Crop growth and productivity has largely been vulnerable to various abiotic and biotic stresses that are only set to be compounded due to global climate change. Therefore developing improved varieties and designing newer approaches for crop improvement against stress tolerance have become a priority now-a-days. However, most of the crop improvement strategies are directed toward staple cereals such as rice, wheat, maize etc., whereas attention on minor cereals such as finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] lags far behind. It is an important staple in several semi-arid and tropical regions of the world with excellent nutraceutical properties as well as ensuring food security in these areas even during harsh environment. This review highlights the importance of finger millet as a model nutraceutical crop. Progress and prospects in genetic manipulation for the development of abiotic and biotic stress tolerant varieties is also discussed. Although limited studies have been conducted for genetic improvement of finger millets, its nutritional significance in providing minerals, calories and protein makes it an ideal model for nutrition-agriculture research. Therefore, improved genetic manipulation of finger millets for resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses, as well as for enhancing nutrient content will be very effective in millet improvement.Key message: Apart from the excellent nutraceutical value of finger millet, its ability to tolerate various abiotic stresses and resist pathogens make it an excellent model for exploring vast genetic and genomic potential of this crop, which provide us a wide choice for developing strategies for making climate resilient staple crops.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationship between TPM programme and manufacturing performance in Indian manufacturing industries; to discern the benefits obtained from TPM implementation; to identify common indicators; and to explore the common expectation while TPM implementation. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper acceptability and implementation of TPM programme in Indian manufacturing industry have been elaborated to ascertain the tangible and intangible benefits accrued as a result of successful TPM implementation. A semi-structured questionnaire survey approach has been adopted for the justification of TPM implementation and benefits gained by it in Indian context. Survey has covered mainly automobile and machinery sector throughout India. A total of 57 filled responses have been received and analysed to find the impact of TPM programme on manufacturing productivity. Findings – The paper establishes the impact of successful TPM implementation on manufacturing performance. TPM initiatives have shown marked improvement in the equipment availability, performance and produced quality and have also brought appreciable improvement in other manufacturing functions in the organizations. It has been observed that TPM deployment contributes to improve the manufacturing productivity, quality, delivery, safety, morale, ensuring the cost effectiveness of the manufacturing function within the organization. The paper also indicates that overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) can be used for performance improvement without TPM implementation. Research limitations/implications – Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further. Practical implications – This paper highlights the contribution of TPM programme and OEE measure to ensure enhanced manufacturing productivity. The benefits gained by TPM implementation in selected Indian manufacturing industries have been highlighted, that could be genuine source of motivation to other manufacturing organizations to go in for TPM programme. Originality/value – The present study encompasses systematic identification of factors affecting overall organizational performance and the common expectations of the firms through implementation of TPM programme. TPM initiatives provide regular OEE measure, performance monitoring and improvement, and developing guidelines for achieving enhanced manufacturing productivity.

The experiment on 125 genotypes (20 lines, 5 tester and 100 F1's) including a check viz., Pusa Basmati 6 of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was conducted to work out the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance effects of their various attributes on grain yield. The mean squares due to treatments, parents and crosses were highly significant for all the fifteen characters indicated the presence of sufficient variability in the study materials. PCV was higher than the genotypic GCV for all the traits. High heritability (>60%) were recorded for characters viz., grains per panicle, spikelets per panicle, L:B ratio, kernel length, panicle length, kernel breadth, flag leaf area, grain yield per plant, plant height, panicle bearing tillers per plant, 1000-grain weight, harvest-index and spikelet fertility. The high genetic advance in percent of mean (>20) was recorded for grains per panicle fallowed by spikelet's per panicle and L:B ratio for this parameter. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance in per cent of mean were observed for the characters like grains per panicle, spikelets per panicle, and L:B ratio. High heritability and genetic advance account that the additive nature of gene action and so that these characters are directly selecting for further advancement of rice crop.

Post-green revolution advances made in biotechnology paved the way of cultivating the high-yielding, stress and disease resistant genetically modified (GM) varieties of wheat, rice, maize cotton and several other crops. The recent rapid commercialization of the genetically modified crops in Asia, Americas and Australia indicates the potentiality of this new technology. GM crops give higher yields and are rich in nutritional values containing vitamins and minerals and can thus can help to alleviate hunger and malnutrition of the growing population in the under developed and developing countries. It could also be possible to develop more biotic and abiotic stress resistant genotypes in these crops where it was difficult to develop due to the unavailability of genes of resistance in the crossing germplasms. However, further research and investigations are needed to popularize the cultivation of these crops in different parts of the world. This review provides an insight of the impact of GM crops on contemporary agriculture across the past few decades, traces its' history across time, highlights new achievements and breakthroughs and discusses the future implication of this powerful technology in the coming few decades.

Out of 150 small ruminants examined from villages near Pantnagar and organized farms, among them 144 animals were found positive for mixed parasitic infection, including Haemonchus sp, Paramphistomum sp, Trichuris sp. and Moniezia sp. Overall prevalence was found 96.00% in which animals from villages has more prevalence (96.15%) than organized farm (96.00%) but organized farms has more prevalence of Haemonchus sp (95.00%) than animals of villages (76.92%), overall Paramphistomum sp was found 36.00% while Trichuris sp and Moniezia sp revealed 14.00% and 12.00% prevalence, respectively.