Malnutrition has been one of the major global health problems mainly in underdeveloped and developing world causing massive economic damage as well as distressing human life. Deficiency of useful micronutrients like vitamins and minerals including low level of availability of better quality protein causes hidden hunger which can be alleviate with the help of genetic bio-fortification of crops. Besides all the challenges, biofortified maize crops like quality protein maize along with the provitamin A and Zn hold a great future to address the malnutrition challenge combating the deficiency of malnutrtients. This is the most sustainable, cost-effective and potentially wide-reaching approach which can bridge the gap between agriculture and nutrition. Biofortification can be achieved both by agronomic and genetic approaches. The Importance, genetics and potential of bio-fotification is thoroughly reviewed to provide useful findings for new readers and researchers.
A field experiment was conducted at Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan, Nepal from Nov 2017 to March 2018 to study the effects of Nitrogen and Boron on the nutrient uptake by the plant, soil properties, and biological yield of cauliflower (variety Indham-9803). Randomized complete block design with four replications and nine treatment combinations, including three doses of boron (1.7, 1.1, and 0.5 Kg/ha) and three doses of Nitrogen (260, 200, and 140 Kg/ha) were used in the trial. In the case of Nitrogen application, biological yield, soil organic matter, soil nitrogen, and leaf boron were recorded maximum from nitrogen dose N1, and those parameters were recorded minimum from nitrogen dose N3. Meanwhile, leaf boron and soil boron were recorded maximum from the individual doses of nitrogen N3 and N2 respectively and those parameters were recorded minimum from nitrogen dose N3. Increasing nitrogen dose to N1 significantly decreased the soil pH, while bulk density showed no significant changes with the application of nitrogen. In the case of boron application, biological yield, soil nitrogen, leaf nitrogen, soil boron, and leaf boron were recorded maximum from boron dose B1 and those parameters were recorded minimum from B3. Soil pH, Bulk density, and soil organic matter showed no significant changes with the application of boron. In the case of combined effect, maximum leaf nitrogen and soil boron was recorded from treatment T3:- N2B1. Therefore, relevant management of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil in combination with boron is crucial.
In Nepal, underutilized crops are the crop species which have high potential for food, nutrition, dietary and culinary diversification but are less prioritized in formal research, education, extension and development. Analysis of the trend of production and trade helps to formulate and prioritize governing policies for the development of the underutilized crops in Nepal. Analyzing this need, This study aims to reveal the production and trade scenario of major underutilized crops of Nepal; mainly Finger millet, Buckwheat and Barley over the years. Secondary data collected from Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Department of Customs and relevant articles were used for the study and to analyze the ongoing trend, simple linear regression model was used. Collected and analyzed data revealed that, production area of millet is decreasing. However, the production quantity is increasing mainly because of the increased productivity. Though the production is increasing, the import of millet is also high. Increased consumption of local liquor products made from millet followed by diversified food product consumption have seems to conduced the increased demand. The production area of buckwheat found steady over a decade, however, the production and productivity is increasing. The production area and productivity of barley is decreasing while the import of barley is increasing from 2013/14 with the sudden fall in 2019/20. The sudden decrease in import in 2019/20 was due to trade restriction due to Covid situation. But now the demand of these underutilized crops is increasing year after year, and this will continue in forthcoming years also, mainly because of raise in awareness about the health and nutritional benefits. To reduce the ballooning trade deficit of these crops in near future, along with productivity, effective area expansion policies and programs should be formulated and implemented from all three tiers of government.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.