IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES

Hum sab ko energy, growth aur body functions ke liye food chahiye. Food humein plants aur animals dono se milta hai.

Food Crops Ke Types:

• Cereals (Anaaj): Carbohydrates provide karte hain energy ke liye. Example: Wheat (Gehu), Rice (Chawal), Maize (Makka), Millets (Bajra), Sorghum (Jowar).
• Pulses (Daal): Proteins ka main source. Example: Gram (Chana), Pea (Matar), Black gram (Urad), Green gram (Moong), Pigeon pea (Arhar), Lentil (Masoor).
• Oil Seeds: Fats provide karte hain. Example: Soybean, Groundnut (Mungfali), Sesame (Til), Castor, Mustard (Sarson), Linseed, Sunflower.
• Vegetables, Spices, Fruits: Vitamins, Minerals, aur thode amounts mein proteins, carbohydrates, fats bhi dete hain.
• Fodder Crops: Livestock (pashu-dhan) ke liye food. Example: Berseem, Oats, Sudan grass.

India mein Food Security:

• India ki population bahut zyada hai, isliye food production badhana bahut zaroori hai.
• Green Revolution ne food grain production badhaya, aur White Revolution ne milk production badhaya.
• Lekin, ye revolutions environment par negative impact bhi daalte hain, jaise soil degradation aur water pollution.
• Isliye, sustainable practices apnana important hai jo environment ko nuksan na pahunchaye aur food production bhi maintain kare.

Crop yield badhane aur quality improve karne ke liye crop varieties mein sudhar karna bahut zaroori hai.

Desirable Characteristics for Crop Improvement:

• Higher Yield: Per acre production zyada ho.
• Improved Quality: Protein content, oil content, vitamin content, etc., behtar ho.
• Biotic and Abiotic Resistance:
• Biotic: Diseases, insects, pests se resistance.
• Abiotic: Drought (sukha), salinity (namak), water-logging (pani bhar jana), heat, cold, frost jaise environmental conditions ko tolerate kar sake.
• Change in Maturity Duration: Crops jaldi mature ho jayein, takki farmers ek saal mein zyada crops uga sakein aur harvest loss kam ho.
• Wider Adaptability: Crop alag-alag climatic conditions mein grow kar sake.
• Desirable Agronomic Characteristics: Tallness aur profuse branching fodder crops ke liye achha hai, jabki dwarfness cereals ke liye achha hai (kyunki nutrients kam use hote hain).

Methods of Crop Variety Improvement:

1. Hybridisation:

• Genetically dissimilar plants ke beech cross-breeding karwana.
• Isse desirable traits combine ho jaate hain.
• Types of Hybridisation:
• Inter-varietal: Different varieties ke beech.
• Inter-specific: Same genus ki do different species ke beech.
• Inter-generic: Different genera ke beech.

1. Genetic Modification (GM Crops):

• Ek plant mein desirable characteristic provide karne wala gene introduce karna.
• Isse genetically modified crops (GMCs) bante hain.
• Example: Bt Cotton (insect resistance ke liye).

Factors Affecting Crop Production:

• Biotic Factors: Pests (insects, rodents), diseases (bacteria, fungi, viruses), weeds.
• Abiotic Factors: Drought, flood, heat, cold, frost, salinity.

Crop production ko manage karna takki maximum yield mile. Farmers ki financial conditions ke according alag-alag practices follow ki jaati hain.

Production Practices ke Levels:

• No Cost Production: Minimum resources use karna.
• Low Cost Production: Thode inputs use karna.
• High Cost Production: High-quality seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, crop protection jaise saare modern inputs use karna. Isse yield sabse zyada hota hai.

1. Nutrient Management

Plants ko growth aur development ke liye nutrients chahiye, jaise humein chahiye.

Nutrient Sources:

• Air: Carbon (as CO$_2$), Oxygen.
• Water: Hydrogen, Oxygen.
• Soil: 13 essential nutrients.

Types of Nutrients (Soil se milne wale):

• Macronutrients: Plants ko large quantities mein chahiye.
• Example: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulphur (S).
• Micronutrients: Plants ko small quantities mein chahiye.
• Example: Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl).

Nutrient Supply Methods:

• Manure (Khaad):
• Animal excreta (gobar), plant waste, domestic waste se banta hai.
• Soil ki fertility aur water retention capacity badhata hai.
• Types:
• Farmyard Manure (FYM): Animal excreta aur litter ka mixture.
• Compost: Farm waste (livestock excreta, vegetable waste, animal refuse) ko pit mein decompose karke banta hai. Vermicompost mein earthworms use hote hain decomposition ke liye.
• Green Manure: Sunhemp, guar jaise plants ko grow karke, phir unko flowering se pehle hi soil mein plough kar dete hain. Ye plants soil ko N aur P provide karte hain.
• Fertilizers (Urvark):
• Commercialy produced plant nutrients. Example: Urea, DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate), Potash.
• Specific nutrients (N, P, K) provide karte hain.
• High yield ke liye zaroori hain, lekin excessive use se water pollution aur soil fertility loss ho sakta hai.

Manure vs. Fertilizers: | Feature | Manure | Fertilizers | | :-------------- | :----------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | | Source | Organic (animal/plant waste) | Inorganic (chemicals) | | Nutrients | Less specific, provides humus | Specific (N, P, K), highly concentrated | | Soil Quality| Improves soil texture, water retention | Does not improve soil texture | | Pollution | Environment-friendly | Can cause water pollution, soil degradation | | Cost | Cheaper, often farm-produced | Expensive |

2. Irrigation

Crops ko sahi time par sahi quantity mein pani dena.

Importance:

• India mein zyada tar agriculture rain-fed hai, monsoon par depend karta hai.
• Poor monsoon se crop failure ho sakta hai.
• Irrigation se yield badhta hai aur crop failure ka risk kam hota hai.

Irrigation Systems:

• Wells: Dug wells (khode hue kuein) aur tube wells (borewells).
• Canals: Rivers se pani canals mein divert kiya jata hai.
• River Lift Systems: Rivers ke paas wale areas mein pani lift karke supply kiya jata hai.
• Tanks: Small storage reservoirs.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater ko collect aur store karna.
• Drip Irrigation & Sprinkler Systems: Modern, efficient methods jo pani bachate hain.

3. Cropping Patterns

Maximum benefit ke liye alag-alag tarike se crops ugna.

• Mixed Cropping:
• Do ya do se zyada crops ko simultaneously same land par ugna.
• Example: Wheat + Gram, Wheat + Mustard, Groundnut + Sunflower.
• Advantage: Risk kam hota hai, agar ek crop fail ho jaye toh doosri se kuch yield mil jata hai.
• Inter-cropping:
• Do ya do se zyada crops ko definite row patterns mein ugna.
• Example: Maize + Urad dal, Soybean + Bajra.
• Advantage: Soil erosion kam hota hai, soil fertility maintain rehti hai, pest aur disease spread kam hota hai.
• Crop Rotation:
• Different crops ko pre-planned succession mein ugna.
• Example: Leguminous crop (dal) ke baad non-leguminous crop (anaaj).
• Advantage: Soil fertility maintain rehti hai (leguminous plants nitrogen fix karte hain), pest aur weed control hota hai.

Crops ko weeds, insect pests, aur diseases se bachana bahut zaroori hai, warna bahut saara crop loss ho sakta hai.

1. Weed Control:

• Weeds: Unwanted plants jo cultivated field mein ugte hain. Example: Xanthium (Gokhroo), Parthenium (Gajar Ghas), Cyperus rotundus (Motha).
• Nuksan: Weeds crop plants ke saath food, space, light aur nutrients ke liye compete karte hain, jisse crop ki growth kam ho jaati hai.
• Control Methods:
• Mechanical Removal: Hath se ukhadna, weeding, tilling.
• Chemical Control: Herbicides (weedicides) ka use, lekin ye environment ke liye harmful ho sakte hain.
• Biological Control: Specific insects ya other organisms ka use jo weeds ko destroy karte hain.
• Preventive Methods: Proper seed bed preparation, timely sowing of crops, inter-cropping, crop rotation.

2. Insect Pest Control:

• Pests: Insects jo crops ko nuksan pahunchate hain.
• Types of Damage:
• Root, stem aur leaves cut karna.
• Cell sap suck karna.
• Borers: Fruits, seeds aur stems mein bore karna.
• Control Methods:
• Insecticides/Pesticides: Chemicals ka use, lekin inka bhi excessive use harmful hai.
• Resistant Varieties: Pest-resistant crop varieties develop karna.
• Biological Control: Natural predators ka use.
• Crop Rotation: Pests ka life cycle break hota hai.

3. Disease Control:

• Diseases: Bacteria, fungi, viruses jaise pathogens se hoti hain.
• Spread: Soil, water, air, seeds ke through.
• Control Methods:
• Resistant Varieties: Disease-resistant varieties ugna.
• Seed Treatment: Seeds ko fungicides se treat karna.
• Spraying Pesticides/Fungicides: Infected plants par spray karna.
• Crop Rotation: Pathogen build-up ko kam karta hai.

4. Storage of Grains: Harvest ke baad grains ko store karna bhi ek challenge hai, kyunki storage ke dauran bhi losses ho sakte hain.

• Losses ke Factors:
• Biotic Factors: Insects, rodents, fungi, mites, bacteria.
• Abiotic Factors: Moisture (humidity), temperature.
• Nuksan: Weight loss, poor germinability, discolouration, poor market value.
• Preventive Measures (Storage se pehle):
• Drying: Grains ko properly dry karna (sun drying ya mechanical drying).
• Cleaning: Grains se impurities hatana.
• Fumigation: Chemicals use karke pests ko kill karna.
• Storage Methods:
• Godowns: Proper ventilation aur pest control ke saath.
• Silos: Large structures for bulk storage.
• Gunny bags: Small scale storage ke liye.

Scientific management of animal livestock ko animal husbandry kehte hain. Isme feeding, breeding, aur disease control shamil hai.

Benefits:

• Food production (milk, eggs, meat, fish).
• Draught labour (kheti ke kaam, transport).
• Wool, hides, etc.
• Manure (gobar ki khaad).

1. Cattle Farming (Pashu Paalan)

• Purpose: Milk production (dairy animals) aur draught labour (farm work ke liye).
• Indian Cattle Species:
• _Bos indicus_ (cows)
• _Bos bubalis_ (buffaloes)
• Milk Production:
• Milch animals (dairy animals): Milk dene wali female animals.
• Lactation period (doodh dene ka time) badhana important hai.
• Indigenous breeds (Red Sindhi, Sahiwal) aur exotic breeds (Jersey, Brown Swiss) ko cross-breed karke improved varieties banayi jaati hain.
• Draught Animals: Farm work (tilling, irrigation, carting) ke liye use hote hain.
• Management Practices:
• Housing: Well-ventilated, clean shelter, rain, heat, cold se protection.
• Feeding: Balanced diet (roughage like fodder, concentrates like oil cakes, grains) aur sufficient water.
• Disease Control:
• Diseases: Parasites (external/internal), bacterial, viral diseases.
• Prevention: Regular cleaning, proper vaccination, healthy food, timely veterinary care.
• Symptoms: Loose motions, blood in urine, shivering, loss of appetite.

2. Poultry Farming (Murgi Paalan)

• Purpose: Egg production (layers) aur chicken meat production (broilers).
• Improved Breeds: Indigenous (Aseel) aur exotic (Leghorn) breeds ko cross-breed karke develop kiye jaate hain.
• Layers vs. Broilers:

| Feature | Layers ( अंडे देने वाली ) | Broilers ( मांस के लिए ) | | :-------------- | :----------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | | Purpose | Egg production | Meat production | | Diet | Vitamin-rich diet (A, K) | Protein-rich diet, Vitamin A & K | | Housing | Sufficient space, light, comfortable temp | Warm, hygienic conditions | | Growth | Slow growth, long laying period | Fast growth, short production period |

• Management Practices:
• Housing: Clean, dry, well-ventilated, proper temperature control.
• Feeding: Balanced diet (protein, fat, vitamins, minerals) according to purpose (layers/broilers).
• Disease Control: Regular cleaning, sanitation, spraying disinfectants, vaccination, isolation of sick birds.

3. Fish Production

• Fish: Cheap source of animal protein.
• Types: Finned true fish aur shellfish (prawns, molluscs).
• Methods of Obtaining Fish:
• Capture Fishing: Natural resources se fish pakadna (rivers, seas).
• Culture Fishery (Aquaculture): Fish farming.

A. Marine Fisheries (Samudri Machhli Paalan):

• India ki 7500 km coastline aur deep seas se fish pakadna.
• Popular Marine Fish: Pomfret, Mackerel, Tuna, Sardines, Bombay Duck.
• High-value Marine Fish: Mullets, Bhetki, Pearl spots (culture bhi kiya jaata hai).
• Methods: Fishing nets, mechanised fishing boats. Echo-sounders aur satellites ka use fish schools ko locate karne ke liye.
• Mariculture: Marine fish ka culture karna (e.g., prawns, mussels, oysters for pearls).

B. Inland Fisheries (Antardeshiya Machhli Paalan):

• Freshwater resources (canals, ponds, reservoirs, rivers) aur brackish water resources (estuaries, lagoons) se fish pakadna ya culture karna.
• Brackish water: Jahan seawater aur freshwater mix hote hain.
• Composite Fish Culture System:
• Ek hi pond mein 5-6 different fish species ko ek saath culture karna.
• Fish species select ki jaati hain jo alag-alag food zones use karein, takki food competition kam ho.
• Example: Catla (surface feeders), Rohu (column feeders), Mrigal & Common Carp (bottom feeders), Grass Carp (weeds khate hain).
• Advantage: Pond mein available food resources ka complete utilization hota hai, jisse fish yield badhta hai.
• Problem: Good quality seeds ki availability nahi hoti, isliye hormonal stimulation se breeding karayi jaati hai.

4. Bee-keeping (Madhumakkhi Paalan)

• Purpose: Honey aur beeswax production.
• Low investment business, farmers ke liye additional income source.
• Honey: Nutritional value, medicinal uses.
• Beeswax: Medicinal preparations, polishes, cosmetics mein use hota hai.
• Common Indian Bee: _Apis cerana indica_.
• Italian Bee (_Apis mellifera_): Preferred for commercial production kyunki:
• High honey collection capacity.
• Sting less (kam dasti hai).
• Breeds well.
• Factors for Quality Honey:
• Pasturage: Flowers ki availability jahan se bees nectar aur pollen collect karti hain. Quality aur quantity of honey pasturage par depend karti hai.
• Bee variety: Italian bee jaisi high-yielding varieties.
• Apiary: Jahan bees ko rakha jata hai (bee farm).