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The diazo transfer of the alpha-benzoylated ester utilizing p-acetoamidobenzenesulfonyl azide affords the alpha-diazo ester in good yield. Gram quantities of alpha-diazo esters could be easily prepared with the use of this simplified procedure.

Soil salinity is a severe threat in arid and semiarid agro‐ecosystem of India, and it is directly influenced by soil physical properties. Therefore, understanding the dynamic nature of salinity is the key to implementing suitable management options for re‐builing the fertility of saline soils. In this context, we conducted field experiments in saline soil, comprising five treatments (1‐5 following) and a control (C). These are: C) no amendments and chemical fertilizer; T1) recommended dose nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N‐P‐K) fertilizers @60:30:30 kg ha−1; T2) 100% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (RDF).; T3) rice straw compost (RSC) @14 Mg ha−1; T4) gypsum enriched compost (GEC) @14 Mg ha−1; and T5) municipal solid waste compost @16 Mg ha−1 (MSWC) applied for three consecutive years (2012 to 2015). Our results revealed that compost and chemical fertilizer had significant effect on soil organic carbon, soil aggregate stability indices, soil water retention, transmission characteristics, and pore size distribution. This improvement in soil physical properties imparted into better soil physical environment and significant reduction in soil salinity (75%) was apparent with application of MSWC. Multivariate analysis indicated that mean weight diameter (MWD) and retension pores (RP) were the two main soil physical properties that help to reduce soil salinity. Our results revealed that, MWD increased by 49.1% in MSWC and 37.7% in GEC over control (C) (0.53 mm). Improvement in soil environment under composted soil produced significantly higher grain yield of mustard (2.22 Mg ha−1) and pearl millet (2.29 Mg ha−1) with MSWC as compared to control (C). Organic amendments significantly improved the soil physical environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private firms in monopsony undertake disruptive innovation like contract farming (CF), where the firm invests in the food supply chain, provides credit, assumes the risk, and implements management strategies. This study investigates the impact of monopsonist involvement in CF and its impact on food security indicators among smallholders. Findings reveal that the monopsonist CF structure for ginger processing in Nepal increases the market price by about 18%, yields by 10%, and profits by 66%. However, the impact varies with farm size. Small farms (≤0.51 hectares (ha)) engaged in CF have higher yields (18%), earn higher profits (81%), and receive higher market prices (12%) than small noncontract ginger producers. Contrary to popular belief, disruptive innovation in value chains by monopsonists could lead to higher yields, the market price received, and profitability for both small and large farmers. Related Content: How Hard Did That Sting? Estimating the Economic Costs of Locust Attacks on Agricultural Production [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a survey of 1,500 farmers, we identify farmer-level constraints to adoption of modern cultivars in Rajasthan, India, and decompose the overall elasticity into the elasticities of adoption probability and use intensity. We find that access to credit and intensity of extension services received drive adoption of modern cultivars, but both factors are more important for determining adoption probability than for determining use intensity. Moreover, the study assesses the roles that key traits of individual cultivars play in their adoption. Varietal traits significant for the adoption of modern cultivars vary by crop and geography. However, the main driver for continuing old cultivars across crops is taste attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood plastic composites (WPC) were made from polypropylene (PP), impact copolymer (ICP) and wood flour (WF) by varying the WF content from 10 to 40% with PP grafted maleic anhydride as a coupling agent. The effect of varying WF content was studied on rheological, thermal, mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical properties. Experimental small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) data was compared with the Einstein–Batchelor and empirical Krieger–Dougherty relations. Significant dependence of mechanical and rheological properties on WF content was observed. Young's modulus, flexural modulus and dynamic shear viscosity increased with WF content. Results of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed increase in storage modulus with WF content. Three millimeter thick compression molded composites sheets were thermoformed using axisymmetric molds with two draw depths. Sag observed visually during thermoforming decreased with increasing WF content. Components made from the composites showed close to uniform thickness distribution as compared to those from ICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the COVID‐19 pandemic resulted in about a 24% decline in India's GDP during the April–June 2020 quarter, the nation's agricultural sector, somewhat surprisingly, seems to have done remarkably well. This paper examines whether the public transfer program Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), announced immediately after the lockdown, benefited farmers in dealing with the COVID shock. Overall, 95% of the smallholders received support from at least one of PMGKY's four components. Direct cash transfers had significantly more impact than in‐kind transfer schemes. The result shows that farmers receiving cash transfers under PM‐KISAN, one component of PMGKY, were more likely to invest in buying seeds. In contrast, farmers receiving cash transfers under PM‐UY, another piece of PMGKY, were more likely to invest in fertilizer and pesticides. Finally, smallholders who received benefits from all four components of PMGKY were more likely to invest in purchasing seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. Findings suggest the fungibility of public cash transfers from the recent PMGKY scheme is significant in alleviating credit constraints and increasing future investments in modern inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using farm‐level data from dairy farmers in India's Bihar state and the two‐stage residual inclusion method, this study investigates the impact of the adoption of food safety measures (FSMs) on milk yield and profitability of smallholder dairy farms. This study reveals that herd size and experience in dairy farming have a significant effect on the number of FSMs smallholders adopt. An additional FSM increases milk yield by about 1% and profitability by about 2.3%. An extra year of education increases yield and profits by about 3.8% and 4.9%, respectively. The government could design and incentivize policies that help increase herd size and promote better housing conditions for animals, thus promoting the uptake of FSMs and increased milk yield and profitability. [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q16, Q18]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation and Rh-mediated cyclization of the Alpha- diazoester 1 are outlined. Cyclopentane construction by Rh-mediated C-H insertion reaction has achieved wide popularity.

The preparation of the enantiomerically pure alkenyl cyclopropanes with the common organic functional groups resulted in the rapid assembly of 2,5-disubstituted cyclohexenone derivatives. The product, 2,5-disubstituted cyclohexones are treated as building blocks for target directed synthesis.

Labor‐saving and income‐increasing technologies may affect women farmers differently from men. However, very few studies explicitly account for women's preferences for new technologies. We carried out a discrete choice experiment with 337 female and 329 male farmers in Maharashtra, India, to measure their willingness to pay (WTP) for direct‐seeded rice (DSR) with drum seeder and to understand the gender differences in marginal valuations of key attributes. We used the Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) to collect self‐reported data on the role and say of women in different domains of decision making. The respective gender roles of women and men in the family and on the farm are aligned with their preferences. Men have a greater say over how the family spends the cash. Accordingly, men tend to have a higher WTP for attributes that increase income (increase in yield) or reduce cash costs (reduction in seed rate). Women contribute a large share of the labor for transplanting rice, much of which is unpaid work on family farms. Women, therefore, seem to value labor saving more. Women in our sample were more interested in the new technology and had a higher WTP for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentils, a low‐value and highly nutritious crop, are Nepal's largest pulse cash crop. However, the majority of the nation's smallholders produce lentils on very small plots of land. The large gap in lentil yields between Nepal and other lentil‐producing countries underscores the importance of improving yields and income of smallholders. When it comes to the financial viability of small farms, particularly in developing countries, and globalisation, contract farming (CF) may prove useful in achieving efficiency and profitability in smallholder lentil farms in Nepal. This study employs the propensity score matching approach to examine the effects of the adoption of CF on yields, profitability and costs of smallholder lentil farms in Nepal. Findings from this study reveal that contrary to popular belief, CF adoption by lentil producers in Nepal has a positive and significant effect on per‐hectare revenues, profits and yield and a negative impact on variable and transportation costs. The study finds that only very smallholder lentil farms (0.01‐0.05 ha) benefit from CF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the literature on contract farming (CF) in India and assesses the impact of smallholders’ perceived production risks on the adoption of CF; the impact of CF on smallholders’ food security; and its impact on employment generation in their farming enterprises. We also show the impact of the outcome variables by risk preference of smallholders. Using farm-level data and endogenous switching regression methods, this study presents three key findings. First, the perception of weather and pest risk, access to irrigation facilities, extension visits, and access to institutional credit are the main drivers of CF adoption. Second, CF adoption increases food security and varies with the revealed risk preference of smallholders, and risk-seeking smallholders tend to gain higher food security. Third, regardless of revealed risk preferences, smallholders who did not adopt CF benefit from adoption by reducing their labor requirements, with no significant losses in yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of contract farming (CF) through cooperatives in tomatoes on employment and economic performance of smallholders in a low‐income developing country. Using farm‐level data from Nepal and a nonparametric matching estimator, the study finds a negative and significant effect of CF on employment. However, CF through cooperatives has a positive and significant impact on profits, and yield. We find that small farms (≤0.51 ha) with contracts tend to gain in profits and yield per hectare. However, large farms (>0.85 ha) with contracts employ significantly less hired labor per hectare. Finally, our estimates reveal that, compared to independent producers, smallholder households in Nepal that engaged in CF with both input and output conditions received, on average, higher profits and yield. Findings underscore the importance of cooperatives and CF. [EconLit citations: C31, D23, Q12, Q13] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to synthesize lessons from the agricultural value chain models and their associated financing mechanisms in China and India as to provide policy recommendations on how best to facilitate development of efficient and inclusive value chains. Design/methodology/approach – The paper builds on a review of the existing literature on agricultural value chains and their financing mechanisms, and draws lessons from it for strengthening interface between product and financial markets in order to enable smallholders capture benefits of the value addition. Findings – From the comparative review of value chain financing mechanisms and current policy contexts the authors find dominance of internal financing of value chains (in terms of provision of inputs, technology and services) in both the countries. Value chain finance from commercial banks and other financial institutions is limited and mainly through tripartite agreements among the financing institutions, lead firms and farmers. Practical implications – The lessons drawn from various value chain models and their financing mechanisms provide feedback to financial institutions and policymakers to take measures to strengthen value chain finance in smallholder agriculture. Originality/value – The paper undertakes a rigorous review of the existing value chain models and their financing mechanisms in light of the most recent research on emerging innovations and development strategies, in order to glean key lessons for policy recommendations on strengthening linkages between financial and product markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier studies have empirically illustrated the significant role that investment in agricultural research and extension (R&E) plays in enhancing productivity, accelerating agricultural growth and reducing poverty in India. This article adds to the existing literature on the spatial and temporal dimensions of agricultural R&E investments with special emphasis on returns to investment in major states of India. The study reveals that significant structural changes have occurred in the pattern of agricultural R&E investments across sectors and states over the past five decades. R&E investments on the crop and fishery sectors improved over time at the expense of the livestock sector. Similarly, the states' share in aggregate R&E investments declined over the years, while the centre's improved proportionately. Returns to investments differed significantly according to geography, with the states that had a higher share of total factor productivity growth in their output growth faring better than the rest in relative terms. The R&E investment in the crop sub-sector in India has been especially rewarding, generating returns that are close to 50 per cent. In general, the findings of the study suggest the engineering of a deliberate shift in focus from alternative types of investment to agricultural R&E to meet the future growth challenges in India's agriculture sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several factors (including rising incomes, urbanization, a young population, and more women in the labor force) have influenced retailing in India in recent years, with the emergence and rapid spread of supermarkets being the most dramatic change. Without disputing the high growth rates of organized retail in the food sector, in this study we test whether supermarket growth is associated with greater demand for nonprice attributes such as food safety and customization of products. Using on-site surveys at supermarkets in three Indian cities of different population sizes and income levels, and using ordered models for consumer choice, we find that nonprice attributes remain subordinate to price for consumers in supermarkets. At the same time, rising import penetration in supermarkets creates an outlet where some consumers can satisfy their demand for nonprice attributes that are not provided by domestic products. The fact that such attributes are not demanded of domestic products and that imports fill in to provide these nonprice attributes implies that demand pull for back-end development is weak in Indian food retail. This is important, because a command approach by the government to induce back-end development will work only if enforcement is strong, which seems unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversification by small farmers toward high-value crops (fruits and vegetables [F & V]) that can raise farm incomes significantly has always been in question because of several reasons such as diseconomies of scale and lack of access to inputs such as capital and information. We present evidence that in India diversification toward high-value crops exhibits a pro-smallholder (rather than anti-smallholder) bias. The smallholders however play a proportionally larger role in vegetables than in fruits cultivation. These patterns are consistent with simple comparative advantage-based production choices. Even with small landholdings if labor endowments are high, such farmers diversify toward F & V. Though fruits cultivation is also labor intensive relative to cereals, it is less so relative to vegetables. Greater capital intensity implies a comparatively important role of credit in fruits. The results are robust to several tests on specification including those related to self-selection. Chez les petits exploitants agricoles, la diversification en faveur de cultures à valeur élevée (fruits et légumes) permettant d'accroître considérablement le revenu agricole a toujours été remise en question pour diverses raisons, notamment les déséconomies d'échelle et le manque d'accès aux intrants comme le capital et l'information. Dans le présent article, nous montrons qu'en Inde, la diversification en faveur de cultures à valeur élevée semble plutôt favorable que défavorable aux petits exploitants agricoles. Toutefois, les petits exploitants sont proportionnellement plus présents dans la culture maraîchère que dans la culture fruitière. Ces observations concordent avec les choix d'une production fondée sur les avantages comparatifs. Même dans le cas des petites exploitations, lorsque les besoins de main-d'œuvre sont élevés, elles se tournent vers les cultures fruitière et maraîchère. Bien que la culture fruitière soit une activitéà forte intensité de main-d'œuvre comparativement à la culture céréalière, elle l'est moins que la culture maraîchère. L'intensité de capital élevée de la culture fruitière signifie que le crédit joue aussi un rôle important. Les résultats de plusieurs tests de spécification sont robustes, y compris ceux liés à l'auto-sélection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dimensional accuracy and stability of two addition-cured silicones (Reprosil, Dentsply/ Caulk, USA and Express XT, 3M ESPE, Germany) and two condensation-cured silicones (Speedex, Coltene Whaledent, USA and Zetaplus, Zhermack, Italy) were evaluated. A stainless steel master die simulating a three unit fixed partial denture preparation was fabricated. For each brand of the impression material, 6 impressions were made and cast poured immediately. The impressions were repeatedly poured at 1 h, 24 h, 48 h and 16 8 h. Inter-preparation dimension and occlusogingival dimension were measured in the recovered stone dies (Type IV, Kalrock) using a travelling microscope calibrated to an accuracy of 0.001 cm. Results indicated that i) the addition silicone impression materials were superior in accuracy and dimensional stability in comparison to condensation silicone; ii) at 1 hour of pour, all the materials tested seemed to have comparable accuracy and dimensional stability; iii) the gypsum dies produced from the successive pours of all the tested impression materials were generally larger in inter-preparation distance and smaller in occlusogingival dimension than the stainless steel master die, with the addition silicone demonstrating the smallest change. From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that addition silicones used in this study have better dimensional accuracy and stability than condensation silicones. An impression made from condensation silicone should be poured as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandibular defects caused by surgical intervention to eradicate or control disease frequently involve jaw resection. Loss of continuity of the mandible destroys the balance of the lower face and leads to decreased mandibular function by deviation of the residual segment toward the surgical site. Prosthetic methods advocated to reduce or eliminate mandibular deviation include intermaxillary fixation, removable mandibular guide flange prosthesis, implant-supported prosthesis, and palatally based guidance restorations. These methods and restorations would be combined with a well-organized mandibular exercise regimen. This clinical report describes the prosthetic rehabilitation following segmental mandibulectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of alkenyl cyclopropanes 1 with a variety of common organic functionalities is reported. These substrates were subjected to the Fe(CO)5-mediated carbonylation process under a CO atmosphere, leading to the formation of 2,5-disubstituted cyclohexenones 2, important intermediates for target-directed synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountains are considered as the early indicators of climate change. The study aims to understand how the Himalayan communities perceive climate change, and how this change has impacted the livelihood and sustenance of local people particularly in the remote and rural areas of the region. In view of this, 994 households of 25 villages were interviewed from five basins five villages per basin) of the Indian Himalayan Region. Their perceptions mainly of climate change were validated/compared with the available climatic indices. People perceived rainfall pattern to be less predictable, greater change in land-use pattern, adverse impacts on forests and human health and overall reduction in their harvests. Seasonal increase in temperature was also reported. Capacity-building programmes for the inhabitants, including the most vulnerable communities in the wake of climate change would be significantly fruitful by way of mitigation and adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CVOID-19 induced significant economic and social disruptions in India. Rural households, including smallholders, were affected by loss in migrant income, livelihood and farm and non-farm incomes. During this lockdown, the Indian government enacted several emergency legislations to provide direct and indirect relief to workers and households. India's COVID-19 social assistance package, namely, PM-GKY, announced in March 2020, was designed to provide immediate relief to the vulnerable population. The PM-GKY provided cash direct benefit transfers (DBT) and in-kind supports (IKS) through existing schemes. This study examines the impact of India's government assistance package (known as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana or PM-GKY), announced immediately after the COVID-19 lockdown, on the procurement of agricultural inputs for the upcoming farming season. The study uses a quasi-experimental method and survey data from 1,789 smallholder households in three northern Indian states (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh). The result suggests that the fungibility of funds received under the government transfer package was significant in alleviating credit constraints and increasing agricultural investments in agricultural inputs. The farmers who received benefits from the PM-GKY scheme spent significantly more on the procurement of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. The disbursement of cash transfers in the three states showed that emergency relief packages had reached the vulnerable sections of Indian society. Overall, 89-94% of households benefited from direct cash transfers. Perhaps lower transaction costs, minimal leakages, and immediate delivery make a strong case for direct cash transfers. The above advantages facilitate the provision of relief to a large proportion of vulnerable sections of Indian society in a short period. • Impact of India's government assistance on the farming inputs. • Use a quasi-experimental method and rural survey data. • We find fungibility of funds received under the government transfer package. • Cash transfers helped farmers buy more seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]