Fifteen clusters of villages were identified and selected for the purpose of study. In general, these villages are located at 32.6oN (latitude); 76.3oE (longitude); 1,290.8 m (altitude). &nbsp;The area is characterized by mild summer and moderate to severe winter having the mean monthly minimum temperature varying from 5.0&plusmn;0.9 oC in January to 20.4&plusmn;1.2 oC in June. &nbsp;Garett&rsquo;s ranking technique was followed to analyse the particular problem or disease perceived by the farmers as well as identify by the multidiscipline teams in livestock. In cattle, highest incidence of haematuria (16.74%) was recorded followed by repeat breeding (14.97%). Whereas in case of buffalo emaciation / weakness (17.24%), GI parasitic infections (16.09%), and tick/ lice infestation (16.09%) were the major problems. Parasitic infections (36.84%), diarrhoea/ dysentery (31.57%) and tick / lice infestation (14.03%) were recorded as major problem in goats. The major disease/ disorder observed in bullocks were haematuria (28.23%), urinary problem (24.70%) and parasitic infestation (16.47 %). In the horse/ ponies parasitic infestation (37.93%) followed by weakness (24.13%) and tick/ lice infestation (17.24%) and parasitic infections (31.81%) followed by mange (27.27%) were the major health problem in the pet&rsquo;s animals. The study enlighted the animal health scenario in the region. &nbsp;

Livestock diseases in sub-Himalayan temperate region:&nbsp;A Garrett&rsquo;s ranking analysis&nbsp;

<div>Background: Usually, social order is defined by the animals&acute; size, live weight, or age. This study evaluated the effect of social rank and morphometric characteristics upon appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors in Dorper rams in absence of sexual competition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The research took place in northern Mexico (26&deg;N), 36 rams allocated into two groups were used: Low social rank (LR; n = 17) and high social rank (HR; n = 19). Behavior tests were performed for all the males, for which each one was placed in contact with a female in estrus.&nbsp; 
 
Result: There were no differences between ranks and morphometric characteristics (P&lt;0.05). A correlation of 29% was found for the success index concerning odor in HR. Likewise, a relationship existed between the presence of horns (Pho) and all the other variables, but not between PHo vs success index (rho 0.07). Appetitive sexual behavior was the highest (P&lt;0.05) for LR, while HR had more consummatory sexual behaviors (P&lt;0.05). We conclude that sexual hierarchy exists even when the males have the same morphometric characteristics, nonetheless, males with low social ranks show more appetitive sexual behaviors while those with high ranks show a higher number of consummatory sexual behaviors when managed in intensive farming conditions.</div>

​In the Absence of Sexual Competition, Rams with Low Social Ranks Show more Appetitive Sexual Behaviors than Males with High Ranks

<div>Background: Majority of the Farmer in Punjab is of small holders and these farmers face a lot of problems in the process of inputs as well as output marketing. In order to provide solutions to the marketing problems of the such small holder farmers the union government came up with the idea of strengthening or initiating the formation of self-help groups, farmer interest groups, farmer cooperatives and clubs etc. for further integrating these entities into the farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).&nbsp; 
 
Methods: For this study data were collected from 150 randomly selected respondents belonging to functional as well as non-functional FPOs. Garrett&rsquo;s ranking technique was used to identify the most important constraints faced in the process of running FPOs.&nbsp; 
 
Result: This study attempted to identify the constraints in the process of operationalizing the FPOs in Punjab and it was found that managerial, socio-psychological, economic and marketing constraints were the major ones. Moreover, lack of trust, cooperation, financial crunch, lack of business management skills, unequal work delegation, ineffective group leadership, delayed payments were the major constraints. Mitigation strategies adopted by the executives of the FPOs were transparency of records, strong association with resource institutes, participatory decision making, efficient conflict management etc. The suggestions of the respondents for making FPOs more vibrant and sustainable were accountability of the resource institutes, capacity buildings of the stakeholders, dissemination of awareness about the functioning of FPOs among the members etc.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

Constraints in Operationalizing FPOs in Punjab and Strategies to Mitigate Them

Background: Information and communication technology being one of the key drivers in present agricultural system. Whilst public extension system play a pivotal role to bridge&nbsp; between the research and the roots, it is paramount for its functionaries to be well versed with latest development and stay upto date with every new means and ways of information dissemination. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in Bhadrak, Balasore, Cuttack and Jajpur districts of Odisha to determine the constraints impairing extension functionaries while using ICT in agriculture. Purposive sampling was used for selection of the districts and all the agricultural extension functionaries like CDAO, ADO, BAO, AAO, BTM and ATM were selected total adding up to 248 respondents. A pre-tested interview schedule was prepared and data was collected using interview method.&nbsp; Garrett&rsquo;s ranking technique was performed to analyse the challenges as perceived by officials under technological, organisational, capacity-related, socio-psychological and infrastructural dimensions. 
 
Result: Lack of technical assistance for troubleshooting was the most urgent limitation among the technological issues,in organizational front biggest restriction (Rank 1) was the low priority given to ICT skill enhancement, inadequate training in ICT use is the most severe limitation in terms of capacity-related constraints, fear of making mistakes when using ICT was the most prevalent socio-psychological limitation,the most important constraint on the infrastructural front was determined to be a lack of infrastructure with a Mean Garrett Score of 66.14, 58.50, 60.47, 59.66 and 54.21 respectively. Suggestions as perceived by the respondents in order to increase the utilisation of ICT&rsquo;s included Regular hands-on training on emerging ICT tools and digital platforms,refresher courses to keep up with rapid technological changes, setting up ICT resource centres at block and district levels etc.All these constraints and suggestions could be analysed by stakeholders for making extension functionaries run at par with the global extensionists and create a sustainable and robust farming community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

ICT in Public Extension: Constraints and Suggestions Through the Lens of Extension Functionaries

<div>Background: Mango is an important commercially grown fruit crop and it is very popular due to its wide range of adaptability and high nutritive value. The present study was conducted in Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh to know the economics of mango production, marketing system and constraints faced by growers in production and marketing. 
 
Methods: The study was based on primary data collected from 200 respondents with the help of personal interview using a pre-tested questionnaire, semi-structured interview schedule and open discussion method. Estimate the cost and return of mango cultivation by using simple cost and return equation. The marketing system of mango involved market channels, margin, cost, price spread, producer share in consumer&rsquo;s rupee and marketing efficiency was worked out by tabular analysis. The Garrett&rsquo;s ranking technique was adopted to rank the constraints faced by the growers in production and marketing of mango. 
 
Result: The total cost of mango cultivation was found Rs.23450.67/ha. Out of which, the variable cost was constituted Rs.18316.39/ha (78.11%) and fixed cost was Rs.5134.28/ha (21.89%). The net return over the cost of cultivation was found to be highest as Rs. 62811.59/ha at the 4th growing stage of orchard. It was observed that net price received by growers, per cent share in consumer&rsquo;s rupees and market efficiency was highest in channel-III followed by channel-II and III, where the numbers of marketing intermediaries were involved lesser. The market margin, cost and price spread were highest in channel-I followed by Channel-II and III. The channel-III was found to be most efficient and profitable for farmers in the study area. Among the production and marketing constraints faced by mango growers, the shattering of flowers and premature fruit drop were cited as the most serious constraints. While alternate and irregular bearing creates glut with excess production in one year and results in low production in the next year was reported as second major constraint. Usually, contractors were not paying money to the orchard owner in the lump sum amount and at the appropriate time. Thus, the second major constraint was delayed and irregular payments to producers.</div>

<div>Economics of Mango Production, Marketing System and Constraints Faced by Growers in Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh</div>

Background: The primary food crop grown in Kerala is rice, which feeds the state&rsquo;s expanding population. Kerala&rsquo;s rice fields have lost land area steadily since the 1970s and are constantly being converted to other purposes. The rice fields of South Kerala are well known for their distinctive challenges that prevent rice varieties from reaching their maximum yield potential. The current study aimed to identify the constraints experienced and suggestions for refinement as perceived by the farmers. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: This study was carried out in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki districts representing the rice growing tracts of South Kerala during the year 2020-2021. About 15 respondents from one panchayat of each of these seven districts were selected totalling 105 farmer respondents and investigates the constraints encountered by rice farmers in this region. In the investigation, ex-post facto research design is being employed. The interview schedule was developed based on the objective of the study and review of literature. The information was collected by personal interview method. Constraints were analysed using Garrett&rsquo;s ranking technique and suggestions were analysed according to their frequency and percentage. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The study focused on crop management and economic constraints and it was observed that high labour charges ranked first among constraints with garret score 402 followed by non availability of timely inputs and labours (357), flooding due to heavy rainfall (351), pest and disease incidence (337) and high loading charges (264). The important suggestions stated by the farmers for improving adoption of recommended rice cultivation practices and to reduce the yield gap includes making provisions for constructing check dams and strengthening bunds (93.33%) followed by making available combines and harvesters at less rent (85.71%), prioritization of agricultural activities in MGNREGA programme by providing labours (83.81%) etc. 
&nbsp;

Constraints Perceived by South Kerala Rice Farmers in Adoption of KAU-Recommended Technologies

<div>Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown have created unprecedented emergency and sudden distress on all sectors in India including the livestock sector. Among livestock sectors, dairy farming is more sensitive due to the handling of an essential and perishable commodity of milk. 
 
Methods: Under this pandemic situation, the aim of the study to know the constraints confronted and management practices followed by dairy farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The study was conducted in July 2020 in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. Thirty dairy farmers were selected randomly and data were collected by a personal interview method through a well-structured interview schedule. Socio-economic data were analyzed by statistical methods&nbsp;viz. percentage, mean and standard deviation. Constraints of dairy farming were analyzed and ranked by Mean Weighed Score method and percentage analysis was used for analyzing and ranking management practices. 
 
Result: Socio-economic characterstics revealed that more than 86.66 per cent of dairy farmers were belonged low to medium groups and utilized different mass media tools for retrieving information. The constraints analysis revealed that high cost of concentrate feed foremost constraint with Mean Weighed Score of 50.00 were ranked first. Dairy farmers expressed difficultly in the procurement of concentrate, shortage of wheat bran supply and elevated wheat bran cost (MWS 44.44) second important constraints. Dairy farmer&rsquo;s made alterations in the concentrate feed composition, consulted veterinary doctors over the phone and direct selling of milk as management practices to manage the pandemic situation.</div>

<div>Constraints and Management Practices of Dairy Farming during COVID-19 Pandemic Situation</div>

Background: The present study was conducted with the objective to study the economics of pineapple cultivation in Assam and to identify the constraints limiting its production and marketing so that suitable measures can be suggested to address the existing gaps hindering its growth. 
 
Methods: A multistage sampling technique was used to select 100 pineapple growers from Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam. For cost estimation, the budgeting techniques and cost concepts were followed, while, Garrett ranking technique was followed for studying the constraints faced by producers. 
 
Result: The per hectare total cost of cultivation on average was worked out to be ₹ 242715.79 and was found higher in Group III (₹ 265748.21/ha) as compared to Group II (₹ 242347.12/ha) and Group I (₹ 220052.05/ha). Of the total cost incurred in pineapple cultivation, cost on labour constituted the major cost item across all farm groups and accounted about 71.11 per cent of the total cost, implying pineapple cultivation to be labour intensive. The per hectare average yield of the fruit in the study area was 19.16 tonnes and the highest net income of&nbsp;&nbsp;₹ 117459.75 per hectare was obtained by group III, followed by group II (₹ 76033.69/ha) and group I (₹ 34746.10/ha). The benefit cost ratio on average was 1.13, indicating pineapple cultivation in the state to be economically viable. The major production constraints reported were damage of fruits by rodents, lack of finance and high labour cost while low price of fruit during glut, lack of cold storage and processing unit and lack of proper connectivity linking production clusters to market were major marketing constraints reported by the producers in the study area. 
&nbsp;

Economics and Constraint Analysis of Pineapple Cultivation in Assam

Background: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a vital crop for the agricultural economy in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. Despite the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University&rsquo;s (TNAU) recommended production technologies aimed at improving yield and sustainability, adoption rates among groundnut growers remain low. This study investigates the challenges faced by these farmers in adopting these technologies. 
 
Methods: The study employs an ex-post facto research design, focusing on Melmalayanur and Vallam blocks within Villupuram district. A total of 120 groundnut growers were randomly selected from four villages. Primary data was collected using a structured interview schedule, while secondary data was sourced from relevant agricultural reports and publications. Constraints faced by farmers were analyzed using Garrett&rsquo;s ranking technique. 
 
Result: The study identified key constraints impacting technology adoption, ranked by severity. Non-sremunerative prices and price fluctuations emerged as the most significant barrier, followed by high input costs and inadequate credit facilities. Other notable challenges included a lack of timely and appropriate extension services, insufficient technical know-howand pest and disease infestations. Scarcity and high wages of labor, inadequate processing machinesand delays in the availability of inputs further hindered adoption rates.

Constraints Encountered by Groundnut Growers in Adopting Recommended TNAU Groundnut Production Technologies in Villupuram District

Among the animals, large ruminant cattle i.e. cow of Tharparkar breed is most commonly reared for milk and other dairy products. Apart from cow, sheep, goat, buffalo and camel are also prominent in this area. Sheep and goats are generally reared in herds whereas camels are found singly or in groups of two to five. To identify the barriers in adopting good animal husbandry practices, survey was conducted in five tehsils of different villages of Jaisalmer district, viz. Tejwa of Jaisalmer, Phusasar of Bhaniyana, Phusasar of Fatehgarh, Sadrao of Mohangarh and Lava of Pokaran. For this study, 15 farmers were selected from each tehsil. Thus, in total 75 farmers from the selected five villages were selected based on the information received. Garrett ranking technique was used to measure the barriers in the development of animal husbandry. Livestock breeding has been identified as the major constraint, followed by feeding management in animals (MPS), health care, housing management and administration and marketing along with MPS. Removing these constraints can go a long way in adopting good husbandry practices for livestock and increasing livestock productivity and income of farmers involved in animal husbandry, thereby improving their livelihood conditions. Lumpy virus epidemic was observed as the major constraint among livestock farmers in Jaisalmer, Barmer and Pali districts of Rajasthan.

Livestock diseases in sub-Himalayan temperate region: A Garrett’s ranking analysis

In the Absence of Sexual Competition, Rams with Low Social Ranks Show more Appetitive Sexual Behaviors than Males with High Ranks

Constraints in Operationalizing FPOs in Punjab and Strategies to Mitigate Them

ICT in Public Extension: Constraints and Suggestions Through the Lens of Extension Functionaries

Economics of Mango Production, Marketing System and Constraints Faced by Growers in Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh

Constraints Perceived by South Kerala Rice Farmers in Adoption of KAU-Recommended Technologies

Constraints and Management Practices of Dairy Farming during COVID-19 Pandemic Situation

Economics and Constraint Analysis of Pineapple Cultivation in Assam

Constraints Encountered by Groundnut Growers in Adopting Recommended TNAU Groundnut Production Technologies in Villupuram District

Ranking of Barriers to Adoption of Good Livestock Husbandry Practices (GRP) in Arid Zone of Rajasthan