Data on pig production system was derived through structured household interviews from a total number of 320 rural households and performance of pigs was assessed. Results revealed that the pig production system represented mixed farming based mainly on the common property resources. Majority of the pigs were reared in intensive system and fed with home made cooked feed (kitchen waste and locally available plants). The body weight of crossbred, Burmese and local pigs were 67, 65.4 and 45.6 kg, respectively at 12 months of age with average daily body weight of 184, 179 and 125 g, respectively. The overall mortality among the pigs was 17.96%. The major causes of mortality in pigs were Swine fever, Swine erysipelas, digestive disorders, nephritis and respiratory disorders. The body weight gain in pigs subjected to deworming and mineral mixture supplementation (218 g/day) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the control group (178 g/day). The input output ratio was 1:1.7 for both crossbred and Burmese pigs, while the corresponding ratio for local pigs was 1:1.2. It is inferred that the smallholder resource driven pig production system is economically viable and sustainable at household level and there is enough scope to improve the smallholder resource driven pig production system.

Physico-chemical and sensory quality of juice from purple passion fruit under different storage temperature and time were assessed. The maximum loss in fruit weight was recorded under room temperature (25±1°C) followed by at 11±1°C. There was an increase in juice percentage up to 9 and 13 days under room temperature and storage at 11±1°C respectively. The optimum flavour in juice was up to 5 days at 25±1°C and up to 21 days at 8±1°C. A significant reduction in sourness was recorded on 5th day under all treatments and the scores for sourness became almost constant after 17 days. The maximum increase in the mean scores of sweetness on 5th day was observed at 25±1°C followed by at 11±1°C. The optimum level of juice sweetness was maintained up to 21 days at 8±1°C. Total soluble solids content increased in initial stage followed by reduction. There was a reduction in the titrable acidity up to 21 days at 8±1°C. A decreasing trend in the reducing and non-reducing sugar of passion fruit was observed under all the treatments. Fruits stored at 25±1°C, developed off-flavour in juice after 5 days, while storage at 8± 1°C produced no off-flavor even up to 21 days. Fruits can be stored for 5 days only at 25±1°C as the overall sensory quality of juice reduced significantly afterwards, while juice maintained the optimum overall quality up to 21 days at 8±1°C.

No abstract

This study was designed to analyze the low input backyard poultry production system practiced by the tribal farmers, and evaluate the performance of an improved dual-purpose breed, the Vanaraja. Results revealed that a significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of farmers used temporary, non-conventional poultry houses made of locally available materials, such as bamboo and wood. Most of the farmers (65.9 %) did not provide balanced feed to their poultry and did not vaccinate their birds against any disease. Under standard management conditions, the average body weight of Vanaraja birds at 6 weeks was 625 +/- 10.9 g. Under backyard conditions, the body weight at 18 months was 3.6 +/- 0.8 kg. The age at first egg was 154 +/- 9 days in the backyard system, whereas under the intensive system it was 196 +/- 4 days. Annual production under the backyard and intensive systems of rearing was 176 +/- 9 and 152 +/- 7 eggs, respectively. Mortality of adult birds was 12 % and predation by foxes and wild cats accounted for 1.67 %. This study revealed that village chickens are an important income source for household expenses, and that traditional free-range poultry production in the smallholder sector of developing countries can possibly be improved through the use of improved dual-purpose birds.

SummaryIntegration of vermicompost and organic mulch as elements of vegetable production system sustain soil fertility and crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted with the objective to investigate the effects of vermicompost, NPK fertilizer and organic mulch on crop growth, nodulation and pod yield of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with an ultimate aim of optimizing water and nutrient requirement in mild-tropical climate during dry season. The shoot growth traits, namely shoot length, number of primary branches, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were increased by 28-63% through application of N P 2 O 5 K 2 O 8:13:10 kg·ha -1 + vermicompost 3.75 t·ha -1 and by 5-50% in organic mulching treatments. Application of vermicompost reduced nodule fresh weight and nodule dry weight by 44.9 and 44.5%, respectively. Likewise, corresponding nodule number, nodule fresh weight and nodule dry weight were reduced by 8.6, 11.1 and 14.1% with organic mulching. Poor nodulations might be due to reduced oxygenation of the soils under vermicompost and organic mulch which is ultimately impeding the nitrogenase activity and biological nitrogen fixation. Mulching of French bean with dried grasses and crop residues are also led to higher single pod weight, pod length, pod weight/plant and pod yield by 10.9, 12.8, 20.1 and 20.2%, respectively. Present study shows that application of N P 2 O 5 K 2 O fertilizer 8-15:13-25:10-20 kg·ha -1 , vermicompost 2.50-3.75 t·ha -1 , 4 cm thick mulch of dried crop residues and 50% irrigation is the most suitable and sustainable strategy to improve plant growth, pod formation and pod yield of French bean, and soil health of mild-tropical climate during dry season.