scholarly journals The Role of Earth Observation in Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Production in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of the World

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 3382
Author(s):  
Sarchil Hama Qader ◽  
Jadu Dash ◽  
Victor A. Alegana ◽  
Nabaz R. Khwarahm ◽  
Andrew J. Tatem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Spatial Prediction ◽  
The World ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Crop Area ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Semi Arid

Crop production is a major source of food and livelihood for many people in arid and semi-arid (ASA) regions across the world. However, due to irregular climatic events, ASA regions are affected commonly by frequent droughts that can impact food production. In addition, ASA regions in the Middle East and Africa are often characterised by political instability, which can increase population vulnerability to hunger and ill health. Remote sensing (RS) provides a platform to improve the spatial prediction of crop production and food availability, with the potential to positively impact populations. This paper, firstly, describes some of the important characteristics of agriculture in ASA regions that require monitoring to improve their management. Secondly, it demonstrates how freely available RS data can support decision-making through a cost-effective monitoring system that complements traditional approaches for collecting agricultural data. Thirdly, it illustrates the challenges of employing freely available RS data for mapping and monitoring crop area, crop status and forecasting crop yield in these regions. Finally, existing approaches used in these applications are evaluated, and the challenges associated with their use and possible future improvements are discussed. We demonstrate that agricultural activities can be monitored effectively and both crop area and crop yield can be predicted in advance using RS data. We also discuss the future challenges associated with maintaining food security in ASA regions and explore some recent advances in RS that can be used to monitor cropland and forecast crop production and yield.

scholarly journals Can Yoga-Based Diabetes Management Studies Facilitate Integrative Medicine in India Current Status and Future Directions

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 125-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepak Kumar Pal ◽  
Ashish Bhalla ◽  
Sridhar Bammidi ◽  
Shirley Telles ◽  
Adarsh Kohli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrative Medicine ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The World ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
Traditional Approaches

Background: India is fast becoming the diabetic capital in the world according to a recent report. Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of mortality due to diabetic complications, which has enormous implications for the health budget. Objectives: The main objective of this review is to provide an overview of the work carried out in the world, including modern and traditional approaches for the prevention and management of diabetes and reducing the chances of onset of further complications via cost-effective lifestyle interventions and integrative medicine. Material and Methods: We performed a literature search from various databases like PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar, etc., using the keywords diabetes, prediabetes, MCI and prediabetes, diabetes and yoga, diabetes. Results: Upon reviewing the published articles, it was noticed that one of the most neglected complications of diabetes, namely cognitive dysfunction, which is characterized by a pattern of vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD), has been largely ignored, and there has been no large study investigating the role of yoga intervention in diabetes and/or associated cognitive impairment. Conclusion: The review article opens new paradigms for researchers to evaluate the connection between diabetes and AD through a yoga-based national campaign on diabetes. This paves the way towards the goal of integrative medicine.

The role of quality seed use for world crop production with special reference to the developing countries

1975 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 268-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
W P Feistritzer
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Stages Of Development ◽  
Short Article ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Pasture Plants

In this short article the author indicates the present stages of development of variety evaluation, testing, certification, production and marketing of quality seed—of cereals, industrial crops, pasture plants and vegetables—in major geographical regions of the world and draws attention to some of the underlying problems which must be faced in the future if further progress is to be made.

scholarly journals Estimating the Effect of Climatic Variables and Crop Area on Maize Yield in Ghana

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 313-321
Author(s):  
Henry De-Graft Acquah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Crop Area

Climate change tends to have negative effects on crop yield through its influence on crop production. Understanding the relationship between climatic variables, crop area and crop yield will facilitate development of appropriate policies to cope with climate change. This study therefore examines the effects of climatic variables and crop area on maize yield in Ghana based on regression model using historical data (1970-2010). Linear and Non-linear regression model specifications of the production function were employed in the study. The study found that growing season temperature trend is significantly increasing by 0.03oC yearly whereas growing season rainfall trend is insignificantly increasing by 0.25mm on yearly basis. It was also observed that rainfall is becoming increasingly unpredictable with poor distributions throughout the season. Results from the linear and non-linear regression models suggest that rainfall increase and crop area expansion have a positive and significant influence on mean maize yield. However, temperature increase will adversely affect mean maize yield. In conclusion, the study found that there exists not only a linear but also a non-linear relationship between climatic variables and maize yield.

scholarly journals Rainfall and Agricultural Production in Botswana

Afrika Focus ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-155
Author(s):  
Paul Vossen
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Time Trend ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Production Forecasting ◽  
Positive Time ◽  
Semi Arid

The interannual variability of traditional, rainfed agricultural production of Botswana, a country with a typical semi-arid climate, is almost completely accounted for by the quality of the rainy season. It appears that the variability of the national cattle death ratio, total planted area and crop yield are, for more than 95% accounted for by rainy season conditions. As a result, also the nutritional state of the population highly correlates with rainfall. Despite the severe droughts of 1978/79and1985/86, farmers were not discouraged to practice agriculture: in fact, crop production shows a significant positive time trend which becomes apparent, when the trend and the rainy season conditions are analysed in combination with each other. As part of this study, models were developed and validated for a precise and areawise agricultural rainy season quality monitoring and for national agricultural production forecasting in Botswana. One of these models could possibly also be used for the areawise assessment of risks for malnutrition of children under five years old.

scholarly journals Seed Priming with Phytohormones: An Effective Approach for the Mitigation of Abiotic Stress

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Mohammad Saidur Rhaman ◽  
Shahin Imran ◽  
Farjana Rauf ◽  
Mousumi Khatun ◽  
Carol C. Baskin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Seed Priming ◽  
Plant Growth And Development ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Harmful Effects

Plants are often exposed to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heat, cold, and heavy metals that induce complex responses, which result in reduced growth as well as crop yield. Phytohormones are well known for their regulatory role in plant growth and development, and they serve as important chemical messengers, allowing plants to function during exposure to various stresses. Seed priming is a physiological technique involving seed hydration and drying to improve metabolic processes prior to germination, thereby increasing the percentage and rate of germination and improving seedling growth and crop yield under normal and various biotic and abiotic stresses. Seed priming allows plants to obtain an enhanced capacity for rapidly and effectively combating different stresses. Thus, seed priming with phytohormones has emerged as an important tool for mitigating the effects of abiotic stress. Therefore, this review discusses the potential role of priming with phytohormones to mitigate the harmful effects of abiotic stresses, possible mechanisms for how mitigation is accomplished, and roles of priming on the enhancement of crop production.

scholarly journals The role of nanotechnology for improving crop production

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-305
Author(s):  
Amir Lakzian ◽  
Maryam Bayat ◽  
Anvar Gadzhikurbanov ◽  
Meisam Zargar
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Seed Vigor ◽  
Biological Synthesis ◽  
Synthesis Of Nanoparticles ◽  
Disease Diagnostics ◽  
And Chemical Properties

Today, green nanotechnology has great importance due to the presence of different modes of restrictive action against various pathogens such as fungi and bacterial species. The use of nanomaterials has recently increased in agriculture and plant-tissue culture thanks to their unique different properties such as; magnetic, electrical, mechanical, optical, and chemical properties. Optimum use of iron increases protein content in the wheat grain. They also enhance plant growth by improving disease resistance and increase stability of the plants by anti-bending and deeper rooting of crops. It has been reported by many researchers that Nano-fertilizers significantly influenced the seed germination which demonstrated the effect of Nano fertilizers on seed and seed vigor. Chemical methods have been used for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Developing Nano-biotechnology is generating interests in research towards eco-friendly, cost effective and biological synthesis of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles systems have been combined into plant fungal disease controlpractices. Using nanoparticles as biosensors in plant disease diagnostics is also illustrated.

scholarly journals The Persistence of Bacterial Pathogens in Surface Water and Its Impact on Global Food Safety

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1391
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Bell ◽  
Julie A. Kase ◽  
Lisa M. Harrison ◽  
Kannan V. Balan ◽  
Uma Babu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Microbial Pathogens ◽  
The World ◽  
Contamination Event ◽  
Global Initiatives ◽  
Global Food

Water is vital to agriculture. It is essential that the water used for the production of fresh produce commodities be safe. Microbial pathogens are able to survive for extended periods of time in water. It is critical to understand their biology and ecology in this ecosystem in order to develop better mitigation strategies for farmers who grow these food crops. In this review the prevalence, persistence and ecology of four major foodborne pathogens, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella, Campylobacter and closely related Arcobacter, and Listeria monocytogenes, in water are discussed. These pathogens have been linked to fresh produce outbreaks, some with devastating consequences, where, in a few cases, the contamination event has been traced to water used for crop production or post-harvest activities. In addition, antimicrobial resistance, methods improvements, including the role of genomics in aiding in the understanding of these pathogens, are discussed. Finally, global initiatives to improve our knowledge base of these pathogens around the world are touched upon.

scholarly journals Different mycotoxin inactivation applications and their inactivation mechanisms

2009 ◽  
pp. 27-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faruk Bozoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Microbiological Methods ◽  
The World ◽  
Treatment Procedures ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Control of mycotoxins is the need of the hour, since their occurrence in foods and feeds is continuously posing threats to both health and economics all over the world. Besides the post-harvest preventive measures, it is important that suitable detoxification methods must be developed for inactivating or removing mycotoxins from the contaminated commodities, as the toxins are also produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus even during pre-harvest stages of crop production. Several physical and chemical detoxification methods developed so far have been critically discussed in different reviews for their advantages and limitations based on certain adopted strategies and specific criteria. Understanding of mechanisms of mycotoxins detoxification by physical, chemical and microbiological methods will enable establishment of combined treatment procedures to effectively decontaminate, contaminated foods and feeds. Such treatment methods are expected to be cost effective and minimally deleterious to food constituents.

Rheumatic Fever Prevention in Industrializing Countries: Problems and Approaches

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 996-998
Author(s):  
Rachel Snitcowsky
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatic Fever ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Streptococcal Infections ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Group A ◽  
Health Organization

Editor's Note The problems resulting from Group A streptococcal infections remain largely unsolved in many of the industrialized countries of the world at the close of the 20th century. The fact that Group A streptococcal infections had assumed almost the role of a nuisance in the United States and Europe, before the beginning of the mid-1980s and 1990s resurgence, stands in marked contrast to the spectrum of streptococcal-related diseases in other parts of the world. Confirmatory epidemiologic data are often difficult to locate, but there is little doubt about the existence and the general magnitude of the problem. Because of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted Group A streptococcal infections and their sequelae for additional attention. During the last decade the WHO has invested considerable effort toward their control. The need for cost-effective primary and secondary rheumatic fever public health prevention programs is greater in those countries where the magnitude of the problem may be inversely proportional to available resources. Approaches considered routine in North America, in Europe, and in some countries of Latin America and Asia often are nonexistent in industrializing countries where as little as less than $5 per person per year may be reserved for total health care. With these issues in mind, the following perspective was invited to bring these unique problems related to Group A streptococcal infections and their sequelae into focus and to offer suggestions for realistic approaches under less than ideal conditions. We are grateful to Dr Snitcowsky for her comments.

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