A Study on Problems Faced by the Permaculture Farmers of Paddy Based Agro Forestry System in Sub-Tropical Hill Agro-Climatic Zone of Meghalaya

Permaculture, a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture, has gained significant attention worldwide for its potential to address environmental, economic, and social challenges in agriculture. In the context sub-tropical hill agro-climatic zone of Meghalaya, permaculture practices have gained traction, especially in the cultivation of paddy-based agro-forestry systems. Within this backdrop, the adoption of permaculture practices in paddy cultivation has been promoted as a sustainable solution that not only enhances food security but also contributes to ecosystem preservation, soil health improvement, and rural livelihoods. Since the study was taken with the objective of studying problems faced by farmers in the adoption of permaculture practices. This paper focused on appraising the problems faced by the permaculture farmers of paddy based agro forestry system by adopting diagnostic research design with a sample of 60 farmers, covering Sub-Tropical Hill Agro-Climatic Zone of Meghalaya. Major problems and their priorities expressed by the paddy- based agro-forestry farmers in the adoption of permaculture were analysed by using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP analysis), it was revealed that unforgiving topography and limited arable land for production and diversification of agroforestry, as the most important problem followed by, Lack of knowledge on permaculture practices such as soil building, water conservation and pest management, Lack of interest in branding and advertisement of the permaculture produce, High initial cost of investment due to transitioning from conventional farming, Permaculture implementation requires change in mentality and level of commitment and lack of supportive and subsidiary policies for permaculture were the major problems under different domains of permaculture. The judgement given by the farmers were found acceptable with inconsistency ratio below 10%. The consensus among seasoned farmers highlights a valuable opportunity to address the permaculture challenges in the region. By pinpointing and prioritizing these bottlenecks, we can effectively target efforts for the successful implementation of permaculture practices in the area.

The matrilineal society of Meghalaya: trends of family planning and its implications on maternal health

Background: The key health indicators pertaining to maternal health are TFR, contraceptive usage and MMR. As per the NFHS V, the use of any contraceptive method is 27.4% and total fertility rate is 2.9 in Meghalaya, which reflects on the poor performance of the state towards achieving the goals set by the National Health Policy 2017. The current MMR of Meghalaya is 211/1 lakh live birth, one of the highest amongst the Indian states. The two most important causes of maternal mortality in Meghalaya are post-partum haemorrhage and anaemia- both avoidable causes of maternal mortality related to higher order pregnancies and lack of adequate spacing between two consecutive pregnancies, thereby increasing the importance of contraceptive use. The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with poor uptake of contraceptive measures and their implications on maternal health in a matrilineal society.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, NEIGRIHMS where 200 patients, indigenous to Meghalaya, were recruited over a period of one year and were interviewed using a validated questionnaire pertaining to family planning practices.Results: Factors such as number of live births, religion and residence were seen to influence the utilization of contraceptive methods.Conclusions: There is still a wide gap to be filled- more sincere and dedicated efforts are needed to empower women to make informed decisions by increasing awareness about the importance of family planning and its implications on maternal health.

Palm oil cultivation in Meghalaya: a health and environmental perspective

Palm oil cultivation has long been an ongoing controversy in regards to the threat that it poses to the environment. Countries like Indonesia and Malaysia account for the largest share of the world抯 palm oil production. The economic benefit that this has bring to these two nations is enormous. However, this is not without consequences. Forests have been destroyed and raging forest fires have claimed the lives of many people. Air and water pollution have threatened the lives of many living beings especially endangered species. Palm oil cultivation also cause occupational health hazards to its many workers. The central government is appealing to many states including Meghalaya to take up palm oil cultivation in order to make the country self-reliant. Many environmentalists are opposed to this move and with good reason. It is therefore imperative to understand the perils of palm oil cultivation in a heavily forested state like Meghalaya not only to the environment but also the health of its citizens as a whole.

A Study of Malaria in Meghalaya State

The South Garo Hills District of Meghalaya had a high number of 284 Malaria cases out of which 281 were due to Plasmodium falciparum and an Annual Parasite Incidence (API) of 1.69 during 2021. However, if interventions like the treatment of asymptomatic carriers take place, it is expected that the API and the number of Malaria cases will come down further.

Chikungunya outbreak in Garo Hills, Meghalaya: an epidemiological perspective.

Background & objectives: Chikungunya (CHIK) fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Chikungunya infection was first reported from India in 1963 from Kolkata. We report the serological and molecular evidence of an outbreak of chikungunya in northeast India that occurred in Tura, a hilly and forested terrain in Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. Methods: blood samples (3 ml) collected from hospitalized patients during the outbreak were tested for IgM antibodies against CHIKV and followed up four months later. A repeat survey was carried out in the same area after four months from where cases had been reported. Blood samples were also collected from people with history of fever and body ache in the last four months. Persons showing IgM positivity against CHIKV in the repeat survey were followed up one and a half years later. All samples were also processed by RT-PCR assay for CHIK Envelope (E) 1 gene. Immature mosquitoes were collected, link reared and identified with standard keys. Virus incrimination studies were done on Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes collected during the survey. Results: Fever, headache and joint pain were the primary clinical presentations. Twenty three (35.93 %) of 64 samples reported during the outbreak were IgM positive for CHIK. Three samples showed PCR amplification. All these were IgM positive. The sequenced E1 gene revealed that the strains belonged to East Central South African (ECSA) genotype. Interpretation & conclusions: Field survey done after four months revealed that some individuals still had joint pain associated with episodes of headache and fever. It could be inferred that these persons might have contracted infection during the CHIK outbreak four months ago or during the intervening period which caused persistence of sequelae. ECSA genotype was found to be involved in the outbreak. Aedes albopictus was the predominant mosquito species collected during the outbreak.

Ethnobotanical Importance and Nutritional Potential of Wild Leafy Vegetables of Meghalaya State in India.

The nutritional potential of five wild edible leaves of the plant e.g. Chenopodium album, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Homalomena aromatica, Zanthoxylum rhetsa and Cajanus indicus collected from Meghalaya state in India were evaluated by determining proximate and phytochemical composition. These plants are used by the local people of Meghalaya state in India as their food. The present study revealed that for different plant species, the crude fat content ranged between 0.69±0.02-2.30±0.02%. The crude protein content was determined high in the leaves of Cajanus indicus (15.77±0.03 %) and in Zanthoxylum rhetsa (13.75±0.05%) while the available carbohydrate content was the highest in the leaves of Alternanthera philoxeroides (73.67±0.30 %). The nutritive value ranged from 77.41±0.53-344.52±0.33 kcal/100g in the various wild edible plants. Among the various macronutrients estimated in the plant samples of different wild edible plants potassium was present in the highest quantity (10.42±0.10- 45.86±0.22mg /g) followed by calcium (5.93±0.15 -26.47±0.18 mg/g) and sodium (0.32±0.01-8.25±0.07 mg /g). Micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium were also analyzed in the different plant specimens. The result indicates that the nutritional values and mineral contents of these leafy vegetables under investigation were richer than that of the commercial vegetables and could be used for nutritional purpose. The present study also gives an account of ethnobotanical importance of the wild plants under investigation.

Survey of new mosquito species of Meghalaya, India .

A study on mosquitoes in parts of Meghalaya revealed the presence of 64 species of mosquitoes under 10 genera. In monsoon (June to October) and post-monsoon (November to May) survey, 42 and 48 species of mosquitoes were detected, respectivily. Higher species diversity was found at lower elevations (up to 1050 m). Anopheles peditaeniatus, An. sinensis, Aedes vexans, Ae. nigrostriatus, Ae. annandalei, Culex. fuscocephala, Cx. pseudovishnui, Cx. murrelli, Cx. brevipalpis, Coquillettidia novochracea, Lutzia halifaxii, Malaya genurostris, Ml. jacobsoni, Tripteroides aranoides, Toxorhynchites minimus, Uranotaenia campestris, Ur. edwardsi and Ur. testaceae which were never reported earlier from Meghalaya state were detected in the present study and the findings were discussed with previously published reports from the state.