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Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are a group of toxic insecticides used in agriculture for protection against pests. They persist as environmental contaminants and pose significant risk to human health by causing respiratory system disorders, nervous system disorders, reproductive disorders and certain cancers. In the present study epidemiological and reproductive performance data of 500 women agricultural workers exposed to OP pesticides and 500 age and sex matched controls with same socio economic status was evaluated using standard questionnaire. Serum paraoxonase levels were analyzed by ELISA kit method. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in the frequency of abortions, stillbirths, neonatal deaths and congenital defects in the offspring of the exposed group when compared to the controls. There was a decrease in the frequency of fertile females and live births were observed in the exposed group when compared to the data from controls. Serum paraoxonase levels were also significantly low in the exposed group (7.61 ng/mL) when compared to control group (13.09ng/mL).The findings suggest that prolonged exposure to organophosphate pesticides with low serum PON1 levels may induce adverse health and reproductive problems in women agricultural workers.

The demand for fertilizers in India is being supplied with humongous import of fertilizer apart domestic production. The price of fertilizers both controlled (Urea 'N') and decontrolled (phosphorus 'P' and Potash 'K') are regularised by the Government with subsidy. Around 30 per cent of total subsidy bill in Union Budget (2014-15) is allocated for fertilizer subsidy in India. The study has the objective to impart the importance of fertilizer subsidy bill in India with reference to farmers and production of sugarcane. The study with the carefully forged research, attempted to find the private cost, social cost of fertilizer, Resource Use Efficiency (RUE) of essential nutrients with and without subsidy; and production loss when the subsidy is withdrawn by the Government. The fourth advances estimate of India on sugarcane production is 350.02 m. tones but when the subsidy bill on fertilizer is withdrawn then our production will be short by around 53 m. tonnes. To substantiate, the RUE will decline when fertilizer subsidy is withdrawn. Likewise, adoption per cent of drip irrigation will decline when micro-irrigation subsidy is withdrawn by the Government.

Maize is the third most important cereal and it is cultivated throughout the year. Maize consumption is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11 per cent in last 5 years. To meet the growing demand, maize production must grow at 15 per cent CAGR, while the current CAGR is only 4 per cent. Consequently, import of maize to India has increased exponentially. Hence, there is a need to increase the production in India in order to reduce the increasing imports and to meet the domestic demand. There are various factors that influence the crop output. This study proposes to identify the factors influencing maize acreage in India by appraising significant six supply response functions in order to strategize policies for improvement of maize production. Koyck second order lag model which incorporated two year lag of area under the crop, one year lagged price of the own crop and competitive crop (groundnut) and minimum support price in the current sowing season was found to be the well suited model to analyze the supply response of Indian maize farmers. The study suggests the government to promote market information among the farmers and to procure the produce from the farmers based on minimum support price.

Increasing screen time in children is a cause of concern which means amount of time that spend by using a device with screen such as a smart phone, video games, computers, television. The concept is under significant research with related belief in digital media use and mental health. With fast technological evolution, the prevalence and unacceptable effects of excess screen time on kids have become a mounting issue worldwide. Children are more affected with this huge problem because too much screen time can make it hard for children to sleep at night, have attention problems, anxiety, and depression also, so it is a concern. Excessive exposure to screen cause myopia or squint, because lack of outdoor activity and excess screen time results myopia in children. Todays diet or physical activity of childrens are affected by sedentary screen time, Because children sit for long hours and eat unhealthy food while playing video games, watching television, which cause long or short term health issues, special obesity, and heart disease. This impair brain structure and function, it can cause nausea, vomiting, irritability, mood swings. So, now this paper will discusses about its physical, mental, social, and environmental effects in children.

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Watershed development projects have been taken up under different programmes launched by Government of India, State departments and also International Agencies. Watershed management is a concept which recognizes the judicious management of basic resources of soil, water and vegetation, on watershed basis, for achieving particular objective for the well being of the people. Realizing the significance of the watershed development investments on various watershed projects, a detailed study was carried out to evaluate the activities and their impacts. The impact of various activities on different aspects such as water resources, agricultural production, socioeconomic aspects and institutional aspects was studied. The overall impact of watershed projects implemented under NABARD Watershed Development Fund (WDF) in Chikkanankuppam has been positive and significant.