Rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) is a dominant agricultural practice in the Indo-Gangetic plains, particularly in the North–Western states of India. The prevalent practice of open burning of rice residue, driven by the need for timely land preparation, poses severe environmental and health consequences, including nutrient loss, greenhouse gas emissions, high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), and disruption of the ecological cycle. This study focuses on implementing effective management practices in the RWCS through tillage-based crop establishment, residue retention, and incorporation methods. The objective is to improve crop yield and its attributes by enhancing soil health properties. A split-plot experimental design was practiced with four different treatments, zero-tillage with manual harvesting (ZT), Happy Seeder with combine harvester (HS), Happy Seeder with Mulcher and combine harvesting, and conventional tillage (CT). By evaluating soil nutrient content, including organic carbon (OC), N, P, and K, at a 0–10 cm depth, the study demonstrates the superiority of the mulcher with Happy Seeder (MHS), which significantly increased soil nutrient levels by 105, 59, 102, and 97%, respectively, compared to conventional tilled broadcasted wheat (CT). Furthermore, the MHS treatment exhibited the highest yield of 56.8 q ha⁻¹, outperforming the yield of 43.6 q ha⁻¹ recorded under conventional tilled broadcasted wheat. These findings underscore the critical role of surface residue retention with MHS in ensuring crop productivity and overall production sustainability of the RWCS in Haryana, India. Moreover, effective rice residue management holds long-term implications for agricultural resilience, farm economics, environmental conservation, and human health. It emphasizes the importance of adopting sustainable practices, prioritizing research efforts, and advocating for policies that ensure the prolonged sustainability and productivity of the RWCS while safeguarding environmental well-being.

A study was carried out in 2019 to document the role and participation of farm women in animal husbandry activities using a structured schedule by personal interview. A total of 120 farm women were interviewed from four villages of Tonk district (Rajasthan) rearing cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats along with agriculture farming. Majority of women (63.33%) were middle aged (21-45 yr old) and 70% of them were illiterates. A sizeable proportion of respondents' families (53.33%) had low annual family income (Rs. 1-2 lakh). Most of the respondents' families (40%) were marginal farmers (<1.00 ha land). In every household, majority of the women were involved in collection and transportation of fodder to animal sheds (70.0%), soaking of concentrate feed (93.3%), chaffing of fodder (80.0%), watering of animals (90.0%), washing and grooming of animals (83.3%), care of new-born calves and pregnant females (93.3%), milking of animals (80.0%), preparation of dung cakes (100.0%), identification and care of sick animals (50.0%), separation of sick animal (70.0%) and grooming / bathing of animals (73.3%). Women were less involved in purchasing of equipment (6.7%), sale and purchase of animals (10.0%) and maintenance of financial records of farm (10.0%). Average daily time spent by a woman on care and management of animals was 4h 47 min. The study concluded that women contribute significantly in livestock management activities, but remain hidden. There is need to educate the farm women about scientific management practices for increasing their skills and efficiency for enhancing livestock production.