Virtualization is arguably one of the most abused words in the tech industry in 2006. Virtualization is different things to different vendors depending on what is appended to it.

Server and operating system (OS) vendors like IBM, HP and VMware define it as the masking of server resources, including processor and OS, into multiple, isolated virtual environments. Why do you want to do this? Gartner claims that we use only, on average, less than 10 percent of a physical server’s computing resources. So why would you buy another server if you are under utilizing an existing one?

Then there is storage virtualization with vendors like EMC, IBM and HP battling out the top three spots worldwide. Storage virtualization is pooling all of your storage needs across the enterprise into one single logical entity. The idea is to dynamically allocate storage resources to applications according to each need. The physical storage can be disks, tapes or optical devices. The application only knows it has storage space allotted to it. Nothing else matters.

Applications are written to use resources available from the OS. When we install an application, it often tweaks the OS to suit its needs. There are instances when conflicts arise as different applications vie for the same OS resources. Microsoft, XenSource (recently purchased by Citrix) and Altiris (a Symantec subsidiary) skirt around this by developing technology which effectively isolate the application from the OS. They call this application virtualization.

Brocade and Cisco dominate the technology we know as network virtualization which takes the same principles as storage virtualization but involves the management and pooling of all resources connected to the network including storage, servers and services.

If you are confused, you are not alone. But don’t blame it on technology. IT merely mirrors the complexity with which businesses operate today. But that does not give vendors a blanket excuse to create solutions that only techies can understand. If any, vendors must deliver solutions that are easy to install, operate, manage and maintain. The underlying complexity should be masked and only accessible as and when it is absolutely critical.

So how did we get to the point where we are today?

Too many servers, too many users demanding to access data across platforms of all shapes and sizes, and too much data sitting at different locations creating the potential for data lost or security breach, as well as a swelling headache for IT as the custodian of a company’s information.

“Users need instant access to real-time data. They want to be able to securely share that information with partners, customers and outsourcers. They also want their applications kept up-to-date without impacting their productivity,” says Dennis Rose, vice president, Citrix Systems Asia Pacific.

Meanwhile, the IT organization isn’t growing as fast as the business although its responsibilities to the user, to management, and to the company are growing exponentially.

Consolidation initiatives became apparent as companies tried to rein in the uncontrolled proliferation of IT infrastructure that comes as businesses open offices and operations in new markets.

“One way of managing these growing resources is to pool them together via virtualization and manage the pool instead of the individual entities. This strategy has the knock-on benefit of requiring less resources to properly manage the infrastructure,” says Rene Aerdts, EDS Fellow.

Virtualization payback question

Virtualization is not free (no vendor in his right mind will give you something without strings attached). It does entail financial investment to bring in virtualization technology, including hardware, software and the services needed to bring it all today.

“There are immediate cost saving items that can be realized with server consolidation and virtualization,” says Johann Muller, Senior Director for Global Systems Practice at Sun Microsystems. “These include reduction in power, cooling, software licensing and system maintenance costs. There are longer term benefits such as reductions in system administration cost, faster time to market and ease of management that are harder to quantify.”

The larger the scale of virtualization, the more compounded these savings are. “We see in many cases, customers that have performed consolidation and virtualization experience savings in the vicinity of 20- 50 percent of their normalized IT spend. These savings span over a three to five year period and often amount to tens of millions of dollars,” adds Muller.

Rose notes that application virtualization also plays a central role in providing many of the operational benefits that help ensure the longevity of a company’s IT investments.

“More importantly, virtualization allows IT departments to take the costs and resources that would be used to perform menial maintenance tasks to focus instead on adding real value to the business strategy of a company,” said Rose.

United Overseas Bank Malaysia now deliver compute-intensive applications over low bandwidth saving them more than 0,000 annually through eliminating the need to upgrade 400 PCs as well as bandwidth costs.

Virtualization show stoppers

Cost is still cost. If you want to consolidate and virtualize your infrastructure you will have to be willing to invest in time, money and the willingness to change the way you do things. The latter being the hardest to sell to users who are happy with the way things are.

According to Muller, “organizations are constantly seeking methods to create a consolidated infrastructure without sacrificing the manageability and security of applications. Variations in application tuning, patch level, operating system revision, and security requirements often prevent consolidation projects from moving forward.”

He also concedes that the lack of deep understanding of how applications behave and the inability to present a financial justification for virtualization are common stumbling blocks towards adoption.

“From our experience, inertia and lack of knowledge are the primary stumbling blocks toward the adoption of any technology, including virtualization. Legacy infrastructure and extended experience with the same technology may hold some companies back from looking for better ways to optimize their IT environment,” laments Rose.

Aerdts warns that architectural limitations make virtualization impossible to deploy in the high-end computing environments. “At the same time vendor support for applications may be a showstopper if vendors are not willing, or are unable, to provide full support for their product in a virtualized environment,” says Aerdts.

The way forward

We’ve been told about the good news and the bad news. What else do we need to know to make an informed decision?

Before you make the final decision to go virtualize your IT infrastructure, it would make sense to take a step back and assess what it is you want to achieve. Business leaders need to fully understand the pros and cons of the technology, how it impacts current business practice, and what it will mean to the operations moving forward.

“It is unlikely that one technology alone will meet your needs completely, so it is best to take a holistic view towards virtualization. Especially with the latter, it is important to note that not all applications are suited for virtualization. Thus mapping out specific goals and needs will help ensure that the organization gets the most out of deploying virtualization,” advices Muller.

He also warns that unwavering executive level support must be in place from the onset before execution. “Too many virtualization projects fail because the individual business owners of the servers will not support virtualization implementation,” he adds.

The next step will be to access the business areas that will be affected and give each area a weight based on financial and operational impact. This will help you prioritize deployment.

As with all things new, it is wise to implement in stages. “Many corporations start with the test and development environment to ‘get their feet wet’ and get used to a virtualized environment. Usually this step is followed by a small, non-mission critical, system (or environment or application) that is virtualized. And finally, full-scale production roll-out,” adds Aerdts.

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The important thing you have to keep remembering is that bonus gives you something different for your real money slots. From now on, start your day with new breath of your fun. You can firstly select some various online slot casinos which have huge number of various slot games with each offer different facility. How wonderful the slot game world! You–slot game!–are the best! And more, you–slot game!–will always be the best! Who the man or the woman who does not like or love you? It’s impressed like a special gift. In your room, you can continue what you’ve begun before. The online slots machines will use all of the previous playing and the basic knowledge. The both will be unified by the next progress according to the needs.

  After 20 years of marketing, the rice cooker has become China’s household penetration rate is one of the highest in the small household electrical appliances, every hundred urban households to keep more than 100. But the rice cooker has a rather convoluted development of the industry, first introduced in 1991, the industry standard for performance requirements for access to low causes the market to the phenomenon of mixed quality, the industry competitive environment is not optimistic. In 2006, China revised on the rice cooker industry standards, manufacturers also began to come to realize that enhance the technical content of the rice cooker is the heart of product development momentum.

    Upgrade to stimulate demand for product upgrades

    Rice cooker market, a major consumer of power from the newly formed families and product upgrading. Monitoring data showed retail sales in Yikang, rice cooker market from 2005 to date, sales have been falling for three consecutive years showed sales growth. 2007 1 ~ 2 months total volume of retail sales fell 4.8% year on year, while retail sales increased by 10.4% (see Figure 1). Brought the number of product updates, growth is not obvious, but the value is directly contributing to the creation of a rice cooker market, sales increased significantly.

    With the improvement of living standards of urban residents, the requirements of healthy and delicious food to promote normal rice cooker to high-tech product upgrades, add-a soup, cooking rice of different types, timing, preheating and other functions will be multi-functional rice cooker becoming increasingly popular with consumers. Rice cooker from the current product structure of the market dynamics point of view, rice cooker market decline year by year, dominated the retail share of the ordinary-type rice cookers in 2005, substantial growth in 2006 has stabilized, and computer-based electricity rice cooker is showing continuous growth (see Figure 2). Demand for upgrading is the driving force of technological innovation firms, while the technology upgrade has to make rice cookers feature-rich, user-friendly and intelligent. Thus, to some extent to stimulate technological innovation in the market promotion and growth of the rice cooker home appliance industry to the quality and direction.

    Average price of driving up the high-end market

    Rice cooker overall market prices, 2007, 1 to 2 months, the average price rose 17.4% compared with 2005, in addition to raw material price increases, the product structure adjustment and functional changes and upgrades also contributed to the rice cooker is an important selling prices reasons. The sub-standard products are also different degrees the average price rise (see Figure 3), while the price difference is mainly between rice cooker by function, materials and Liner decision.

    Is worth noting that the computer-based rice cooker market share increased year by year, the current average price of the product specification at 450 ~ 550 per hour, 2007 1 ~ 2 months of their average price rose again, reaching 511 yuan. At the same time, similar to high-end rice cookers, such as “Space” metal, “purple” Liner, etc. The emergence of high-tech products, but also led to a general upward trend in market prices, this market change and innovation in technology companies in close connected.

    Consumer demand feedback from the market point of view, 140 yuan more than the price of retail volume share of the segment showed a growth in varying degrees, and 140 yuan for all products priced below retail volume share of the trend has been declining (see Figure 4), 80 ~ 110 yuan in retail sales volume of products still occupy a dominant position.

    Brand competition on the right track, industry reshuffle to accelerate

    Compared to other industries, rice cooker brand concentration is relatively high, the ekon retail monitoring data show that rice cooker market, the top 10 brands of retail share of the total more than 70% in 2007, the latest data (as of 2007 in February), the top 10 brands had a total market share of more than 80% (see Figure 5).

    Specific to the inter-brand competition, the U.S. industry, established as a small appliance manufacturer, product line, complete in all grades into a relatively balanced market, accounting for a rice cooker market, the top spot, and market share increased year by year, 2007, a ~ 2 months share of total retail sales volume and retail sales were 39.5% and 41.1%.

    Ranked second in the market performed well in recent years, Supor, 2007, 1 February share of total retail sales volume and retail sales were 10.4% and 12.6%, although there is a certain gap between the beauty, but its market share for three consecutive years has maintained growth momentum. In recent years, Kelon, Gree, Glanz rice cookers and other enterprises have joined the market competition, domestic triangle, hemisphere, and other professional brands have had a great impact. Glanz in 2005 to enter the market, growing faster, in 2006 volume of retail sales accounted for 5.3%, while the triangle seems to be too yearn rice cooker market, loss of market share year after year, while the hemisphere’s market share lead to different degrees decline.

A wealth of information exists that explains the relationships between school subjects and careers. Across the nation, children, teens, teachers, and counselors use Career Interests Areas or Clusters to explore careers and to make school study plans. There are sixteen (16) Interests Areas or Clusters:

1. Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources

2. Architecture & Construction

3. Arts, A/V Technology & Communication

4. Business, Management & Administration

5. Education & Training

6. Finance

7. Government & Public Administration

8. Health Science

9. Hospitality & Tourism

10. Human Services

11. Information Technology

12. Law, Public Safety & Security

13. Manufacturing

14. Marketing, Sales & Service

15. Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

16. Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

States and federal agencies across the nation have created career cluster web sites and resources. We have reviewed three (3) of the best state or federal agency web sites.

Louisiana Integrated Skills Assessment (LISA)

One of the most unique comprehensive career cluster resources is the Louisiana Integrated Skills Assessment (LISA), an Internet program. LISA lets you explore career clusters, careers, abilities, training requirements, and more. Using the Lisa, you can do the following tasks:

Assessment: Explore career options using the Work Importance Locator.

I Enjoy: Find careers based upon the things that you enjoy.

Cluster: Find careers from Career Cluster Groups.

Search: Search for jobs based on knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Best Match: Use your current job to find knowledge, skills, and abilities to identify a new career.

Compare: Compare current job to potential new job.

Profile: Use this feature to create a profile from a selected career.

There are 3 steps in the LISA program. In Step 1, when you choose a career cluster, you will read the description of the cluster. When you select a career cluster in Step 2, you can select a career group. In each career group, you will see a lot of different careers. Finally, in Step 3, you see additional occupational information, such as:

Job descriptions

Educational and training requirements

Crosswalks, for example ONET, DOT, GOE, and other codes

Abilities

Knowledge

Skills

Tasks

Work Values

Labor Market Information

There is detailed information in each job profile:

Description

Crosswalk

Abilities

Knowledge

Skills

Tasks

Work Values

Occupational Characteristics Narrative

The Louisiana Integrated Skills Assessment (LISA) is an excellent tool for students to do career cluster exploration.

NCE Career Clusters and State Career Clusters Initiative Resources

The NCE Career Clusters has adapted information from the State Career Clusters Initiative to create a career education toolkit for teachers and counselors. In your NCE Career Clusters toolkit, you can find a Career Cluster Model, poster, resource booklets, At-a-Glance PDF Slices, and Plans of Study. Each resource is designed to facilitate the exploration of Career Clusters.

Career Cluster Resource Booklet

To prepare for a Career Clusters discussion, teachers and counselors use the State Career Clusters Initiative Career Cluster Resource Booklet. The brochures discuss the differences between career clusters and career pathways. The booklet outlines that career clusters are career groups from the same industry that have the same skills and educational requirements. Career pathways are specific careers that are within the each career cluster. The Resource Booklet discusses the following topics:

Historical background information

Cluster Knowledge and Skills

Pathway Knowledge and Skills

O*NET Crosswalk Report

Validation Studies

Assessment Protocol

Certification Protocol

The booklet is a “must-read” resource that provides in depth information on each career cluster. Each booklet has detailed graphs, charts, and tables.

Career Cluster Model

To provide an overview of Career Clusters, teachers and counselors use the Career Cluster Model. The Career Cluster Model simplifies sixteen (16) Career Clusters model. The center of the NCE Career Clusters model focuses on six (6) major groups. The career clusters are color-coded so that you can easily present six (6) major groups in classroom activities. The six (6) major groups are:

1. Environmental and Agricultural Systems

2. Business, Marketing, and Management

3. Communication and Information Systems

4. Industrial, Manufacturing, Engineering Systems

5. Health Sciences

6. Human Services and Resources

Here is summary of the relationship between the sixteen (16) Career Clusters and the 6 Super Clusters.

1. Environmental and Agricultural Systems

Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources (1)

2. Business, Marketing, and Management combines:

Business, Management & Administration (4)

Finance (6)

Hospitality & Tourism (9)

Marketing, Sales & Service (14)

3. Communication and Information Systems involve:

Arts, A/V Technology & Communication (3)

Information Technology (11)

4. Industrial, Manufacturing, Engineering Systems

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics (16)

Architecture & Construction (2)

Manufacturing (13)

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (15)

5. Health Sciences

Health Science (8)

6. Human Services and Resources

Education & Training (5)

Government & Public Administration (7)

Human Services (10)

Law, Public Safety & Security (12)

The sixteen (16) Career Clusters systematically fit within the six (6) major groups.

Career Cluster Brochure

Another excellent career cluster student aid is the Career Cluster Brochure. The brochure is filled with photographs that show people performing the different jobs. With this easy-to-read booklet, students get an overview of the different careers, career clusters, and career pathways. Students read about:

What is a career cluster?

What is a career pathway?

What school subjects are important for a career in the … career cluster?

What is the educational or training requirement for a career in the … career cluster?

What are the necessary credentials for a career in the … career cluster?

What is the employment outlook for a career in the … career cluster?

What are some sample occupations?

Career Cluster Slices

Besides the Career Cluster Model and the Brochure, a third student Career Cluster aid is the NCE Career Cluster Slices. The NCE Career Cluster Slice identifies specific career opportunities found within each Career Pathways. Each Cluster Slice is illustrated and designed to explore areas, such as:

Cluster Description

Pathway Description

Cluster Knowledge & Skills

Career Field

Preparation for a Career in …

Examples of Education and Training Postsecondary Programs of Study

Students discover that each pathways leads to post-secondary options including:

Apprenticeships

Certificates

Licenses

Associate’s Degree Programs

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Master’s Degree Programs

Doctoral Degree Programs

Professional Degree Programs

Career Clusters Plan of Study

At the beginning of the students’ middle school years, the students use assessments identify career cluster interest areas. With the Career Clusters model, brochure, Slices, and LISA resources, the students have explored the different careers and post-secondary training options. Students, teachers, counselors, and parents then use the Career Clusters Plan of Study to strategically plan the students’ high school course work. The Career Clusters Plan of Study provides examples of English, Math, Science, Social Studies, electives, and extra-curricular activities for the following grade levels:

7th – 8th grade

9th – 10th grade

11th – 12th grade

Examples of advanced coursework for postsecondary credit

The NCE Career Clusters web page is the gateway to the student career cluster resources.

State Career Clusters Initiative, NCE, and Lisa materials are just examples of career cluster resources. Career clusters resources have established a connection between school subjects and careers.

Resources:

Explore Career Clusters, Texas Workforce Commission/Career Development Resources (TWC/CDR), US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, and Louisiana Department of Labor

Nebraska Career Education, States’ Career Clusters Initiative, 2005, and NCTEF/NASDCTEc (National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium) States’ Career Clusters Initiative, & National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium

State Career Clusters Initiative Washington, DC: National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium, 2002

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a type of storage system that can be attached to a data network. A NAS is useful for storage related to non mission-critical data. It is cheaper and easier to maintain than a Storage Area Network (SAN) but does not quite deliver the performance an enterprise can obtain from a SAN.

File transfer protocols supported by NAS include Network File System, Common Internet File System, File Transfer Protocol, etc. NAS servers offer flexibility in terms of attachment to the network; this can be done either via the Ethernet or a fiber channel network. These days you can also get wireless 802.11 NAS devices. The beauty of NAS devices lies in their simplicity, they can be built using any disk technology though they are usually developed using Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI). NAS devices can also be used for other storage methods such as magnetic tape, CD, and DVD.

NAS offers the following advantages –

1. Faster access to stored data via the LAN.

2. Low costs since the RAID arrays are a part of the LAN.

3. Easy to install, can be up and running in less than thirty minutes.

These properties of NAS storage plus its low cost of ownership make it ideal for SMBs. A dual advantage of NAS is that it allows administrators to either increase or consolidate the storage infrastructure. Storage expansion is virtually unlimited as one is freed from the limitation of storage capacities of individual servers and the number of disks they can hold. At the same time, one NAS set-up is good enough to replace several file servers that are operating individually, this leads to consolidation. NAS can be run on commonly available operating systems such as Windows. NAS status can be checked from anywhere on the LAN, this gives storage administrators the ability to diagnose issues and change NAS configurations when required.

NAS system performance depends on the drive support, the number of drives in use and the overall capacity. SATA drives that offer excellent low-cost bulk storage are most preferred. SCSI drives are also available. Since the NAS makes use of the LAN for data transfer there is always a chance of a bottleneck developing somewhere along the LAN, usually it is the network interface that causes problems. If implementing a NAS, look for products that support Gigabit Ethernet for quick data transfer and multiple connections so that network load is distributed and interface redundancy is provided.

When purchasing a NAS solution always keep security in mind and look for vendors that offer native encryption with the system.

For more information visit Best Price Computers

A 5 minute overview of Storage Area Networks

The world of advertising is changing. Companies are finding it harder and harder to find those customers they require to make profit. Companies have experimented with TV, radio and written advertising. There is now a new technique, affiliate marketing. Even the larger, more reputable companies such as Blockbuster, Sky and Post Office are trying out this 21st century viral marketing. The theory behind this technique is that the company is getting a known number of potential customers for the amount they spend. A conventional advertising method such as television ads do not have a predetermined return on their investment whereas in affiliate marketing the company is only paying out if they get a new customer. Sites are taking advantage of affiliate marketing but instead of solely monetary rewards being sent out, there are rewards in the form of iPods, iPhones and consoles.

Here is an example of how they can give you a free iPod:

1. You register with the freebie site and complete a trial with Blockbuster.

2. Blockbuster pays the freebie site a bounty for you becoming a member with them. This commission normally ranges from £15-£50.

3. You then refer 5 friends to also complete a trial with Blockbuster.

4. Blockbuster pays the freebie site another 5 times.

5. Six offers have been completed in total. The total money collected by the freebie site is enough to cover the cost of an iPod. They buy the iPods at wholesale prices and keep the excess money as profit.

Referral marketing has been around for a while now. You may have noticed these free iPod offers all over the internet and simply dismissed them as scams. It may surprise you then when I say that these are in fact legitimate sites, some have even broken into the INC’s top 500 companies list. These sites have transformed 21st century advertising.

To get you free item, you simply have to register with an offer and then refer a few friends to do the same. There are a range of offers, from free 14 day trials with Blockbuster and Lovefilm, to internet and TV services from Sky. These schemes started off giving away free iPods as they were deemed the easiest to market but they now give away anything you can think of. If you can’t see an item you’re interested in then you could opt for a custom order or even a bank transfer. It is similar to some real life situations where, for example, a gym may give you a free session if you bring a friend along who pays. This referral setup up makes the site go viral. All advertising is word of mouth and so is extremely effective.

This scheme is for real and thousands of gifts, costing millions of pounds, have already been sent out. Some sites are better than others in respect to referral rates and customer support but they are all legitimate. This internet craze began in America but has since spread to other countries such as the United Kingdom. It has been covered by many legitimate sources such as the BBC, NBC and CNN. The companies advertising through the sites are highly reputable companies which increases the legitimacy of the site. Of course it does involve some effort to persuade friends to sign up but for students this is a great opportunity to get some of the latest gadgets for completely free.

When signing up to reward sites like these the Terms and Conditions should be read. The sites are following the Data Protection Act so your personal information is safe.

(VIDEO 2)
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Your knowledge about Casino Game has become a base. Now you are going on. You, at virtual casino, are trying to raise your implementation up. The desire to win really has not been enough. It should be added by sustainable implementation practically. It means you feel that you should do the activity repeatedly in any time you like. It means also that you feel to be a skilled player. It comes with bringing some requirements. You should realize them. It has become a unique matter. You should make a strong step. You are in the midst virtual option that serving you in full time and any time.

All will be more impressive prefect with special presence of corporate gifts. It is your real Corporate Gift & Executive Gifts. Simple gesture or handing over a product is carrying your logo and message connects with customers and contacts at many levels. The more, it is one of the most personal and effective forms of marketing activity. Go ahead to catch Ashtrays, Belt Buckles, Boxed Gift Sets, Branded Lolly Packs, Briefcases, Cameras, Car Accessories, or much more.

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KASHMIR CENTRIC FOOD SECURITY VISION

1, THE CROPPING SCENARIO

By prof DR GHULAM MOHYUDDIN WANI

This series of our articles shall be Jammu and Kashmir agricultural development  centric. It may have repetition in some or the other  of our articles in this and other websites.It  is designed for the Jammu and kashmir state but may have relevence for the whole world too,espacilly similar ecosystems.

INTRODUCTION

Higher productivity gains can be achieved through application of technology and production recommendations at farmer’s field. We have 65% small and marginal farmers whose awareness potential is low. The production system prevailing with these farmers is a mixed farming or composite farming. In contrast to USA and European agriculture our necessity is to increase “Crop opportunities” RATHER than COMODITY production gains.

MIXED FARMING MODULES ARE OUR NEED

      A mixed Agriculture University and Education set ups is our necessity. We are at present going astray to our need. Quick and fast measures are needed to unify our educational system, involving all agriculture and allied disciplines, industries, corporate sectors and farmers’ institutions.

GREEN REVOLUTION DAYS

It is worth mentioning that Indian Agricultural pride years of green revolution post 1968 saw reduction in food gain imports and subsequently white, blue and other revolutions sustained our population pressures and agriculture growth. Our agricultural growth rate needs to be equal if not more to population growth rate (PGR). Our AGR target ought to be double the PGR. This is important as consumption rates, purchasing power and employment /income prospects increase.

FOOD GRAIN SECURITY

 An estimated food grain of 210 million tons at present may need to be doubled in next 10 years. We have to achieve higher targets of productivity by vertical expansion as horizontal land expansion is not possible. our  target of 4 t/h of rice or wheat shall make Jammu and kashmir self sufficient ,a food security base shall need 5t/h.On an average we have 2-3 t/h rice and marginally less wheat production in the state. Combining vegetables ,fruits and other pulses we may be comparatively better off in the future. The per capita food grain consumption is marginally more than rest of the Indian state because of severe cold and more calorie  are needed.

EXPERIEMENTAL YIELDS

 Under our experimental stages and even under experimental trails of miniskirts our overall productivity in rice ranges between 5-6t/h, wheat 3-4 t/h, maize 3-5 t /h .The experimental peak yield of 8-10 t /h with some varieties was reported.The  other details have been reported Wani, 2007.and is available on this website too. The increase in yield  of paddy , from 1947 to 2009 have been amassing from 40-50 kegs a kanal (i/8th of an acre and measure of land in J& K )to round 350 to400 kgs a kanal.This achievement has been possible under assured irrigation systems with use of both biological, organic and chemical fertilizers. Organic experiments made under our supervision in an IVLP project showed higher production of 2 q per hectare with change of a wooden plough to an iron plough called as Shalimar plough.The use of manure both farm yard and green have reduced the chemical fertilizer use and increased productivity.Due to less than 1/10th of fertilizer use than recommended or that used in Punjab we are better off in JAMMU AND KASHMIR specially at terminal ends in the mountainous regions.We can directly swithch to the organic farming of all dry fruits and vegetables forth with,

COMMERCIAL CROPS

Commercial crops like mushroom,honey,flouriculture,dairy farming  poultry and sheep for meat production  have an tremendous potential for the development.The aquatic and forest vegetable along with naturally growm medicinal bushes and herbs have a trememdous market and economic viability.The bee keeping as polinizers and even around dal ,wular and other lakes have a tremendous potential of producing iodine rich honey which can fetch exorbant prices in the world market and can be used by the thyroid deficiency and gout patients.

DISEASE RESISTANT LOCAL GENOTYPE

A varieties of loca vegetables which grow of their own on the denuded forest and other bunds and nomams kand called nunar is rich in iron.Many other self growm weeds use as best and nutririve vegetables can be the best soil binders and providers of organic,rainfed vegetative cover to the denuded and eroded lands besides livestitritive cock fodder and human and poor nutritive support for the nomaids and the tribials.There are a number of the local genotype which grow of their own in our dry ,wet and marshy lands .A sequential DNA Mappling is needed to know their potential and nutritive value.There cultivation and propagation shall give a ready made organic .sustianable and low input base and food security.The mapping shall reveal their properties and one can plan and propagate them,One such model for the fine cashmere bearing goats was run by the author with fruitful results for the whole pashmina industry,This attempt referred saved our valuable gene pool,This gene pool was other wise being diluted with Russian and Mongolian bred DON goats.The cross breeding was stopped by the author and thus preserved the gene pool of our low yielder but fine diameter giats from cross breeding.Similar attempts to conserve and preserve the local vegetable,rice,ffruit and nut mfishmanimal gene pools are to be preserved and improved through biotechnological use.

Seed multiplication

 We have developed many disease resistant and high yielding varieties, in paddy at rice research centre at Khodwani.The seed multiplication is slow and needs a proper state-central, icar-skuast convergence, which has not been forthcoming for problems at apex level.A policy decision has to be made to utilize the available agricultural and allied graduate to raise private-public partnership mode seed banks.We need 10,000 quintals of paddy seed alone per annum.We utilized all the land available under our KVK system but were hardly able to produce a few hundred quintals of the paddy seed.The private –public association and partnership too resulted in marginal than a substantial increase.The only solution to provide the seed farming land is the flood channels available for two among three years,The SRI IS A PROPOSITION yet to be tried in the state.Alternatively let us use these flood channels and utilize the unemployed graduate to harness seed farming revolutions in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.The only risk of flood is once in five years which can be sustained by the profits or the insurance cover available for such ventures.A sectional judicious planning can even avert these risks too.

NATIONAL LEVEL PLANNING

. Likewise production of 100 million tonnes of wheat from 25 million hectares needs a productivity of 4t/hac.Jammu and Kashmir is 1/100 th of the country, Thus we need one million ton of wheat and rice each to feed our one crore population. Our population growth is slower than the rest of the states .purchasing power is better than the average farmer or the person in India. We our aim to double our per hectare productivity needs more technical manpower in extension, industry and at gross root level. The climate disasters, earthquakes, Titanic tsunami, floods; have affected our agricultural production in the past and additional requirements needs to be kept in mind while planning food security. We need to increase per capita consumption expenditures of Rs. 600 per month. We need to bridge the gaps between potential and actual yields at farmers’ level. The chemical farming hazards of poor soil fertility, low water availability, pollution and environmental concerns impede our agricultural development. Thus refined technology, participatory research and educational modules are needed. The new pressures of global marketing. World trade and tariff regulations have to be accommodated. This all will need incorporation of new themes like post-harvest management, value addition, packaging, communication, and credit and market information services in our course curricula. Thus a new multidimensional change in academic curriculum is envisaged.  

“We feel pride in calling ourselves as the 2nd largest Agricultural Research System (ARS) in the world. When we review our performance, we are nowhere in top ten of most cited agriculture publications in the world. The USA tops the world list with 3, 62, 79,842 cited publication/annum, with small country like Switzerland at No.10. The scientific output in agriculture is highest in USA with 27 lakh publication/year followed by Japan, Germany, U.K, France, Canada, Italy, Russia, China and Australia. Our contribution to Agriculture publication is 5.48% only with our share of  citation at 2.32%. This demands more focus on Quality Assurance. Our prime agenda should be quality, Accreditation, Desired Knowledge, Assessment, Skill and competence building and academic audit. Quality assurance means strengthening resources, information and maintenance of educational infrastructure. Thus we need to regulate grants and Centre-State relations rationally,” said a group of experts associated with the author of this report.

ICAR GRANT SYSTEM

We have Central Agricultural Universities and 200 general Universities, with 48 agricultural faculties. The total disciplines needing grants may be strengthened in 5 yrs by 1core grants to each discipline for quality assurance. We produce 10,000 under graduate, 5500 post graduates and 1600 Ph.D. in agriculture every years. They add to our unemployment pool. For making them self-employees in new ventures and for increased employment, they need competence building in global economics and trade policies. Biotechnology, Bio information, Bio fertilizers, Pesticides and Fungicides. New faculty development in all the Universities and colleges is to be executed in coming 5 years. Such as  Pest information and survey; management Analysis; decision support system and Geographic information system. A new trust is to be given to course curriculum integrating field practices in a partnership mode with farmer. A teacher-student-farmer-industry, interaction and co-operation is to be integrated, unified and fine-tuned to end results. This will demand inter and inter faculty harmony and synchronized course curricula at UG, PG and PhD level. This has to be fine-tuned to our field requirements and location orient Agricultural extension is evolving worldwide and there is much emphasis today on community-based mechanisms of dissemination in order to bring sustainable change. The factors that make farmer groups successful in disseminating INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGIES NEED DETAILED analysis. A mixed methodology, multiple-stage approach stands used to obtain data.

KASHMIR CENTRIC FOOD SECURITY VISION

SERIES 2
THE TECHNOLOGY BASED FARMING

BY PROF GHULAM MOHYUDDIN WANI
Moreover, we have to use more technology based cropping system to increase productivity per unit land. Horizontal expansion is not possible. Embargo on indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other farm-use-agents is another constraint to increase productivity of food grain. Unfortunately our food grain-production pace has declined. Growth rate of 1-2% has put pressures on our economy. Imports of food grains, an anomaly over past decade, needs problem-cause-analysis. The whole system of National Agricultural Research, extension and field functionaries have registered a fatigue. Similarly, the land degradation, mineral depletion and environmental pollution demands new mechanism to boost productivity.
SAMETI
“State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute  may help to make adjustments in our farming system so as to integrate agriculture, aquaculture, water conservation and livestock rearing with new technology driven profit earning enterprises. This needs a continued and farmer friendly policies of sustainable agriculture. Technology awareness and application is must to produce more unit of land. We do have a chance as our yields are lower than many countries and even our neighbouring states of India,” said a group of knowledgeable person of Kashmir valley.
ORGANIC FARMING
Organic farming is advocated as modern technology. We left our traditional organic farming for adopting chemical farming, which landed us in trouble. This rotation of modernity and traditionalist taxed us heavily. We perhaps jumped in adopting or testing technologies without comparing them with our own practices. Now reverting back to our own traditional ways is fraught with problems too. The questions often asked are, can we sustain or even maintain our productivity levels by restoring to the organic farming? The Blending of modern technology of today and traditional technology of yester years may answer this question. Can information and communication skills and technology bridge a new union?
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
The present day information and communication technology has trespassed all barriers of race, religion, culture and countries. A Comprehensive study of 23 review papers and a dozen book and journals were presented by the author in 2005. How communication and information can help production and sustain yields stands discussed in detail. Strong warning systems for climate risks, floods and cyclones, pests and mites could help to raise more crops. Farming informatics and awareness packages through print, mass and now E-mails is possible. The role of competitive farming, economic survey and evaluation of farming and women’s integration needs attention. Women, the half of agricultural work force, are still unaware of the technological skills. The barriers of customs, veil, religion and social bondages could be overcome by educating them through TV, cassettes, e-mails or other modern communication appliances.
TECHNOLOGY TRANFER
Technology transfer is easy. We can announce technology practices or even demonstrate them. The key issue is its adoption. India with 25% of its GDP from agriculture spends some 2% of the same on its subsidies rather than on transfer of technology. Blending subsides with agricultural exports will need a drastic cut under new WTO agreements. The global market access opportunity limit of 3% import shall further complicate the issues. The international standards of sanitation shall need more awareness at farmer’s door. Our Agricultural exports from  agricultural items has been up and now we export around 18.45% agricultural good in the shape of apiculture, floriculture, fresh fruits, mushroom, spices, sugar, molasses, rice, tropical fruit juices, pulp, concentrates and even agro-chemicals. Fruit, nuts and vegetables have increased our export earnings. Our limitations in expanding our exports are infrastructure to provide international bio-safe packaging, phyto sanitation & quarantine measures. Our yields too are low to complete with others. Thus, transfer to technology has not to be limited to man methods, publication, leaflets, folders, bulletins, newsletters, journals, magazine, newspaper publication, rural farm broadcasts or television interviews but has to be supplemented with video conferencing, massive awareness campaigns through video cassettes, cable net works and other local farm telecasts. The propaganda, publicity and persuasion has to be supplied with communication skills like rural journalism, popular participation, motivation and more so through management of information systems. The farm visits, farmers calls, letters have to be intensified. Farmers need information on markets, bio standards and marketing research and networking mechanisms.
Apple is an important principal crop of J&K State. The state produced 10414017 MT of apples from 100702 ha of orchard area during year 2005-2006. The state contributes 57% of national production of apples, while as Himachal Pradesh contributes 24% despite having received considerable governmental attention. The state produces early, mid and late season cultivation of apple. The commercial apple varieties are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Ambri, White Dotted Red, Royal delicious Kulu Delicious, Hazratbali, Benoni.
POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY
Post harvest handling of apple encapsulated many management decisions and processes that are involved in harvesting, handling, storage, packing and transport of apple fruit necessary to provide consumer with an acceptable and product. The characteristics of apple which determine its acceptance in market place are size, shape, colour, texture, flavour, juiciness, freedom from blemishes and bruises. A proper export oriented packaging, sanitary evaluation and eco-friendly shall improve its consumer acceptability under WTO regime.

As regards walnut, it may be stated that it is an important nut crop grown in the state of J&K. The state produces 86263 tonnes of walnut from an area of 61723 hectares with the productivity of 1.39 tonnes/ha and has monopoly in the export to many countries of the world. Walnut cultivation is common in Badarwah, Poonch, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Budgam, Srinagar, Anantnag and other hilly areas of J&K. Walnut are consumed as luxury snacks as well as commercially used for preparation of bakery products, chocolates, ice cream, ornaments, oils, confectionery and salad products. Shells are sued in glue and plastics and for making solutions for cleaning and polishing surfaces.

But there are constraints in walnut trade, which need to be addressed.

These include awareness of maturity indices, method of harvesting and non-scientific de-hulling. Besides there are post harvest bottlenecks such as improper storage, drying, grading practices at farm level. Lack of awareness about sanitary conditions to handle nuts and lack of integrated handling system to manage the nuts. Non-adoption of international standards of grades and lack of processing/storage facilities/orchard management.

Pertinent to mention that cherry is another important fruit crop of the valley, which is being marketed outside the state. In Kashmir cherry is the first fruit crop which comes to the market and fetches good prices. The quality of fruit is good in cool climate. Cherries after harvest is to be pre-cooled, stored packed and carried under refrigerated conditions to the terminal market. The fruit transport under refrigerated condition remains healthy for a longer period, compared to the fruits stored under ambient conditions. Storage, packaging, transport and preservation are needed at local level.
EXPORT OF FRUITS
For export of horticulture produce, we have to integrate production activities with post harvest management. Infrastructural facilities for Pre-cooling, packaging, grading, processing centers, refrigerated vans, cold storage, cargo handling facility at airport, laboratories for pesticide residue analysis, good road connectivity, market promotion through IT network, credit facility for exporters and awareness programmes are essential prerequisites for export of horticultural produce from the state.

“Major problems in Horticulture being poor quality planting materials & its inspection mechanization. Low disease diagnostic appliances and poor orchard management. Low capital-small farmer-holdings and poor technological applications. Besides poor post-harvest handling, industrial base and poor quality control measures and laboratories. Marketing network modernization and poor database and electronic use. Hence new options such as germplasm base, analysis, collection of materials across the state are needed. Besides standardization of rootstock for all important crops, development of horticultural cropping systems for all districts and certification and quality control laboratories need attention,” say people connected with horticulture trade.

Horticulture sector

As stated earlier, the major contributor to J&K’s Gross Domestic product is horticulture and horticultural global market share for India is around 15%. We dominate markets in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh. Our share is relatively less in countries like Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Israel, Kuwait, Pakistan, Oman and Brunei. But with enhancing trade in SAARC countries, we may have more opportunities of expansion in domestic Asian markets. Thus a trust towards horticultural export orientation is linked with peace and union among SAARC countries. We share cultural, religious and food habits, thus our products could be preferred over others. This needs proper post-harvest and market-led extension and outreach system. Given proper attention we may capture markets of Japan, Hong Kong, China and other countries too. For more aggressive development of horticulture in J&K state, there is need to lay stress on the development of marketing facilities, employment and income generation options and setting of export promotion zones.

In order to give boost to exports, thrust needs to be given to strawberry, mushroom and cumin seed, berries, wild fruits and indigenous vegetables. The local horticultural germplasm needs investigative and innovative projections. As local germplasm is well suited to our environment for it needs less water. The new market options for organic fruits produced in J&K need prioritization and certification under WTO regulation. International bio safety measures, grading and packaging of available fruits, initiates for development of new varieties of fruits like kiwi fruit, wild apricot, black cherry, broccoli and mushroom are the suggested ways for the development of this sector. The options for air transport, cargo from Leh, Srinagar and Jammu to centers of consumption like Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai need exploration. The agro-based industrial set-ups using low grade apple for juice, shampoo, bio fuels and use of available horticultural and floricultural wastes for marketable commodities as gift packs, scents, ornamentals, dehydrated flowers, perfumes and bio-fuel.

It is reported that Horticulture Planning and Marketing J&K has established Fruit and vegetable markets within the state. The department is in the process of strengthening three main operating markets of Nowpora (Sopore), Parimpora (Srinagar) and Narwal (Jammu). So far multipurpose grading, packing and auction sheds have been constructed at Nowpora Sopore. Further 17 satellite markets have been established within the state. Market information service has been introduced to collect and disseminate market intelligence through NET connectivity within and outside state. It is further reported that regular agricultural marketing news as Zariye Khabernama has been started in Kashmir Door Darshan.

Pertinent to mention that most of the fruit crops are rain-fed, need development of irrigation facility in the form of drip/sprinkler irrigation. Site specific nutrient management technique need to be adopted to improve and economize fertilizer use in fruit and vegetable crops.

Strategies need to be evolved for the development of cost effective, eco-friendly crop production and plant protection technologies free from all hazardous chemicals with minimal damage to soil, water, air, plants and animals. Besides diversification of fruit cultivation, cultivation of dry fruits in rain-fed areas is need of the hour. Use of local genotypes of wild fruits like nuts, berries etc shall help in a big way.

“There is need for the production of fruits, vegetables and flowers in off-season and creation of facilities for making off-season products thereof. Rejuvenation of sick and unproductive horticulture units such as orchards, fruit nurseries and processing units etc. Promotion and popularization of hybrid technology in vegetables and establishment of tissue culture laboratories and green houses for mass multiplication of disease free planting material, tubers/corms and seeds. Degraded soils of the fruit crops where crops are growing for decades due to soil erosion or in soil chemical change, need to be given attention to ameliorate it. Above all establishment of modernized fruits and vegetables processing/preservation units.  Infrastructure facilities are needed for post harvest management of horticulture industry in J&K State,” suggest experts.

Lack of technical knowledge, lack of soil-tested seeds, high cost of fertilizers retard development of Agriculture/ Horticulture

Hence people urge Govt., to launch Farmers’ awareness programme, provide them subsidized fertilizers and irrigation-facilities to boost production in J&K

KASHMIR CENTRIC FOOD SECURITY VISION

3. GLOBAL VILLAGE AGRICULTURE

The world has shrunk into a global village and as such technological developments taking place in any advanced country become known instantly, which help other countries like ours to adopt and follow their techniques to remain updated. One of such countries is Israel, which is characterized by topographical variations and a wide range of soils, enabling the growing and raising of a variety of crops and animals. A large increase in population immediately after 1948 required a rapid increase in food production, followed by development of research and extension facilities and services. In recent years Israel, like many other countries, has faced difficulties in continuing the supply of services it previously provided. This difficulty led agricultural organizations to begin assuming the responsibility of partially financing extension for a few years, and later trying to reflect the cost into the farmers. Farmers are apparently willing to pay for on-farm extension visits. Under this system, the Flower Board is financing many public extension activities and charging the farmer for partial costs of on-farm visits. This system operates successfully, aided by reports that are filed electronically by agents all over Israel to the Floricultural Department Head Office, and from the Head Office to the Flower Board. Advantages of the new system being a tremendous increase in agent-to-farmer commitment; the professional level of agents remains at least the same as before; and the financial situation of the majority of agents is better than before. The disadvantage is that some farmers are consuming less extension than before.

Similarly, California’s land grant extension programme has been successful in assisting agricultural Industries develop as major world producers. Extension has been a leader in facilitating quality-of-state. However, population explosion has transformed California into an urban state, with changing societal issues, values and priorities. Agricultural extension programmes continue to directly serve a declining number of clientele that represent less than 1.5% of the population. Financial support for extension is decreasing at the country and state levels, thus such models used by us in SAU could be catastrophic and need change.

As far as Horticulture sector is concerned, Iran has marched ahead in this field and is one of the world’s top ten horticultural producers. However, post-harvest losses in Iran are six times greater than the world average. Even after establishing an agricultural extension service, Iran still experiences great problems in reducing post-harvest losses. Results revealed that education, material possession, mass media exposure, extension contact, scientific orientation and risk preference were significantly and positively correlated with the knowledge level of farmers pre- and post training. Its model can be adopted after attempting to contain post-harvest losses so that horticultural potential could be exploited and harnessed to improve our economy in J&K State.

“We must remember that agricultural development programmes often produce unexpected results as we have come to know from the history sheet of several countries of the world. This can be attributed to the fact that the target farmers already have their own knowledge and competencies that determine their practices. In order to improve their knowledge, it would be appropriate to adopt models of those countries, which have earned laurels in different sectors of Agriculture. Ours being an agricultural-based economy, so this sector needs to be given due thrust, especially after having failed to revolutionize Industrial sector in Kashmir valley,” suggested a group of keen Watchers of Kashmir valley.

From the study of advanced countries of the world, it has emanated that the attitudes of the farmers have been significantly and positively related to education, organizational membership, land holdings, contact with extension agent, mass media exposure, socio-economic status, awareness, income and material possession. Lack of proper technical knowledge, lack of irrigation facility and high cost of fertilizers/chemical can be the retarding factors to reduce the level of production of agricultural products. Hence, we must lay emphasis on the adoption of models of agriculturally advanced countries of the world so that hackneyed methods are discarded and agricultural base revolutionized to become responsive to our present and future needs in J&K.

 Experts suggest replacement of top down planning with grass root planning, improved seeds and extensive participation of farmers

With launching ‘Grow More Food’ slogan, we witnessed green revolution, freedom from hunger, but harmed environment. We have to look for alternate options for the execution of research and develop database for patent formulations. We need replacement of top down planning with grass root planning. And more farmer’s participation reduced risks. Research in past, cantered on improved seeds, irrigation, and chemical use.

Extension education, dissemination of information to farmer has to be the first concern of the public and private establishments and planners. Bird’s eye viewers have to be replaced with visionary professors and professionals.
Farmer farming and farm business shall be the first ranking scientific. Pursuit investing at least an equivalent amount on it has to be spent on health or nuclear establishments. Our polity should be Independent and self-conscious farmers, with records of annual balances, gains and losses, risks and benefits.

We shall have to bring self-reliant proud farmer trained & well versed in Agri-business. Farming concepts and international zoo-phytosanitation recommendations and regulations. We need to stop WTO restrictions or options till our farming and farmers are not completely knowledge driven and economically resourceful to face the global farming competitions.

Four paradigms of Agricultural Extension consists of Technology transfer, prevalent since colonial times & later National Agriculture Extension Project (NAEP), reshaped in 1970-80 as training and visit system across Asia. It involved top down approach. Its role needs discussion. The second paradigm called as Advisory work is what is present system of extension, where, government agencies, NGO and technical industries respond to farmer’s inquiries which we call advisory role. The third paradigm consists of Human Resource Development. This innovation helped Europe and North America. The Universities gave training to rural youth. It is these educated, trained youth, which became future farmers in developed countries. What is known as outreach system of colleges and universities is still unknown in our Agricultural Research System including State Agriculture Universities. A half hearted attempt as Agri-business and Agri-clinical is still to be backed with University, research, banking and economic support. Is it, which can help us to increase productivity in India or Asia needs consideration?

We must remember that the impact of National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) (1986-92) revealed that technologies generated were few and adoption rate not high, even then an estimated monetary benefit of Rs. 2000/ per hectare was observed. Low relationship between technologies developed and adopted  a mixed farming technology capsule as 65% of our farmer’s of our farmer’s are small and marginal farmers. This needs a total shift to left in our agricultural extension methodology. T&V Programme initiated with central assistance in state have around all round technological awareness among agricultural experts. Its dialogue and technology transfer from University (Scientists) to experts’ agricultural extension workers was nearly total revolution. The (ZAREC) Zonal Agricultural advisory Research and Extension counselling was the best plate farm to discuss main issues impeding agricultural development. The missionary publication of production recommendations helps a lot in transfer to technology. The presentation of production recommendations in local language is helpful in increasing productivity in many countries.

“Brinjal production technology adoption in Parbani, Maharashtra was the result of social participation, risk management guarantee, marketing orientation, information websites and communication methods. Various limitation of transport, extension staff was the reasons of poor productivity gains in Malakhand agency of Pakistan. The adoption of legume production technologies under Jodhpur arid conditions was low. The problems as indicated by farmers are small farm size. Small holder farmer was less interested to adopt these technologies. Non-existence of market and pricing policy, risk of failure, feeding habits, social taboo and lack of Post Harvest Technology (PHT) were identified. Proper guidance or information support was the major constraint to 60.8% non-adoption rate among farmers. Other contributory factors are technological unawareness (13.33%), sloppy land (11.31%), farm input cost (9.41%), non-availability of irrigation (8.29%) and lack of inputs (7.95%), said a few experts. ………………………………………………………………………………………(To be continued).

Agriculture becoming less remunerative

The  adoption of improved varieties and biotechnological use to make Agriculture more attractive has to be on our top agenda.

  We in developing countries in future will have Industrial expansion to have more economic security. This will mean fewer people being attracted to agriculture or in other words agriculture becoming less remunerative. We need improved varieties, their rapid propagation through biotechnological use. We may have little options not to use modern bio techniques.

This is where we talk now of molecular farming, using biotechnology for more transgenic crops, animals, aquaculture and commercial floriculture.
Besides methodologies for analysis of farming system, options for development & sustainable eco-friendly farm science technology are need of the hour. We do have subject-matter-specialists, but the agents for evaluating the composite effect of various discipline oriented technology cover is yet to be structured. This is exactly where we should intervene and restructures the discipline, programmes and divisions of extension education in the country. In fact a total change from existing slow action, low innovative, conventional and disintegrated extension system has to be refined into analytic, manage mental, social, economical, marketable system, so that the whole technology transfer could be evaluated in terms of productivity and combinations need to be evaluated & monitored. The impact analysis of wide range of agricultural technology transfer be it training, entrepreneurship or agric business is needed, both before and after technology application.

A survey conducted among 120 farmers in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India, revealed that education, social participation, scientific orientation, risk management, mass media exposure, economic and market orientation were positively and significantly correlated to the extent of adoption recommended hybrid jowar (sorghum) seed practices by the farmers. Majority of the farmers (43.33%) had a medium level of the adoption of the recommended practices. (Kumar et al, 2005). It is suggested that five categories of factors determine the adoption of irrigation systems and are the keys to designing relevant, effective and innovative irrigation extension programmes among horticulturists. The five categories of factories being soil type and topography; crop quality; sowing time; saving water and crop yield (Kaine & Beswell, 2005). We in J&K under SREP Strategic Research extension plan of Districts notice lack of information on sowing time, seed rate and fertilizer application in almost all the crops.

“The available research results have to pierce the farmers farming practices. Non-adoption is the result of our low productivity levels per unit of land. Inspire of tremendous yield gains, the per unit profitability has not raised the economic conditions of our farmers. Our farm economy still fluctuates between seasons’ rainy years among regions. Now for any widespread rains farm technology, it is essential to know its impact and adaptability rate. It is therefore necessary to develop new technologies after considering socio-organizational arrangements, local existing soil, water, human needs and resources. The local skills need to be known and refinement is made to improve profitability. Our experience under IVLP showed a net productivity gains of 2 /hac in rice production by improving local village driven plough. Similar innovative ideas and local technologies with improved or exotic ones gave good results in development of profitable farming,” remarked some knowledgeable persons of Kashmir valley.

Hence conscientious citizens suggest that improved varieties and adoption of latest technologies need to be adopted to revolutionize agricultural production to woo farmers, who can get attracted by industrial expansion to earn quick bucks. It is not the question of monetary considerations, but the level of agricultural production to ensure food security .

Low agricultural production is attributed to untested fertilizers, economic constraints and lack of advanced technology

Hence application of Precision Agriculture needs to be clubbed with information and communication networking to boost productivity in J&K

In Kenya, use of advanced information and communication technologies reduced gaps in yields of agricultural crops between research and farmer’s fields. It is the country where 70% population is connected with agriculture for livelihood directly or indirectly and 80% of its export is agricultural oriented. Reduction in yield gaps through effective use of information and communication technology will have a significant impact.

This stands proved by the low productivity in Soybean, which was found to be due to partial adoption of production recommendations by farmers in Maharashtra. The low yield factors were analyzed. Economic constraints, situational factors and communication gaps on crop production, protection, seed treatment and fertilizer application were found responsible for it. The modernization of agricultural production and rural development on a pilot basis could have worked well.

It has been observed that Precision Agriculture till date has focused on site-specific data collection for soil and crop management. The technologies for the site-specific field operations and automated data recording are available, but precision agriculture rarely involves them for improvement. The application of precision agriculture has to be clubbed with information and communication networking to harvest the gains and to improve productivity. This network may consist of an open software platform, which can be operated by the farmer himself. For efficient communication Internet and mobile telecommunication have been identified as important components. The development of an information and communication network integrating modern software and hardware technologies in a new user-friendly manner is necessary to achieve better acceptance of technologies and improved productivity.

It is worth mentioning that the Australian centre for remote sensing (ACRES) has introduced a new service to provide satellite data for near real time applications. The STAR (Speedy Transmission after reception) service provides access to digital satellite data products in full resolution or compressed format within 12 hrs of a Satellite overpass. The data obtained from ground stations is processed at a facility via a high-speed communication link and high priority procession. This system provides Satellite data on critical applications, like crop yield modelling, pre-harvest crop production forecasting, detecting crop diseases, monitoring crop stress, pest infestation, floods, fires and oil-spills. SPOT –late is a low cost, off the shelf satellite data product from ACRES that is ideal for use in Geographical information system (GIS). SPOT-LIFE can be accessed at any time via the Internet and is available in the form of tiles covering most of Australia.  Advance studies with high applications for increasing agricultural production needs quick dissemination. The effect of rooting zone restriction (RZR) on vegetative and reproduction growth of fruit trees via grapes, peach and citrus has been investigated. It is known that it improved crop productivity under low availability of water.

“The available communication facilities for agricultural information in 15 states of India were studied. The results suggest that while communication networking opens up agricultural economy, it is not cost effective. The communication networking has to become cost effective. An attempt to have better communication between various forest research divisions and other organizations interested in sustainable forestry has shown encouraging results. An attempt was made to have quick information flow among and between researchers, extension officers and dairy farmers in East Azerbaijan. The information input, output and intersystem communication were studied.  The information likes advertising, public relation and personal selling was found to be best promoters,” said a group of knowledgeable persons of Kashmir valley.

In the “Unique Selling” approach of the communicator effects target audience, the impact of integrated approach utilizing computers in agricultural information & dissemination in Greece and Poland was studied.  The gap in technology known and applied at farmers’ field was found. Researchers lack training in using new information technologies. Thus improvement in agricultural productivity has to keep pace with advanced communication and information technology using computers. Hence application of Precision Agriculture needs to be clubbed with information and communication networking to boost productivity in J&K

China, Denmark and other countries have made remarkable progress in the field  of Agriculture, Animal husbandry

Hence Experts suggest copying their models to gain experience and improve our socio-economic conditions in J&K

In order to improve our socio-economic conditions, we must undertake study of other countries of the world to see how they have marched ahead.  Chinese experience needs a try as their successful improvement of Sheep and yak herds can be a good example for use in India. Under this project, they first took stock of rangeland and livestock resources. Then socio-economic conditions of the livestock breeders were analyzed. Livestock and pasture management by rodents was studied. Rangeland revelation methods were tested and propagated. Seeded fodders and effect of these improved methods of pasture development on disease control and profits from livestock were analyzed.  Thus, the extension education programmes should ensure facilitation of Farmer empowerment and not dependence on subsidy. This means incorporating studies and programmes of Agri-livestock economics, grassland and rangeland management, crop and tree production in Agri-extension curricula.

Similarly, a new participating approach of clubbing local and outside knowledge to solve the agricultural problem is needed. Innovate approaches for soil and water conservation in Ethiopia and Tanzania was helpful. A new model of particularly modified Technology development approach is first being recognized, as the only way of clubbing traditional and modern technologies for agric-development.

The Dutch Model for total reformation of agricultural technology transfer shall need refinement of elementary methodologies used in extension consisting of PRA, PERT or other specific management, communication and modern IS-Geographic Information System use. This would involve a total change in Extension Education, objectives, methodology & course curriculum. We need agricultural networking for bringing out results of transferable technologies. Experimental learning and knowledge sharing has to be incorporated, as research on farmers field. Farmers have to be part of our learning, and experimentation process. Dutch model could be used. In India to ensure quick technology use. Let us evaluate technology use. It been seen that some progressive farmers have awareness of technology but being absentee farmers, their workers have no knowledge or skills to use them in the field. It is time to come out of “Technology dissemination Scenario” to “Technology Use Status in the field” and “Productivity gain assessment models”.

“Besides experience learning, market designs, farm economics, sustainable agriculture, Agri-information, communication skills and farm business shall be the knowledge bank available to Agri-Extension & communication experts, whom we should name “FBM” – “Farm Business management Experts”, suggest a group of experts of Kashmir valley.

The Extension Education is outdated and too often used and misunderstood phrase. Extension includes now every attempt to communicate with farmers. Today’s Extension agencies can be university scientists, Subject matter specialists, Agri experts, farmers or even partially Agri known NGO or their agents. Thus, the whole blame of others has to be shared by University experts. Agri-University, applied knowledge has to be communicated to farmers as “end product” as pharmaceutical companies do. Thus all the current ‘building block”, known knowledge has to be computerized and stored. This has to be reshaped and re-arranged as knowledge packs for innovative and whole farming capsules rather than one commodity knowledge sharing as in the West. We do have commodity but not composite agriculture packages. A booklet on its composite effects has been published as Broad Based Extension Education. Training & visits on farm level failed but farmer-training & farmer-research participation or demonstrations at farmers’ field did achieve a great success. With constraints of men and resources and crop insurance in vogue, we must induce researchers to have direct participatory research at farmer’s doors, on their fields. This venture can be on cost-sharing basis or with participatory involvement of Industry.
Our farm economy still depends on seasonal rains, lacks assured irrigation facilities and lacks technological back up

New strategies and our missions

Hence people demand development of Canal-networks and  adoption of Chinese Model to improve food production in J&K

Methodologies for analysis of farming system, options for development & sustainable eco-friendly farm science technology are needs of the hour. We do have subject-matter-specialists, but the agents for evaluating the composite effect of various discipline oriented technology covers is yet to be structured. This is exactly where we should intervene and restructures the discipline, programmes and divisions of extension education in the country. In fact a total change from existing slow action, low innovative, conventional and disintegrated extension system has to be refined into analytic, management, social, economical, marketable system, so that the whole technology transfer could be evaluated in terms of productivity and combinations need to be evaluated & monitored. The impact analysis of wide range of agricultural technology transfer be it training, entrepreneurship or agri-business is needed, both before and after technology application.

  The available research results have to pierce the farmers farming practices. Non-adoption is the result of our low productivity levels per unit of land. Inspire of tremendous yield gains per unit profitability has not raised the economic conditions of our farmers. Our farm economy still fluctuates between seasons, rainy years and among regions. Now for any widespread rains from technology, it is essential to know its impact and adaptability rate. It is therefore necessary to develop new technologies after considering socio-organizational arrangements, local existing soil, water, human needs and resources. The local skills need to be known and refinement made to improve profitability.

“Chinese experiences need a try under our socio-economic conditions. Besides successful improvement of Sheep and yak herds in China can be a good example for use in our country in general and J&K in particular. Under this project they first took stock of range-land and livestock resources. Then socio-economic conditions of the livestock breeders were analysed. Livestock and pasture management by rodents was studied. Rangeland revelation methods were tested and propagated. Seeded fodders and effect of these improved methods of pasture development on disease control and profits from livestock were analysed.  Thus extension education programmes should ensure facilitation of Farmer empowerment and not dependence on subsidy. This means incorporating studies and programmes of Agri-livestock economics, grassland and range land management, crop and tree production in Agri-extension curricula,” suggested a few prominent experts of Kashmir valley.

A new participating approach of clubbing local and outside knowledge to solve the agricultural problem is needed. Innovate approaches for soil and water conservation in Ethiopia and Tanzania were helpful. A new model of particularly modified Technology development approach is first being recognized, as the only way of clubbing traditional and modern technologies for agric-development. The total reformation of agricultural technology transfer shall need refinement of elementary methodologies used in extension consisting of PRA, PERT or other specific management, communication and modern IS-Geographic Information System use. This would involve a total change in Extension Education, objectives, methodology & course curriculum. We need agricultural networking for bringing out results of transferable technologies. Experimental learning and knowledge sharing has to be incorporated, as research on farmers field. Farmers have to be part of our learning, and experimentation process. Dutch model could be used in India to ensure quick technology use. Let us evaluate technology use. It been seen that some progressive farmers have awareness of technology but being absentee farmers, their workers have no knowledge or skills to use them in the field.

Small farmers are neglected by extension services and need proper awareness. Agricultural extension specialists must specialize in community structure, development, education learning tools, technology and policy issues. Thus these disciplines or topics need incorporation in Farm business Management curriculum. Partnership process, management and communication should be the main thrust. Co-operative mechanism, farm business management and evaluation and monitoring tools should be used.

But for revolutionizing our farm economy, people demand development of Canal-networks and adoption of latest Models to improve food production in J&K.Our irrigation system has not come up to our requirements despite pumping huge sums of money in this Sector. Therefore, there is urgent need to develop scientific irrigation system to reduce dependence on rains and share experiences of other advanced countries, particularly that of China to boost food production in J&K State.