Lecture Notes: Improvement in Food Resources

Introduction

Instructor: Samriddhi, Biology Mentor and Educator
Lecture Number: 3 in Sprint Series
Subject: Biology
Chapter: Improvement in Food Resources
Importance: One of the most demanded chapters, vast with general and practical knowledge.

Importance of Food: Essential for energy, growth, development, and tissue repair. Plants and animals are primary food sources.
Various Edible Sources: Mushrooms (fungus, neither plant nor animal) and other unique sources like algae ( e.g., Spirulina used by space travelers).
Food Resources: Plants (cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, spices) and animals (dairy products, meat, eggs, honey, fish). Resources need to be improved to meet rising demands and productivity.

Green Revolution (1960): Aimed to increase food grain production using high-yielding seeds and fertilizers. M.S. Swaminathan is the father.
White Revolution (1970): Boost milk production, led by Verghese Kurien.
Other Revolutions: Blue (fish), Silver (eggs/poultry), Yellow (oil seeds), Golden (horticulture/fruits/honey).

Methods to Improve Yield: Hybridization, genetic modification.
Techniques: Hybrid seeds (HYV), gene modification for specific traits (resistance to diseases, enhanced nutrition).
Examples: Hybrid roses, Pomato (potato and tomato hybrid), Flavor Saver Tomato.

Nutrient Management: Essential nutrients from air, water, and soil. Use of fertilizers (NPK, Urea) and manure (compost, vermicompost, green manure).
Organic Farming: No chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. Uses biofertilizers (living organisms like blue-green algae).
Crop Patterns: Mixed cropping (random mix), intercropping (specific pattern), crop rotation (planned alternation to maintain soil health).

Importance of Water: Essential for photosynthesis and soil health.
Methods: Wells (dug, tube), canals, tanks, river lift systems, sprinkler systems, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting.

From Weeds, Pests, Diseases: Use of herbicides (2, 4-D), pesticides, fungicides, mechanical control (plucking).
Post-Harvest Storage: Clean and dry grains before storage. Use granaries/silos. Fumigation to prevent pests.

Categories: Dairy farming (milk production), poultry farming (eggs and meat), fish production, and beekeeping (honey).
Dairy Farming: Differences between milk animals (females) and draught animals.
Poultry Farming: Layers (egg production) and broilers (meat production). Indian breeds (Asil, Kadaknath) and exotic breeds (White Leghorn).
Fish Production: Marine and freshwater varieties. Categories include capture fisheries, aquaculture, and mariculture. Composite fish culture.
Beekeeping: Apiculture. Management of beehives (honey and wax production). Key species: Apis mellifera.

Techniques: Hybridization, genetic modification, organic farming.
Crop Patterns: Mixed cropping, intercropping, crop rotation.
Crop Protection: Weed control, storage management.
Animal Husbandry: Breeds and practices in dairy farming, poultry, fish production, beekeeping.
Fish Production: Composite and integrated fish culture concepts.

Thorough understanding of food resources and techniques to improve them is vital for meeting rising food demands and ensuring sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry. Regular revision and practical application of these concepts are encouraged.