurance scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA Government. The scheme has been launched to cater the financial needs of the farmers in the event of crops destroyed by heavy rain, other natural calamities, pests or diseases. The scheme was implemented with a budget of Rs. 17,600 crore.The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is new scheme implemented on 1st April, 2016. The scheme is expected to replace the existing schemes like National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified NAIS (MNAIS). The scheme was introduced with a slogan of ‘minimum premium’, ‘maximum insurance’ for farmers. Premium is only one point five per cent for rabi crops, two per cent for kharif crops and five per cent for commercial and horticultural crops.

Crop Insurance schemes in India: Special reference to Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Annie Babu

Scientific Study from the year 2017 in the subject Chemistry - Bio-chemistry, grade: 1.5, Mar Augusthinose College, course: Biotechnology, language: English, abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a clinical metabolic syndrome, which has been resulted from the malfunction or insufficiency of insulin production. Diabetes is the major threat to the people in developing and developed country. Prolonged diabetic condition can affect organs and synthetic drug if consumed by the patient can cause side-effects and impaired immune system. The synthetic medicine used for the treatment of diabetes is usually costlier, create side-effects and do not ensure complete recovery from the disorder but on the other hand, medicinal plants create a great impact in the human immune system. The medicinal plant produces a variety of chemical substances which shows significant therapeutic properties. This study highlights the potential anti-diabetic significance and phytochemical activity of different varieties Piper nigrum (Black pepper) and different strategies used for the assessment of these activities. The piperaceae family consist of 12 genera and more than 1400 species and is one of the largest families and widely distributed across the tropical and sub-tropical regions and over the high ranges of Andes and Sub Himalayas. Piper species naturally have multi-dimensional affect on various parts of the body often mentioned as antipyretic, diuretic, aphrodisiac, immune- stimulant and antioxidant, hepatoprotective, digestive, antiseptic and anti-diabetic. Phytochemical analysis of Methanol and Petroleum -ether extracts was carried out and different plant parts were collected from different districts across Kerala. Phytochemical which is identified from Piper nigrum present an exciting opportunity for the development of new type of therapeutics for diabetes mellitus. Some anti-diabetic plants exert their action by stimulating the function or number of beta cells and thus increasing insulin production with least side effects. Further investigations are required and more attention should be drawn to explore the biological activity of hundreds of traditionally used plants. Both in-vivo and in-vitro assessment is necessary for the assessment of anti-diabetic properties from the natural resources.

Phytochemical and anti-diabetic activities of different plant part extracts among black pepper (Piper nigrum) varieties in comparison with Piper longum and Piper betel

Prem Jose Vazhacharickal

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