Agriculture & Horticulture

Post harvest technology plays a major role in fulfilling the dietary needs of the people through proper processing which includes the elimination of nutritional losses from the food products and adequate fortification. It carries a great potential for developing rural industries as post harvesting is vital for healthy processing and consumers are attracted to the quality of these well-processed products.

Agriculture law is a broad canopy that covers seed, water,  fertilizer, pesticide use, agricultural infrastructure, agricultural insurance, agricultural marketing, agricultural labour, agricultural finance, farming rights, land tenure and tenancy system and law on Agricultural processing and rural industry. Issues of environmental law, sustainability, animal welfare, and food law and policy are monitored under Ag-law.

Rice is one of the most consumed cereal in the world as a food product. Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima. Rice is important with regard to human nutrition and caloric intake, providing more than one fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by humans. Many species of wheat together make up the genus Triticum of which the most widely grown is common wheat (T. aestivum).

Smart nutrition and food choice can be the factors that ensure a healthy intake. Understanding good nutrition and managing the food accordingly can help in prevention of diseases. A proper balanced diet is the solution to a healthy living and should include the essential nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, fibre, vitamins and minerals in adequate amount simultaneously fulfilling the body’s water demand as well.

Horticulture falls between domestic gardening and agriculture, though all forms of cultivation naturally have close links. Horticulture is all about growing fruits and vegetables for consumption and ornamental plants for commercial purposes. Olericulture which is concerned with ornamental plants mainly focuses on herbaceous plants which can be easily accommodated in homes and indoor places for beautification.

The food borne illnesses not only affect the health but also lead to a drastic downfall of the economy. However, these can be prevented by application of certain principles right from on-farm production, to processing, distribution, storage, selection, preparation, and consumption. Awareness about food safety can render benefits to the nation both economically and socially.

The food borne illnesses not only affect the health but also lead to a drastic downfall of the economy. However, these can be prevented by application of certain principles right from on-farm production, to processing, distribution, storage, selection, preparation, and consumption. Awareness about food safety can render benefits to the nation both economically and socially.

Crop protection is mainly done in order to reduce the effect of adverse pest, weed, climatic and disease conditions. It prevents the action of inhibitors on the plant crops which restrict the growth of fruit, vegetable and other horticultural plants. It is important for having crop varieties of higher yield with minimal wastage.

Entomology is the study of insects and their behaviour. It is a more specific discipline of zoology. Professional entomologists contribute to the betterment of humankind by analysing the role of insects as disease vectors and finding ways of protecting food, crops and livestock from being damaged.

Agronomy refers to the application of science and technology to study plants for commercial use. This includes using plants for food, fuel, fibre, and land reclamation. Agronomy deals with managing the environmental impact of agriculture, food production, food fortification, and extracting energy from plants, encompassing areas like plant genetics, plant physiology, and soil science.

Functional polymers turned out to be the revolutionaries for the food and agriculture sector during the last decade. Due to the advancement in the techniques the problems related to crop pathogens and other viral infections and attacks are being tackled. Biodegradable polymers are being extensively used in the present time as a safer substitute for plastics which hinder the food chain and pollute the environment.

The scientific study of relation, abundance and distribution of organisms and their relative interaction with the environment is called as ecology. It is a web or network of relations among organisms at different scales of organization, from smallest bacteria to the huge tropical forests trees. Physiology, genetics, behaviour and evolution are the primary disciplines relating to ecology.

The science of plant life is commonly known as botany or phytology. Originating as herbalism with the efforts of early humans, the discipline has grown widely now covering fungi and algae as well. The research topics of botany include plant growth, structure, reproduction, biochemistry, metabolism, development, diseases and plant taxonomy. Botanical research extends to breeding, forestry, horticulture and agriculture.

Soil science is the basic study of the formation, mapping, classification and other properties of soil, which is considered to be a natural resource. Together they aid in soil management. Engineers, agronomists, geologists, ecologists, biologists, microbiologists, archaeologists, and regional planners contribute to further knowledge of soils and the advancement of the soil sciences.

The potential that a soil holds to sustain agricultural plant growth in it is termed as soil fertility. A good soil provides the necessary nutrients and water required for plant growth and simultaneously does not carry any toxic component which may hinder their reproduction and growth phenomenon. Soil depth, soil pH, soil organic matter content, internal drainage, nutrient content and presence of microorganisms are the factors that affect the soil fertility.

Relating environmental concerns into the Agricultural Policy aims to minimise the threat of environmental degradation and increasing the sustainability of agro-ecosystems. The links between the richness of the natural environment and farming practices are complex so the need to consider them equally at any step is must. The impact of farming practices on environment can thus be either means-based or effect-based.

Organic farming is the enhancement of soil fertility and biological diversity while prohibiting synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones. It is an integrated farming system that strives towards sustainability. It does not pose any impact on the soil and underground water unlike conventional farming using fertilizers and pesticides.

A greenhouse is a structure having walls, roof and is covered with a transparent sheet from all sides for the light to penetrate and reach the plants inside. Specific plants that require regulated climatic conditions are bred and grown in it. The benefits of having a greenhouse include successful transplant, fresh fruits and vegetables and ability to grow plants which otherwise would not have been able to survive in that climate.

Application of DNA fingerprinting and tissue culture in present day agriculture plays an important role in increasing the productivity. The factors like high soil productivity, improved crops, better plant protection, supply of balanced crop nutrients, efficient water management, post-production management for value-addition and marketing, are responsible for higher yield.

Genetic engineering deals with adding one or more new traits to the original DNA of an organism, which were actually not present previously, and can be advantageous in maximizing its application and use. Cloning is one of the prime focuses of genetic engineering in-spite of being a controversial issue. It is the replication of the DNA of an organism to produce the exact identical twin.

Manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale is known as nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is naturally very broad and includes fields of surface science, organic chemistry, molecular biology and also semiconductor physics. The applications include nanomedicine, nanoelectronics and biomaterials energy production.

Factory farming or intense livestock farming is something that increases the production output, cutting down the production cost for commercial purpose up to a certain extent. Livestock are generally reared for labour and for commercial production of meat, eggs, milk and other animal products like fur, leather and wool. Livestock farming plays a major role in economic and social boost in the rural areas.

Fertilizers are compounds that are added to plants to promote growth. They are classified as organic and inorganic. Inorganic fertilizers contain simple inorganic chemicals while organics contain dead leaves and plant matter and animal waste. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the main elements in the fertilizers. The secondary components include calcium, sulphur and magnesium.

Modern food production encompasses a range of activities related to agriculture and business disciplines. The term Agribusiness is a portmanteau of the two disciplines and enlightens the major areas that deal with the production of agricultural products and their interdependence. Animal feed, bio-fuels and micro-ingredients are examples of agribusiness products.

Farmer education regarding the knowledge of agricultural practices and their implementation in science and technology is the basic concept of agriculture extension. Educators from different disciplines, including agriculture, agricultural marketing, health, and business studies come together to educate the farmers about the new trends of farming through numerous communication and learning activities.

Good water management of dams and levees reduces the risk of harm due to flooding. Water management is thus the control and movement of water resources to minimize damage to life and property. Another objective is to maximize efficient beneficial use of the same. Irrigation water management systems are the best for use of limited water supplies for agriculture.

For different categories of waste to be disposed in the right way, agri-waste management is a great concern. It facilitates the sorting of the waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable followed by subdivisions of each into subcategories based on the hazardous nature. Risk assessment is a method to inspect, follow and manage apt disposal techniques. Compositing and burning are commonly for solid waste treatment.

The energy generated from animals and plants and their by-products is known as bio-energy. The source is inexhaustible and thus energy can be replenished by nature. Non-fossil biogenic resources which can be used by humans are called bio-resources. They serve the purpose of energy carriers, food production and as substantial products.

Landscaping is the modification of the visible land area including living elements comprising of flora and fauna, natural elements like terrain and water bodies, abstract elements like lighting and weather conditions. A fine hand in horticulture is necessary for landscaping in order to mould and modify the surroundings as per the requirement.