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In cotton ecosystem, number of insect pests simultaneously occur and cause enormous damage to crop. Hence, investigation on succession of sucking pests in Bt cotton cultivar was carried out during 2022 and 2023 at S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, India. The order of sequential occurrence of pests in Bt cotton was jassid > thrips > whitefly > aphid. Maximum incidence of aphid was observed during 46th standard meteorological week (SMW) (32.30 aphids/3 leaves), while maximum jassids (18.90 jassids/3 leaves) were observed during 42nd SMW. The incidence of whitefly reached to peak level (4.56 whiteflies/3 leaves) during 43rd SMW, however the peak activity of thrips was noticed during 41st SMW (19.72 thrips/3 leaves). The relationship obtained clearly showed that aphid and jassid population exhibited negative and significant correlation with morning and evening relative humidity. The whitefly exhibited negative and significant correlation with morning relative humidity. Highly significant and positive influence on whitefly, thrips and jassid population was noticed with maximum temperature during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector has always played pivotal role in food security and socio-economic development for the fast-developing nation like India. However, it stands at the crossroads of unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the modem time globally. In present time the youth is running away from the agricultural sector as they don't find it more lucrative compare to the service, information technology, banking, etc sectors. To navigate this complex landscape, the cultivation of grassroots innovation and the establishment of a nurturing agricultural entrepreneurial ecosystem are imperative. This lead paper delves into the significance of fostering agricultural entrepreneurship through business incubation, with a specific focus on harnessing grassroots innovation to drive overall sustainable development. By analyzing example of agricultural startups studies and drawing insights from successful agri-business incubators, this paper proposes a comprehensive framework to foster an agricultural entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes grassroots innovation and contributes to sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is one of the subsistent horticultural crops of western India, where its commercial cultivation is concentrated in Kachchh district of Gujarat. Majority, of the plantation is raised through seedlings, hence exhibit, great diversity in fruits. However, Date palm Research Station (DPRS), Mundra, has recommended cultivar Barhee for commercial cultivation in the region during 2002, which has brought a dramatic change in the socio-economic profile of the date growers, due to increase in area and production. Variety Barhee is late maturing with round yellow colored fruits, sweet at Khalal stage, with prolific productivity of 100-150 kg/palm for a period of 8-35 years. The roving survey under taken by the DPRS, Mundra during 2016, in various villages on Barhee orchards, brought the notice of a unusual and unnatural bending of the crown of Barhee palm in many orchards. In the present investigation, it was attempted to understand the phenomena by observing different varieties, bending direction, height of the palm, number of bunches on different direction etc. Our observation indicated that it is varietal character as no other varieties in the region showed bending symptoms. Majority of the palms were bended towards East, presumed to be due to phototaxis, enhanced by severe wind velocity (West to East, av. Speed 11.2 km/hr). It was also observed that, the total number of fruit bunches were more in bending direction indicating the fact that, by keeping the fruit bunches in a balanced way may help to manage this phenomena. The bending symptom was observed on palms having a height more than 5m. Hence, this phenomenon is more predominant on older palms and severe bending may leads to uprooting causing economic loss to farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field surveys conducted on the pest incidence of date palm during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-2020 revealed a moderate to severe occurrence of date stone beetle, Coccotrypes dactyliperda (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) on immature date fruits in Kachchh (Nakhatrana) and Surendranagar (Dhangadhtra) districts of Gujarat. This is the first report of its occurrence on dates from Gujarat, India. Considering the significant area under date cultivation in the North West region of India, the pest needs to be monitored for its spread and kept under vigil. The diagnostics of the beetle, its damaging intensities along with distribution are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]