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Developing the knowledge base concerning the agroforestry’s contribution to fodder production that integrate livelihood security, relieve forest pressure and safeguard ecosystem services is pre-requisite for sustainable development. The study investigated the extraction and consumption pattern of fodder and extent of livestock dependency on natural forests to evolve silvipastoral agroforestry strategy for revitalizing fodder security in forest-fringe landscape of Ganderbal district, Kashmir. A total of 222 households were selected from 5 sample villages adopting multi-stage random sampling technique for field survey. Both secondary and primary sources were used for data collection. Household data were gathered administrating well-structured interview schedule and non-participant observations. Simple descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the data. Results revealed that total fodder extraction from various sources was 27,066.21 tons/year @12.19 tons/household/year and the forests were exposed to fodder pressure of 11,995.92 tons/year (44.31%) posing ample degradation. Focusing on the socioeconomic and ecological aspects, silvipastoral agroforestry strategy is designed, the implementation of which on cultivable wastelands would secure 11,847.73 tons/year of green fodder, tree fodder of 3846.67 tons/year, fuel wood of 307.73 tons/year, small timber of 320.43 m3/year, grass seed of 8.46 tons/year besides income of $ 66.13/household/year and employment of 9.98 man-days/household/year. Economic viability of the silvipastoral agroforestry strategy confirmed NPV of $ 734,192.67, BCR of 3.57 and IRR of 155.73% @12% annual discount rate on 12-year rotation. The strategy proposed needs to be implemented to mitigate the present unsustainable fodder extraction, safeguard the future fodder crisis, eliminate the fodder pressure on forests besides socioeconomic improvement.

Performance of two fodder crops namely, sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) was investigated with Willow (Salix alba L.) to evaluate productivity and economics of the silvopastoral agroforestry system in Kashmir valley. The experiment was laid out by planting two year old willows at 2.0m × 2.0m spacing and dividing the main plot into sub-plots of size 8m × 2m each with 5 replications in randomized block design (RDB). The intercrops of sorghum and maize were maintained at 20cm × 10 cm spacing and supplied with recommended doses of fertilizers. The economics of the willow plantation intercropped with fodder crops was compared with sole willow farming by the benefit-cost ratio and net present worth. The study revealed the differential behaviour of Salix alba regarding growth parameters (height, diameter and girth) by different intercrops and various fodder intercrops with respect to yield, above ground biomass, dry matter production and soil nutrient status (pH, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). The willow based silvopastoral system was estimated to have benefit-cost ratio of 2.71 with maize and 2.68 with sorghum, while as sole crop the willows accrued a benefit-cost ratio of 2.66. The study is useful in discovering growth of willows, productivity of fodder crops and soil nutrient status under various silvopastoral agroforestry systems for maximizing economic gains. The findings envisaged evidences in favour of adopting willow based silvopastoral agroforestry instead of sole tree farming and the knowledge of interactions will be helpful in proper management of the system for sustained multiple productions.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of low dose methotrexate (MTX) therapy for children with chronic anterior and intermediate uveitis. Methods: A retrospective case review of 10 children who received MTX for chronic uveitis at a tertiary referral centre was performed. The following data were recorded for each patient: age, sex, race, duration of uveitis, primary diagnosis, anatomical localisation of uveitis, corticosteroid therapy, dose range of MTX, duration of MTX therapy, and side effects of MTX therapy. Several clinical parameters were evaluated to study the effect of MTX. These included visual acuity, anterior chamber inflammation, and topical and oral corticosteroid requirement. Results: After MTX VA of 6/6 or better was present in 100% right eyes and 80% left eyes (p = 0.055 and p = 0.016, respectively). Anterior chamber inflammation decreased in 60% of children after MTX (p = 0.0168). The requirement of topical steroid decreased from a mean of 5.6 times a day before MTX to 1.5 times a day after MTX (p = 0.005). The dose of oral steroid decreased from a mean of 18 mg per day to 2.85 mg per day (p = 0.012). The most common adverse effect was nausea (20%). No patient required discontinuation of MTX because of side effects. Conclusion: MTX is effective and safe for chronic anterior and intermediate uveitis in children. An increase awareness of its efficacy is required among paediatricians and ophthalmologists to prevent sight threatening complication of chronic uveitis and its treatment with long term use of steroids.

The study investigated the extent of live-lihood dependency on forest, socioeconomic characteristics and their relationship with forest dependency in indigenous people of Bundu block in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. The sample for the study was drawn by multi-stage random sampling technique. The data were collected through personal interviews, direct observations, semi-structure interview with key informants and focus group discussion. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to ascertain the relationships between the livelihood dependen-cy on forest in the indigenous households and their socioeconomic characteristics. Results re-veal that the small timber, fuelwood, fodder, sal leaf, lac and tooth brush are the main income generation sources backing up the livelihood needs of the target population. The forest acts as the second prime contributor to livelihoods. The indigenous people are in underprivileged condition with respect to their socioeconomic characteristics. Among the socioeconomic char-acteristics of the indigenous households, educa-tion, social participation, family composition, main occupation, housing status, farm power, farm implements, livestock possession, wealth status and gross annual income had exhibited positively significant correlation with the liveli-hood dependency on forest and age and size of land holding have non-significant association with the livelihood dependency on forest. All the socioeconomic characteristics of the indigenous people put together had contributed to 70.05% (R2= 0.705) variation on the livelihood depend-ency on forest. Further, among these variables, only family composition exercised positive and significant contribution on livelihood dependen-cy on forest. The findings and perspective of the study could be crucial bases in planning and ad-ministration of innovative interventions through various rural developmental installations for all-round development of the indigenous people.

Angelica glauca Edgew., a high value medicinal, aromatic and edible plant species, is native and endemic to the Himalaya region. Due to unsustainable in-situ harvesting, human excessive interference, habitat loss and fragmentation and grazing pressure, the natural populations of the species are at high risk of extinction. The present article gives comprehensive information on distribution, habitat, local names, present status, market value, taxonomic description, active ingredients, traditional and contemporary uses, propagation, agrotechniques and post harvesting process of the species. We suggest that this technology package should be adopted for increasing crop productivity ensuring sustainable supply of raw material and thus, mitigating harvesting pressure on wild populations of the species. Besides effective conservation management and sustainable utilization, the potential of the species should be adequately harnessed for socio-economic development of rural communities in Himalayan region.