The distributional outcomes of rights-based management in fisheries

Fisheries managers have increasingly adopted rights-based management (i.e., “catch shares” or “individual transferable quotas” [ITQs]) to address economic and biological management challenges under prior governance regimes. Despite their ability to resolve some of the symptoms of the tragedy of the commons and improve economic efficiency, catch shares remain controversial for their potentially disruptive social effects. One criticism is that the benefits of rights-based reforms are unequally distributed across vessels and between fishery participants (e.g., crew and hired captains) and that stakeholders that do not receive an allocation of harvest rights may see their remuneration decrease. Yet, empirically assessing these claims is difficult in almost all ITQs due to poor availability of longitudinal cost, earnings, and employment data. This paper evaluates these claims using vessel-level data to characterize impacts of a long-established ITQ program for Alaskan crab fisheries on the level and distribution of payments to claimant groups. We find that the share of vessel proceeds accruing to captains, crew, and vessel owners declined under the catch-share regime to make room for new payments to quota owners. Average daily payments to captains, crew, and vessel owners declined, albeit slightly, yet retained their pre-ITQ premia relative to compensation in other sectors. However, inequality in payments to workers and vessel owners declined after ITQs, as did the interseasonal volatility in compensation to workers, a measure of financial risk. Finally, we find that consolidation-induced increases in leasing costs have had little effect on workers’ remuneration, but have reduced returns to vessel ownership.

Biological Management of Colocasia Blight Incited by Phytophthora colocasiae using Native Strains of Antagonists in North Western Himalayas

Background: Colocasia is cultivated globally for its edible corm and leaves. Leaf blight incited by Phytophthora colocasiae is the most destructive disease of colocasia. The current study aims at biological management of the disease. Methods: Nine Trichoderma isolates from the colocasia rhizosphere soil along with five designated isolates of Trichoderma spp. already available in the Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HPKV, Palampur were tested in vitro for antagonistic activity against P. colocasiae. Similarly, six unidentified bacterial strains isolated from colocasia phylloplane and available Pseudomonas fluorescens were evaluated for antagonistic activity against P. colocasiae under in vitro conditions. The bioagents found best under in vitro conditions were evaluated in vivo. Result: Trichoderma isolate Ti-6 was found significantly superior bioagent as it resulted in 72.9 per cent mycelial growth inhibition of P. colocasiae followed by Ti-5 (63.2%), Ti-4 (60.1%) and Ti-1 (54.5%). Amongst bacterial antagonists, Pseudomonas fluorescens gave maximum mycelial growth inhibition of 50.5 per cent followed by Pb-3 (31.4%) and Pb-6 (30.5%). The efficacy of five Trichoderma spp isolates viz., Ti-6, Ti-5, Ti-4, Ti-1, T. viride and one bacterial isolate of P. fluorescens found effective under in vitro were also evaluated in vivo using three delivery systems under net house condition. Corm treatment with bioagents was found superior for management of colocasia blight. Corm treatment with Ti-6 was found to be significantly superior to other treatments as 93.74 per cent of disease control was observed. For drenching, bioagent Ti-6 was proved best in managing blight disease (88.91%) followed by Ti-5 (88.90%). However, Ti-5 isolate of Trichoderma sp. as soil application was found superior with 90.02 per cent disease control.

PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES IN ORGANIC CULTIVATION OF CEREALS – OVERVIEW

In this study, an overview is made and a comparative analysis of articles, reports and materials dealing with organic farming of LWC, in the period 1970 to 2021 is performed. After analysing the literature, the following conclusions are made: Cereals occupy a particularly important place in organic farming, the main advantages of their cultivation are easy farming techniques, relatively easy mechanical weed control, disease control through rational crop rotation, opportunities for biological control of major pests. The soils in organic farming are better structured than those in conventional agriculture. Organic farming practices are related to improving soil properties, including the addition of organic matter to the soil, increasing the population of earthworms, biodiversity, soil fertility and more. Biological management provides a more stable soil structure. The larger pores observed in biological management have a beneficial effect on the physical properties of the soil, such as water flow and water capacity. The greater porosity of the soil provides a good habitat for soil microorganisms. Organic farming contributes to creating a better soil structure. Organic farming systems have traditionally been based on crop rotation. The aim of organic farming is to achieve a balance between crops that reduce soil fertility and crops that restore fertility. Crop rotation is the main tool that integrates the maintenance and development of soil fertility with various aspects of plant production in biological systems. Specialised selection programmes for creating varieties suitable for organic farming are too few due to the small number of users and high costs. The most common practise includes testing the suitability of conventional varieties in biological conditions, propagation and distribution of the best in the biological sector. Sowing norms directly control the sowing density, as well as the nutrient area of each plant. Changing sowing rates is also an excellent method for controlling weeding in biological fields. Concerning yields from organic and conventional agriculture, organic farms are less productive than conventional ones and their productivity is lower. But if environmental variables are taken into account, organic farms show the same or higher efficiency. A major problem facing organic farming in the future is the protection of fields from pollution by genetically modified organisms. An option for protecting biological fields is to maintain a buffer zone between the farm and the neighbouring conventional fields to prevent accidental contamination with GMOs.

Fusarium pallidoroseum: A potential entomopathogenic agent for the biological management of Aphis gossypii

With rising need of switching over to sustainable agricultural practices, utilization of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) as biocontrol agents, provides better substitute against chemical pesticides- having several side-effects. Therefore, an attempt have been made to explore the potential EPF fungi that could be incorporated into IPM practices for control of Helicoverpa armigera Hubner and Aphis gossypii Glover. Regarding this, an entomopathogenic fungus, Fusarium pallidoroseum (Cooke) Sacc, was isolated from natural population of H. armigera infesting chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and explored efficacy under in-vitro & field conditions. The findings of present investigation shows efficacy of F. pallidoroseum as potential biocontrol agent against okra aphid (A. gossypii), as it inflicted initial mortality of 43.33% nymphs on 2nd day and lead to complete annihilation (93.33%) of nymph population on 8th day of spore suspension application at 1x1010 spores/mL concentration. The observations against adult okra aphid clearly demonstrated that spraying of 1 x 1010 spores/mL of F. pallidoroseum resulted 66.67% mortality after 8th days of spraying. Increased mortality was recorded with increase in spore suspension concentrations. The LC50 & LC90 value for F. pallidoroseum against nymphs of A. gossypii was recorded 3.79 x 105 and 2.74 x 108, respectively. The findings were used to develop formulations (1 × 104 to 1 × 1010 spore suspension/mL conc), and tested at field-level. The results showed that formulation at 1 x 1010 spores/mL conc was most effective against A. gossypii, recorded 93.33% mortality of nymphs & 66.67% mortality of adults; could be used under IPM practices.

Biological Management of Root Rot (Rhizoctonia solani) of Clusterbean in Rajasthan

Background: Clusterbean is an important legume crop in arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan. It provides livelihood security to arid zone farmers. Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) and root rot are two important diseases of clusterbean which limits its production and productivity. Although, management of these diseases are possible through fungicides. However, in present study focus on use of bio-agents which are friendly to the environment.Methods: Field experiment was conducted at ARS, SKRAU, Bikaner, Rajasthan during three consecutive kharif seasons of 2017 to 2019. The experiment was conducted on cv. RGC-1033 with six different combination of Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens bio- agents viz, seed treatment, soil treatment and their combinations against the root rot disease and compared with an untreated control.Conclusion: Seed treatment with a combination of T. harzianum + P. fluorescens (4+4 g/kg seed) along with soil application of T. harzianum + P. fluorescens (1.25 +1.25 kg in 50 kg FYM for each/ha) was an effective treatment which reduced root rot incidence and increased seed yield under field conditions. It can be recommended to the cultivators of clusterbean for enhancing yield.