Aims and Scope

Pastoralists and farmers’ activities guarantee food security while the pastoral systems have been the focus of conflicts in recent times in Nigeria. Much work has been done to explore the causes and effects of such conflicts from the farmers’ perspectives; hence this study approached it from the pastoralists’ viewpoint. The study examined the socio-cultural influence of interactions between pastoralists and farmers of the host communities in Nigeria. A three-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 121 pastoralists while data was collected using an interview schedule. Findings showed that 68.6% of the sample owned above 16 cattle and the annual income of 47.1% of the sampled pastoralists range from 100,000-500,000 Naira for over 16years. The factors triggering conflicts between pastoralists and their farmer hosts included: destruction of farmers' crops by herds, cattle rustling by thieves, sexual harassment involving their women, and harassment by the host community. This study also showed a relatively poor socio-cultural integration in intermarriage, understanding and speaking of host communities' language. Age, marital status, herd size, education level and income influenced the integration of pastoralists into host communities. The study concluded that there is a strong need for inter-marriages between pastoralists and farmers in furtherance of integration of the pastoralists with the socio-cultural values of the farmers. This can be achieved by engaging extension workers who will provide requisite enlightenment, education and training to the pastoralists. It thus becomes imperative for stakeholders to foster an enabling environment for improved social integration to assuage the rising conflicts. The study is novel as it documents the nexus between socio-cultural interaction and conflicts; with implication for capacity building, education and training on conflict resolution for livestock extension practitioners.

Arbutus unedo L. is an important food on the nutritional side. Unfortunately, most of its production is lost by the lack of appropriate conservation techniques. This study was carried out to follow the evolution of physicochemical, microbiological and microscopic parameters of two stages of Arbutus unedo L. fruits maturation during a period of conservation between 01 February 2021 and 29 July 2021 in a sugar solution with the presence of a percentage of lemon juice 4%. The results revealed that the fruits soaked in a sugar solution with a concentration of 75% remained more stable during the 180 days of conservation than those soaked in an equal concentration solution, 50% of sugar. With a slight increase in pH and medium pH, accompanied by a significant decrease in water content and an increase in total aerobic mesophilic germs. Therefore, sugar improves the conservation of Arbutus unedo L. fruits in a high concentration. Keywords: Arbutus unedo L., conservation, soaking, sweet medium, ripening stage, physicochemical parameter

Cropping sequences has been shown to increase crop yields and improve land utilization in many cases, through building up organic matter in poor soils which can be enhanced and improved crop production, as well as better quality. The objective of the current work was to determine the effect of application of organic compost at the rate of 10 m3 fd-1 under dissimilar crop rotation. So, field trials were conducted in sandy soil with four field crops in two different crop rotations in 4 successive winter and summer seasons. The treatments were: no compost (as control), compost applied annually (cumulative) or two treatments applied in alternate seasons (residual). The results indicated that crop yields from the seasonal application of compost were generally significantly greater than those resulting from applications made in alternate seasons in the two rotations. Significant differences were also observed between the two alternate seasonal applications of organic compost compared with the residual effect of compost applied in the previous season. The nutrient contents of wheat were small, being below the levels normally recommended for optimum production and trace element concentrations were adequate, except for copper which was low. A similar magnitude was reported for berseem except for zinc which achieved adequacy levels under cumulative compost applications. The present data highlight the major cumulative and residual agronomic value of compost in arable crop production on reclaimed lands for different crop rotations under such impoverished soils. It could be concluded from the existing study that selecting a proper cropping sequence along with managing organic fertilizer programs can produce higher yield, maintain soil health and improve crop production without jeopardizing soil native nutrients and soil nutrients balance. Keywords: Compost, cropping sequences, crop production, nutrients, yields.

The study considers the features of the development of the primary roots of spring wheat seedlings after pre-sowing exposure to a UHF EMF under conditions of pre-moistening of seeds. The object of the experiment was the seeds of soft spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties Novosibirskaya 31, Alyoshina, Trizo, Iren, Pamyati Aphrodite, and Altayskaya 70. In the experimental variants, the duration of the microwave EMF (0, 5, 10, 15 s) and the seed moisture (15, 20, 25, 30%) were combined. The influence of the UHF EMF on the intensity of the development of the primary roots of spring wheat seedlings was significant. For example, one of the varieties (Triso) shows a slight decrease in the intensity of growth processes during a fifteen-second treatment. The decrease in root mass was 18.18% (moisture content 15%) and 2.20 times (moisture content 20%) compared to the control. Wheat variety Iren had a decrease in root weight relative to the untreated variant by 2.59 times (at a moisture content of 15%) and 7.33 times (at a moisture content of 20%). The features of root growth at the initial stages of plant development were variety-specific and also depended on the modes of microwave processing. An unfavorable variant of microwave irradiation was a combination of the duration of exposure of 15 s and the preliminary humidity of the processed grain of 30%. The variant of EMF exposure for 5 s stimulated growth processes in germinating grains expressed in a relative increase in the number of roots and their wet weight compared to the control. The variant of exposure to an EMF for 5 s stimulates growth processes in germinating grains, which is expressed in a relative increase in the number of roots compared to the control. This difference is 13.47% for the Novosibirskaya 31 variety, for the Trizo variety – 14.99%, Iren – 12.44%, Pamyati Aphrodite – 8.97%, and Alyoshina – 13.93% on average. According to the totality of the studied indicators, two varieties of spring wheat were distinguished: the variety of Pamyati Aphrodite as the most stable and the variety Alyoshina as the most plastic. The results obtained can be used in practical plant growing to increase the adaptive capacity of plants and, consequently, increase productivity. A well-developed root system will allow wheat to withstand adverse weather conditions and form a higher grain productivity.

The article presents the results of determining the nutritional and biologically active components of the ripe fruits of prickly plum (Prunus spinosa L.), growing in Azerbaijan. It Magiera has been established that the fruits of the plant are rich in various nutritional and biologically active components, such as sugars, organic acids, pectin and tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins and vitamin C. From simple sugars, fructose (2.82%), glucose (1.81%), sucrose (0.81%) and xylose (0.18%), citric, malic and succinic acids were identified in the composition of organic acids. In addition, the content of pectin were 2.3% and vitamin-C were 230 mg. The method of two-dimensional chromatography revealed 3 anthocyanidins in the sum of anthocyanins, identified as cyanidin-3-glucoside (chrysanthemin) and cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside (cyanine). Two individual substances were isolated by preparative paper chromatography, identified as quercitrin and rutin. Keywords: Prickly plum, nutrition, biologically active components, chromatography, Azerbaijan.

A total of 150 samples were collected from seven layers poultry farms IN Wasit Province of Iraq. Fifty (50) from layers poultry and hundred (100) from farm premises including poultry feed, surfaces associated with feed container and water drinkers indicating isolation of 60 (40%) mold and yeast based on morphological characteristics and diagnosed to species by using sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region. Aspergillus versicolor recorded higher isolation rate 20/60 (33.3%), followed by Candida albicans 16/60 (26.6%), Aspergillus wlwitschiae 12/60 (20%), Diutina catenulata 10/60 (16.6%), and the lowest percentage was observed for Lichtheimia ramose 2/60 (3.3%). The analyses of Mycotoxins in poultry feed conducted by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), revealed aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) in all feed samples (70) with total range (6.945 ppb), and for each: soybean (8.060 ppb), corn (3.287 ppb) and wheat (3.287 ppb). While 60 (85%) out of 70 sample were contaminated with ochratoxin in feed samples with total range (2.658 ppb), for soybean, corn and wheat as (1.122 ppb), (2.596 ppb) and (1.068 ppb) respectively (permissible ratios <20 ppb). Also about 14 (57%) out of 70 samples were contaminated with T2 toxin with total feed range (33.629%) as (113.321 ppb) for corn, (99.817 ppb) for soybean and (64.486 ppb) for wheat samples (permissible ratios <100). This study indicates the importance of continuous mycological evaluation of poultry feed production, hen’s fungal infections and Mycotoxins contamination may directly threaten the industry and harm the consumers at the same time.

The present study aims to find out the effects of adding different levels of probiotics and concentrate diet on the rumen environment, volatile fatty acid production and bacteria counts of local Iraqi goat kids. This study was conducted in the field of a goat breeder in the area of Karmashi Karma Bani Saeed district, Souk Al-Shuyoukh district, Thi-Qar Governorate, Iraq. This study was conducted for 105 days, including 15 days preliminary period on 18 male kids of local goats at the age of 3 months and with an average weight of 16.17 ± 1.10 kg. The kids were randomly distributed to six treatments with two levels of concentrated feed (40, 60%) and three (3) levels of probiotics (0, 2.5, 5) g/head/d. The probiotics included Lactobacillus acidophilus 108, Bacillus subtilis 109, Bifidobacterium 108, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 109. The group of kids fed 2.5 gm probiotic/ head/ day and 40 or 60% concentrate feed were significantly superior to the kids that were fed only 40% concentrate diets without the addition (52.49, 53.61, 43.77 mmol/L), respectively. The % of acetic and butyric acids, were not affected by the addition of the probiotic at different levels of the concentrate diet. The group fed (60%) concentrate diet and the probiotic (2.5 or 5 g/ head/ day) had the highest percentages of propionic% (22.67, 22.33%), respectively, compared to the lowest percentages 17.71%, recorded by the kids fed 40% concentrate diet without probiotics. The pH of the rumen fluid was not affected fed different percentages of concentrate supplemented with two levels of the probiotic 2.5 or 5 g/head/day. While the level of NH3-N was affected by the concentrated diet, kids ate (60% concentrate) recorded significantly higher levels compared to that fed (40% concentrate). Addition of probiotics with different levels of concentrate diets produced highest total bacteria counts >10.50× 109 CFU/ml before feeding and >18.50 × 109 CFU/ml at the third hour after feeding. Keywords: Probiotics, conc feeding, vfas, goat kids. thi-qar governorate, Iraq.

Plant pathogens are considered a major constraint in decreasing the quality and quantity of plants and plant products by attacking the seed from its germination to the harvesting stage. To date, various multifunctional chemical pesticides have been applied to control these infectious entities, but these chemical pesticides are not as effective in controlling them. That is why "bacterial endophytes," an alternative to these chemical pesticides, have been determined in the history of mankind through multidisciplinary ways. At the same time, these endophytes work to save the living environment, improve plant growth, and control infectious plant pathogens. The current study summarizes and analyzes the pioneering and recent works on plant bacterial endophytes and their mechanisms as biocontrol agents/plant growth promotion, interaction with the host plant, root colonization, systemic colonization of aerial plant tissues, phytohormone production and modulation, host specificity, genes expressed in the endosphere, multi-omics approaches to improve endophyte use, and biopesticide formulation by these bacterial endophytes. The manuscript highlights the most necessary information about bacterial endophytes, and the study will play a vital role in the further use and handling of these bacterial endophytes for sustainable agricultural production. Keywords: Bacterial endophytes, Plant-associated bacteria, Systemic colonization, Induction of systemic response, ?-endotoxins, Multi-Omics approaches.

The present study included to know about the effectiveness of steep chickpea Cicer arietinum L. seeds with ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the Oleander Nerium oleander, Basil Ocimum basilicum, Chinaberry Melia azedarach, and Natgrass Cyperus rotundus leaves with four concentration (0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0) % on some biological sides of the cowpea beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.). The present study showed the superiority of leaves extracts of Oleander and Chinaberry as compared with leaves extracts of Basil and Natgrass, as well as the superiority of aqueous extracts as compared with ethanolic extracts of the present study plant's leaves on some biological sides of the cowpea beetle C. maculatus (Fab.). Also, the present study showed that the least number of laid eggs was recorded at a concentration of 1.0% of the ethanolic extract of the chinaberry with several 31.5 eggs, the least percentage of hatched eggs was recorded in the aqueous extract of chinaberry at a concentration of 5.0% with a percentage of 64.8%, the highest larval stage period was recorded at a concentration of 5.0% of the ethanolic extract of the chinaberry with a period of 19.8 days. Total mortality (100%) in the larval stage was achieved with a concentration of 5.0% of the aqueous extracts of the Oleander and Chinaberry. The highest pupal stage period was recorded at 5.0% of the ethanolic extract of the chinaberry at 14.8 days. The highest mortality in the pupal stage was recorded at a concentration of 2.5 % of the aqueous extract of the chinaberry with a percentage of 23.0%. The least number of emerged adults in the first generation and least percentage of productivity were recorded at a concentration of 5.0 % of the aqueous extracts of the Oleander and Chinaberry, with several 0.0 adults and a percentage of 0.0%, respectively.The study also showed that the germination percentage of Chickpea seeds was not significantly affected when it was treated with different concentrations of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the present study plants' leaves. Keywords: Bqueous extract, biological aspects, callosobruchus maculatus, ethanolic extract.

The field trail was conducted at agronomy farm, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan during winter 2020-21, to observe the response of micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu and B) on the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Micronutrients play an important role in the crop production of wheat. Micronutrients deficiency is a major issue which decrease the wheat yield and also deteriorate the quality of the grains. The experiment was comprised of foliar spray of M0 (Control), M1 (Zn), M2 (Fe), M3 (Cu), M4 (B), M5 (Zn + Fe), M6 (Zn + Cu), M7 (Zn + B), M8 (Zn + Fe + Cu + B) treatments with three repetitions and the net plot size was be 3 m × 5 m. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used. Sowing was done by broadcast sowing method, with a seed rate of 125 kg/ha. The fertilizer was applied @ 116:86:65 N:P:K kg/ha, respectively. In this study, an attempt was made to check foliar-applied micronutrients effect on growth stages, yield and yield-components of wheat. The results were evaluated statistically using Fisher's analysis of variance, and the treatment means were compared using Tukey's HSD test at a 5% probability level. The experiment results revealed that micronutrients application at booting stage significantly improved the performance of wheat crop and grain yield. Micronutrients application has a non-significant effect on plant height and number of productive tillers. Among different micronutrient combinations, the (Zn+Fe+Cu+B) treatment combination substantially improved the spike length (cm), No. of spikelets, number of grains, 1000-grain weight (g), grain yield (t ha-1) and Harvest index (%). It can be concluded that (Zn+Fe+Cu+B) have significant effects on yield parameters as compared to other treatments.

The study's primary purpose is to explore an appropriate way of monitoring and assessing water depths using the satellite remote sensing technique of the Al Habbaniyah Lake in Iraq. This research studied the experience-conditions (thresholds) of different bands for multi-temporal satellite image data with different satellite image sensors (Landsat 5-TM, and EO1-ALI) for the same region, to recognize regions of water depths. The threshold values are taken that to separate the Al Habbaniyah Lake to the required depths (shallow, deep, and very deep), as a supervised method. A three-dimension feature space plot had used to represent these regions. The relationship of the mean values of the three separated water regions with all TM and ALI bands is studied. Other lakes in Iraq were used to actualize the validity and accuracy of this technique to find the water depth regions; Al Qadisiyha and Al Mosul lakes are in the West and North of Iraq of Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite images respectively. This technique succeeded in determining Al Habbaniyah lake depths but failed to recognize the regions of water depths for some of the lakes which have the big depths by correct form such as; Al Qadisiyha and Al Mosul lakes. Keywords: Water detection, experience-conditions, remote sensing,eo1-ali.

Tribolium castaneum is devastating cosmopolitan insect pest of stored grain. The present study investigated the impact of three insect growth regulators on different life stages of T. castaneum. Percent mortality (%) induced was observed at 0.75. 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 ppm doses of each IGR after 7, 14 and 21 day exposure. In addition to larval and parental mortality, progeny suppression data was also recorded. The larvae of the 2nd instar were more susceptible to lufenuron, with mortality reaching 100% at 10ppm even after a 14-day interval. In the case of pyriproxifen, 2nd instar did not responded to all dose rates until 14 days however 21 days, statistically corresponding 2.5 to 10 ppm dose rates was detected. At 20 ppm, methoxy fenazide resulted in 92 percent mortality of 2nd larval instar mortality, and the larvae responded to all dose rates at all exposure intervals that varied significantly among themselves. The mean mortality of the 4th instar larvae at 20 ppm for lufenuron after a 21-day interval was 90%, which was not significantly different from the mortalities (62 and 80%) at the same dose rate after 7 and 14 days, respectively. All the IGRs were very effective in progeny suppression (>80%) and complete progeny suppression (100%) was observed in adults treated with methoxyfenazide and lufenuron at 2.5 and 10 ppm doses, respectively. It is concluded that all the screened IGRs were effective in progeny suppression and in some cases, complete progeny suppression was achieved Keywords: Exposure interval, life stages, IGRs, Tribolium castaneum, wheat flour.

During the 2020–2021 growing season, a field experiment was carried out in a farmer's fields in Al-Khader District (30 km south of Al-Muthanna Governorate). To know effect of nano-feeding by seaweed extract with three concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 ml l-1) and bio-fertilizer in three concentrations (0, 2.5, 5 g l-1) in the yield and its components of barley crop. The experiment was applied according to (R.C.B.D) a randomized complete block design with three replications. As the seaweed extract concentrations were placed in main plots and bio-fertilizer was placed in the sub-plots, the following was discovered: The results showed the superiority of spraying with a concentration of 1 ml l-1 of seaweed extract, it gave the highest averages for spikes number of m2, grains number per spike, and total grain yield amounted to 412.60 spikes m2, 45.36 grains spike-1, and 4253 kg ha-1, compared to the no-spray treatment, and no differences were shown. Significance between spraying and non-spraying in 1000 grains weight. Significantly superior was spraying of bio-fertilizer at a concentration of 5 g l-1 in spikes number of m2, grains number per spike, and grain yield; it increased by an increased rate of (14.45%, 22.63% and 20.00%) over the control treatment for traits in succession, while the non-spraying treatment was significantly superior on the rest of treatments in description of weight 1000 grains, it gave the highest mean of 34.62 g. As for the interaction, the results showed a significant difference in characteristics; grains number per spike, 1000 grains weight, and total grain yield. The combination (1 ml l-1 of seaweed extract x 5 g l-1 of bio-fertilizer) gave a highest grain yield at 4589 kg ha-1 compared compared to the remaining combinations. Keywords: Barley crop; Hordeum vulgare L.; seaweed extract; bio-fertilizer.

Wolbachiapipientis is genus of gram-negative bacteria which infect the members of phylum arthropoda, mainly affects the class insecta and some nematodes. Wolbachiapipientis are the common bacterial symbionts of the insects. About 25 to 70% of insect species are estimated to be the host of Wolbachiapipientis. Infection of these bacteria can alter the reproduction and biology of the host. Even some host species can not reproduce without Wolbachiapipientis infection. Due to thisreason, Wolbachiapipientis are used to control the population of pest species. A major reseach objective is the detection of Wolbachiapipientis in the Plodiainterpuntella populations of different cities of Pakistan leading towards its phylogenetic descriptions through molecular markers. Plodia interpuntella commonly called Indian meal moth. This insect is the major and most destructive pest of food grains such as, rice, maize and other cereals. The presence of this pest is relating with occurrence of such grains in homes and grocery stores. Indian meal moth feeding reduces the dry weight of stored grains. This study was done to estimates the economic and yield losses of food gains due to Plodia interpuntella in the different cities of Pakistain such as (Faisalabad, Jhang and Layyah) from Punjab, (Peshawar) from KPK and (Hyderabad) from Sindh. Firstly, the Collection of Plodiainterpunctella was completed from mention areas, and the pest was identified through morphologically, molecular analysis, eggs and larval instar. The results of our study showed that, the pest infection rate was ot similar in all the citites. Its majorly attack was identified in Faisalabd, Jhang, Layyah, Peshwar and Hyderabad gradually. During the study, pest infection rate was calculated in four months, July, August, September and October. The attack of pest was maximum in the start of July and minimum at the end of Octobor in stored grains. The results were calculated by using DNA extraction. The statistical analysis was performed through SPSS. Keywords: Indian meal Moth, arthropoda, Wolbachiapipientis,destructive pest, ,molecular analysis, stored grains

The current study was conducted during the 2019–2020 growing season in Dhi-Qar University's Alsaran Canopy. Nano fertilizer was used to test the effects of adding Nano- 1 macro elements NPK at three concentrations (0, 30,60) mg l-1 on some growth characteristics of Myrtle plant, Myrtus communis, Three replicates of the experiment were used in the RCBD design. Important Difference Test at 0.05 probability. Results appear that The Nano fertilizer is 60mg l-1 significantly increased the average plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, chlorophyll and carbohydrates leaf content, and percentage of oil, fresh weight. The concentration of humic acid Significantly increasing plant height, branch count, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, carbohydrates, and the highest percentage of oil. It recorded an average of (87.44 cm, 12.13 mm, 10.56 branches). 2, 105.44 mg.100 g fresh weight, 82.00 g. dry matter and 0.51%, respectively, while H1 treatment excelled with the largest leaf surface area of8.79 cm2.The interaction treatment H2N1 was superior to the control treatment H0N0 and the rest of the treatments in the study regarding plant height, stem diameter and leaf area, while H2N2 was superior in fruit content of chlorophyll and carbohydrates. Keywords: Myrtle plant, nano fertilizer, humic acid, chlorophyll, carbohydrates.

Wheat is a cereal grass that belongs to the Poaceae (Gramineae) family. It's one of the most important crops, for sure. During the winter of 2021, researchers conducted farmer's field experiment (Al-Batira area, 20 km away from the center of Maysan Governorate) in silty loam soil, to determine the impact of glutamine and proline spraying on yield and components of different soft wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.). The split-plot, randomized, complete-block experiment was set up (R.C.B.D). Two variables were investigated in this experiment: the first factor included; (a control treatment sprayed only with distilled water; amino acid glutamine is sprayed with a concentration of 300 mg l-1; amino acid proline sprayed at a concentration of 300 mg l-1; a treatment in which the amino acids gluten and proline are combined, 150 mg l-1 each). The second factor includes ten newly introduced genotypes from soft wheat, which are as follows; (Russian, ACSAD 133, ADANE 99, ACSAD 59, ACSAD 901, Iranian, Wafiya, Jad (Germanian), Jihan, Bohouth22). The results showed: Wafiya cultivar's superiority, as evidenced by its higher average number of fertile spikes and grain yield, which counted to 398.96 spike-1 and 7.76 Mg ha-1, respectively, while cultivar Acsad-901 outperformed in the traits of; grains number per spike-1, biological yield and harvest index with averages of 82.90 grains of spike-1, 16.51 Mg ha-1 and 46.16%, respectively. Cultivar Acsad 133 exceeds the characteristic of protein percentage in grains at a rate of 12.05%. The study showed that spraying by amino acids glutamine and proline, especially in the elongation and flowering stage, in the mixed concentration of (150 mg l-1glutamine with 150 mg l-1 proline) was significantly superior than other concentrations, as it gave highest averages in the characteristics: fertile spikes number of 392.02 spikes m2; in grains number per spike-1 at 77.89 grains spike-1; grains yield at 7.50 Mg ha-1; biological yield was 16.43 Mg ha-1; harvest index at 45.73%; and protein percentage reached 12.04%. Keywords: Glutamine; proline; Triticum aestivum L.; soft wheat.

This experiment aimed to determine the impact of organic and biological fertilizers on the development of the okra plant. The research was carried out in a private field in the Al- Madinah district north of Basra during the 2022 agricultural season. Organic manure (cow manure) was added to the soil at two different rates of 5% and 10% of the soil weight at a depth of 30 cm. Biofertilizer was sprayed on the leaves at three different rates of 2%, 4%, and 8 g/l of yeast suspension. Comparisons were made between the outcomes and the control group (without any addition). The experiment outcomes demonstrate that all indicators of vegetative growth and production were maximized by treating organic fertilizer at 10% concentration and spraying biofertilizer at 8 g/liter concentration. It attained the most significant values for plant height, leaf number, leaf area, fruit weight, and overall plant yield, measuring 156.18 cm, 85.34 leaves, 1.48 m2, 4.86 g, and 338.16 g/plant, respectively. Keywords: Fertilizers; biofertilizer; spraying biofertilizer; organic fertilizers; plant yield.

Insect pests are serious threat to agricultural crops. Recurrent use of similar chemicals has resulted in many problems like resistance development in insects and hazardous effects on environments. The present research work was executed to probe out the comparative efficacy of some newer granular insecticidal formulations against yellow stem borer of rice, Scirpophaga incertulus (Walker). Recommended dose rates of the selected insecticides were used against the targeted insect pest. Results of incidence of S. incertulus larvae on paddy tillers showed that highest mean number population (22.40 larvae) were noted in experimental plots under flood irrigation compared with AWD irrigated plots (12.36 larvae). Data regarding dead-hearts revealed that maximum (8.5 dead-hearts /plot) were recorded in control followed by Cartap Hydrochloride (4.2 dead-hearts/plot) while lowest (2.21 dead-hearts/plot) by S. incertulus infestation were noted in chlorantraniliprol + Thiamethoxam plots under AWD irrigation. However, all the tested treatments were found superior over control. Results of white earheads showed that maximum (12.1 white earheads/plot) were recorded in case of control plot followed by Cartap Hydrochloride@ 22 kg/ha (4.16 white earheads/plot), Fipronil @20.0 kg/ha (3.78 white earheads/plot) whereas lowest (2.96 white earheads/plot) were recorded in chlorantraniliprol + Thiamethoxam treated plots. Crop water productivity of paddy plots under AWD irrigation was 0.29 kg/m3 comparatively greater than plots under flood irrigation i.e., 0.12 kg/m3. Use of new granular formulation of insecticide together with improved irrigation can be helpful for Integrated Management of yell stem borer of rice. Keywords: Frequent, harmful, highest, insect pest infestation, improved irrigation.

Availability of food on a sustainable basis throughout the year is of prime importance in a country. The part of agricultural extension in the maintainable progress of rural areas has not been completely utilized to understand sustainable rural societies. An operative extension scheme of any country plays a highly significant role in the growing procedure. Nevertheless, a lot of criticism is being done in Pakistan for not resulting in remarkable improvement crop yield and wanted constructive changes in the rural earnings. Innovative enterprises in the form of dissolution and distribution; contributing methods to extension, and the usage of novel info and communication skills have been engaged to increase the competence and efficiency of the facility. An extension organization that could encourage supportable farming and solve community growth problems like food security is in utmost necessity. Keywords: Crop production, outstanding, supportable farming, rural-livelihood, necessity.