Agroforestry has been practicedtraditionally in India in the form of subsistence farming, but is being increasingly recognized from the economic point of view, in addition to its positive contribution to the wood-based industrial sector, which has recent origin. Low forest cover, poor productivity and legal restrictions coupled with an increasing demand for wood and wood products due to increasing population, industries and associated policy changes have ushered in a total mismatch between demand and supply. This has attracted increasing attention towards agroforestry. The National Forest Policy of India 1988 has directed all wood-based industries to generate their own raw material resources by linking farmers and extending technology and market support. However, these directives were not taken seriously, and consequently, the achievements that should have taken place in industrial agroforestry and plantation establishment are dismally modest for want of suitable institutional mechanism to resolve the research gaps that exist in the entire Production to Consumption System (PCS). Against this backdrop, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has pioneered research by creating a value chain in industrial agroforestry which was initially demonstrated in 200 ha of farmlands through technological, organizational and marketing interventions. Incorporationof high yielding short rotation (HYSR) clones, precision silviculture technology, adoption of multifunctional agroforestry and value addition technology are the major technological interventions that attracted more farmers towards agroforestry development. Conceptualization and successful practice of the contract tree farming model, particularly the quadripartite contract farming model, ensured institutional linkage among the value chain players and facilitated technology transfer, assured buy back, price support system and also institutional credit and insurance. The provision of a market support system for a wide range of pulp wood, plywood, timber, and match wood exerted a significant influence among tree-growing farmers. In order to sustain these value chain innovations and interventions, an institutional mechanism, namely the Consortium of Industrial Agroforestry (CIAF), was established in 2015, which linked all value chain players and aided in resolving the issues in the entire production to consumption system (PCS) of agroforestry on a sustainable basis. Over the years, these innovative interventions have had a significant impact in terms of area increase, productivity and profitability improvement coupled with safeguarding the social and environmental concerns of agroforestry farmers from a holistic perspective. The Consortium-based Value Chain on Industrial Agroforestry model has a very good replication potential not only within India, but also elsewhere across the global landscape.

Ethnomedical practices of the tribal community in the Nilgiris district were documented and analyzed to assess their knowledge and perception of Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) and to understand the constraints faced in utilizing the same. This study, in doing so, presents a discussion of the interface of socioeconomic variables with indigenous traditional knowledge to highlight the determinants that facilitate the retention and transmission of traditional medicine knowledge in these communities. The present study adopted an exploratory research design. Data were collected from six tribal communities through snowball sampling, with a total of 120 respondents in two blocks of the Nilgiris district. While analyzing the relationships, the socio-economic characteristics were correlated with the knowledge levels and constraints on traditional medicinal practices. Some of the other tools that were applied to these studies included rank-based quotients and multiple regression analysis. Findings indicate that a major section of the tribal population has a medium to low level of knowledge of ITK, with perception varying due to age, income, and information availability. Superstitions, extraction of scientific principles involved in allopathic science, and most of all, lack of interest shown by the younger generation are major factors inhibiting the spread of the practices. Diagnosing these challenges with specified community engagement strategies, education, and access to traditional medicine is thus the highway to sustaining this invaluable cultural heritage. The research suggests a holistic approach to conserve ITK and traditional medicine by marrying modern healthcare with traditional practices to maintain their relevance for posterity.

Exploring the challenges and opportunities faced by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India, focusing on their socio-economic, health, educational, and livelihood aspects. The study investigates the barriers these communities encounter, including inaccessibility, exploitation, illiteracy, lack of healthcare, and remoteness, which perpetuate poverty and marginalization. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including literature review, field surveys, and interviews, the research assesses the impact of various government interventions such as healthcare programs, educational support, and livelihood enhancement schemes. Key findings reveal that while these initiatives have led to some progress, critical gaps remain in infrastructure, sustainable livelihoods, and cultural preservation. The article highlights eco-tourism as a potential sustainable business model for PVTGs, emphasizing community involvement and responsible tourism practices. Recommendations include the need for sustained efforts to address these gaps, promote inclusive growth, and empower PVTGs through education, skill development, and equitable access to resources. By fostering community-driven approaches and integrating traditional knowledge with modern strategies, the article advocates for a more just and equitable society in India.

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of NPK on the performance of Thespesia populnea. A total of 17 treatments consisted of four levels of Nitrogen (50, 75, 100 and 125 g N plant-1), two levels each of Phosphorus (50 and 75 g P plant-1), and Potassium (25 and 50 g K plant-1) were tried in RBD replicated three times, to standardize the fertilizer schedule for the tree crop taken for investigation. The experimental soil was red sandy loam, non-calcareous, neutral in reaction, low in available nitrogen, phosphorus and medium in available potassium with low organic carbon content. Ecophysiological parameters viz., photosynthestic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs) and Intercellular CO2 concentration (CINT). Growth attributes were influenced by N, P and K at different levels. Among the various treatments application of 100 : 75 : 50 g NPK plant-1 (T12) significantly influenced the growth attributes followed by 100 : 75 : 25 g NPK plant-1 (T11).

Online Education is the future and the readiness of teachers to handle the challenges of online education has to be understood. Under this the paper has a two-fold purpose. The first purpose of the research is to clarify the concept of “readiness of teachers of higher education institutions to use online learning Technologies”, to determine the components and indicators of teachers’ readiness to use online learning technologies. The second purpose is the reporting of the study results based on the first purpose. The article is based on literature review on Teachers’ readiness/preparedness to online education and results of the authors’ COVID-19 Teachers’ Questionnaire with 49 faculty members of major higher education institutions of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University .It proves that the effectiveness of online learning depends on subjective (teachers’ and students’ preparedness for online education) and objective factors (material and technical base of higher education institutions). Components of teacher’s readiness for online learning and their indicators are summarized: motivational, cognitive, operational, technological, creative, personal. The outcomes of the questionnaire have identified that most respondents lack theoretical knowledge and practical skills Necessary for the implementation of online learning and encounter difficulties in teaching during quarantine.