Panel Regression Models for Paddy (Oryza sativa) Crop Production

The present investigation was carried out to study area production trends of Paddy crop grown in different districts of Tamil Nadu state, India during the period 1998-99 to 2010- 2020 based on Panel Regression Model. The statistically most suited Panel Regression model was selected based on Hausman and Wald test. The study variables namely the area under the Paddy crop (AREA) and the production (PRODN) of Paddy crop were found to be stationary at level. Analysis of variance test indicated that district to district crop productions were highly significant. Highest area under the crops and productions were registered in Tiruvarur, Thanjavur etc., Very lowest were registered in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts. The fixed effect model was found to be suitable to study the trend and this model explains the 87% of variations in Paddy crop production.

Mobile Computing in the Developing World

Nagapattinam is one of the main places for the catching and export of fish in Tamil Nadu State, in the south of India. In the local markets, fisherwomen buy fish, which are then sold in the streets as well as door-to-door. These “street selling fisherwomen” face various difficulties, including means of transport, carrying heavy fish baskets, and challenges in fish selling during sickness. To overcome these problems, a project was set up with support from the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology to develop a mobile app with native (Tamil) language to simplify the different processes involved in fish selling. Special features, like adding fish detail using images, voice-based searches on market conditions, and location tracking for the delivery of fish, are helping the fisherwomen to reduce the complexity of the selling process. This chapter provides detail on this project, examines the benefits, and discusses the difficulties encountered in the adoption of the mobile app, which is enabling fisherwomen to boost their revenues and improve their quality of life.

Two additions to the flora of Kerala, India

Acilepis pothigaiana (Asteraceae) and Psychotria henryana (Rubiaceae), are recently described taxa which are endemic to Tamil Nadu state. The present paper reports two distribution records for Kerala state. A short description along with nomenclature, distribution, image, and phenology is provided for further research.

A Study on Adoption of Indigenous Technical Knowledge Practices among Tribal Farmers in Kolli Hills

Objectives: To make a quantitative study of Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) practices pertinent to crops grown in Kolli hills tribes in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: The attempt was made to study the adoption level of the interpreted ITKs among Kolli hills tribes. The Kolli hill was picked purposively for its uniqueness in continuing their traditions age old practices in farming practices by the tribes. The present study has been carried out in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu state. The Namakkal district was administratively divided into seven taluks and fifteen blocks. Among these seven taluks and fifteen blocks, higher populations of tribes were seen at Kolli hills. For the selection of the respondents based on the proportionate random sampling technique and the data were collected from each respondent through personal interview method. The study was carried during 2019 with 150 respondents in highly populated villages of Kolli hills. The Adoption index was used to analyse the adoption level of the ITK’s by the tribes. Findings: More than half of the respondents (55.56 per cent) had a medium level of knowledge followed by high (25.10 per cent) and low (19.34 per cent) levels of knowledge on indigenous cultivation practices. Conclusion: Indigenous technical knowledge has a substantial heritage in agrarian civilization. The findings highlight the effectiveness of indigenous technical knowledge above its modern equivalent. Thus, extension workers should identify and incorporate them in the technology transfer action in order to ensure long-term or sustainable agricultural development.

Drought analysis and management for Tamil Nadu: Science-stakeholder-policy linkage

The complex and multi-dimensional nature of droughts in Tamil Nadu state and its impact on agricultural sector and farming community requires a thorough analysis for developing short and long– term adaptation and mitigation measures with institutional arrangement and policy support. In the present investigation, drought analysis was made for Tamil Nadu state using 148 years (1871 – 2018) monthly rainfall data obtained at district scale from India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University by employing various drought indices. Larger co-efficient of variation (139 and 149 %) during the major growing seasons (Southwest and Northeast monsoon)evidenced high undependability of rainfall over Tamil Nadu. Drought Index (DI) analysis indicated a 51 per cent drought years in SWM and 48 per cent in NEM season, while Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) exhibited 43 and 48 per cent of drought years in SWM and NEM respectively, indicating occurrence of drought once in every four years. More number of Consecutive Drought years (CDY) posed serious impacts on food production and livelihoods. Drought management framework as well as input for designing drought policy for Tamil Nadu.

Seroprevalence in Tamil Nadu through India's two COVID waves: Evidence on antibody decline following infection and vaccination

Three rounds of population-representative serological studies through India's two COVID waves (round 1, 19 October-30 November 2020; round 2, 7-30 April 2021; and round 3, 28 June-7 July, 2021) were conducted at the district-level in Tamil Nadu state (population 72 million). State-level seroprevalence in rounds 1, 2 and 3 were 31.5%, 22.9%, and 67.1%. Estimated seroprevalence implies that at least 22.6 and 48.1 million persons were infected by the 30 November 2020 and 7 July 2021. There was substantial variation across districts in the state in each round. Seroprevalence ranged from 11.1 to 49.8% (round 1), 7.9 to 50.3% (round 2), and 37.8 to 84% (round 3). Seroprevalence in urban areas was higher than in rural areas (35.7 v. 25.7% in round 1, 74.8% v. 64.1% in round 3). Females had similar seroprevalence to males (30.8 v. 30.2% in round 1, 67.5 v. 65.5% in round 3). While working age populations (age 40-49: 31.6%) had significantly higher seroprevalence than the youth (age 18-29: 30.4%) or elderly (age 70+: 26.5%) in round 1, only the gap between working age (age 40-49: 66.7%) and elderly (age 70+: 59.6%) remained significant in round 3. Seroprevalence was greater among those who were vaccinated for COVID (25.7% v. 20.9% in round 2, 80.0% v. 62.3% in round 3). While the decline in seroprevalence from rounds 1 to 2 suggests antibody decline after natural infection, we do not find a significant decline in antibodies among those receiving at least 1 dose of COVID vaccine between rounds 2 and 3.

Livelihood Status of Neem Seed Pickers and Constraints in Seed Collection and Procurement in Tamil Nadu

Aims: Neem Seeds have considerable economic significance due to a variety of commercial usages. Realising the significance of neem, the present study aimed to understand the rural households’ participation in neem seed collection and issues in collection and sales. Study Design: Simple random sampling method was followed. Place and Duration of the Study: The present study was conducted in Tamil Nadu state covering seven districts namely Coimbatore, Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Sivagangai, Thoothukudi and Vellore. A total of 450 households who involved in neem seed collection was selected and studied. The data collected was pertaining to the year 2019-20. Methodology: Simple mean, percentage analysis, standard deviation and Garrett Ranking techniques were employed. Results: Ninety seven percent of the neem seed collectors are above 30 years. Majority of the neem seed collectors are illiterate mostly belong to the category of more than 50 years and 30 to 50 years. Agriculture based households members generally involved in neem seed collection. Majority of the neem seed collectors (61 per cent) collect neem seeds in local village itself. Around 26 per cent of the respondents visit nearby villages to collect neem seeds. To collect neem seeds, the rural households travel 4.65 km daily, with a minimum of 2.0 km and maximum of 7.0 km in a day. The constraints in seed collection are time consuming, travel long to collect seeds, less remunerative, less productive etc. The major constraints in selling include poor price offered by the traders, lack of awareness on price in other markets, lack of awareness about quality. Conclusion: Programmes like price support, market intervention in the form of price dissemination, market and transport infrastructure will help the rural people to fetch better price for their collected neem seeds.

Transforming Dalit Identity: Ancient Drum Beat, New Song

<p>Folk music is one medium used by the Dalits of India in response to the oppression they face under the country's caste system. This thesis describes research conducted on the effects of music composed by a radical Dalit Christian pastor in South India nicknamed ' Parattai.' The main aims were to investigate how Parattai's religiously affiliated Dalit folk music transformed people, and whether or not its popularity and use had been maintained since Parattai's death in 2005. The primary data was collated from twenty six semi-structured interviews which took place in Tamil Nadu state between December 2006 and April 2007. The secondary data comprises literature on caste and inequality, and grassroots responses involving religion and music. This research found that Parattai' s music was effective because it declared a proud Dalit identity. Parattai embraced and reclaimed the musical and dance styles, vernacular languages, food, and religious ideologies of Dalits so as to transform Dalits from the inside out. Parattai's music continues to empower people with the appreciation of their own strengths. However, further promotion of his folk music style would ensure enduring transformation and activism towards the equality of all Dalits.</p>

Transforming Dalit Identity: Ancient Drum Beat, New Song

<p>Folk music is one medium used by the Dalits of India in response to the oppression they face under the country's caste system. This thesis describes research conducted on the effects of music composed by a radical Dalit Christian pastor in South India nicknamed ' Parattai.' The main aims were to investigate how Parattai's religiously affiliated Dalit folk music transformed people, and whether or not its popularity and use had been maintained since Parattai's death in 2005. The primary data was collated from twenty six semi-structured interviews which took place in Tamil Nadu state between December 2006 and April 2007. The secondary data comprises literature on caste and inequality, and grassroots responses involving religion and music. This research found that Parattai' s music was effective because it declared a proud Dalit identity. Parattai embraced and reclaimed the musical and dance styles, vernacular languages, food, and religious ideologies of Dalits so as to transform Dalits from the inside out. Parattai's music continues to empower people with the appreciation of their own strengths. However, further promotion of his folk music style would ensure enduring transformation and activism towards the equality of all Dalits.</p>

First record of Psechrus hartmanni Bayer, 2012 (Araneae: Psechridae) from India

The spider Psechrus hartmanni Bayer, 2012 is recorded for the first time from India. The species is redescribed and illustrated based on female specimen collected from Tamil Nadu State of India.