Improvement in Food Resources

• Need for Improvement

  • Population Growth -> High food demand
  • Limited Land -> Need higher yield per acre
  • Sustainable Practices -> Environmental protection

• Crop Variety Improvement

  • Purposes
    • Higher yield
    • Improved quality
    • Biotic & abiotic resistance
    • Change in maturity duration
    • Wider adaptability
    • Desirable agronomic traits
  • Methods
    • Hybridisation -> Crossing genetically dissimilar plants
    • Genetically Modified Crops (GM) -> Introducing desired genes

• Crop Production Management

  • Nutrient Management
    • Macronutrients -> Required in large quantities (e.g., Nitrogen, Phosphorus)
    • Micronutrients -> Required in small quantities (e.g., Iron, Boron)
    • Manure -> Organic matter, bulky, adds humus
    • Fertilizers -> Inorganic chemicals, nutrient-specific, risk of water pollution
  • Irrigation
    • Wells -> Dug wells and tube wells
    • Canals -> Extensive river-fed systems
    • Rivers/Tanks -> Lift systems and rain-water harvesting
  • Cropping Patterns
    • Mixed Cropping -> Growing two or more crops simultaneously (e.g., Wheat + Gram)
    • Inter-cropping -> Growing crops in specific alternate rows (e.g., Soyabean + Maize)
    • Crop Rotation -> Growing different crops on a piece of land in a pre-planned succession

• Crop Protection Management

  • Weeds -> Unwanted cultivated plants (e.g., Xanthium, Parthenium)
  • Insect Pests -> Attack root, stem, leaf, or suck cell sap
  • Pathogens -> Bacteria, fungi, and viruses causing diseases
  • Control Methods
    • Mechanical removal
    • Proper seed bed preparation
    • Timely sowing
    • Crop rotation & inter-cropping
    • Use of Pesticides / Insecticides / Fungicides
  • Storage Losses
    • Biotic Factors -> Insects, rodents, fungi, mites, bacteria
    • Abiotic Factors -> Moisture and temperature
    • Preventive Measures -> Strict cleaning, proper drying, fumigation

• Animal Husbandry

  • Cattle Farming
    • Milch Animals -> Milk-producing females
    • Draught Animals -> Agricultural labor providers
    • Management -> Shelter hygiene, balanced feed (roughage + concentrates)
  • Poultry Farming
    • Layers -> Egg production
    • Broilers -> Meat production
    • Care -> Disease control, proper housing, maintenance of temperature
  • Fish Production
    • Fin fisheries -> True fish (e.g., Rohu, Catla)
    • Shell fisheries -> Crustaceans/molluscs (e.g., Prawns)
    • Inland Fisheries -> Fresh water (canals, ponds) and brackish water
    • Marine Fisheries -> Ocean resources (pomfret, tuna)
    • Composite Fish Culture -> 5-6 species in a single pond utilizing different food zones
  • Bee Keeping (Apiculture)
    • Source of honey and wax
    • Common varieties: Apis cerana indica (Indian bee), Apis mellifera (Italian bee)
    • Pasturage -> Availability of flowers for nectar and pollen collection