Measuring the agricultural sustainability of India:An application of Pressure-State-Response(PSR)model

Analyzing agricultural sustainability is essential for designing and assessing rural development initiatives.However,accurately measuring agricultural sustainability is complicated since it involves so many different factors.This study provides a new suite of quantitative indicators for assessing agricultural sustainability at regional and district levels,involving environmental sustainability,social security,and economic security.Combining the PressureState-Response(PSR)model and indicator approach,this study creates a composite agricultural sustainability index for the 14 mainstream agro-climatic regions of India.The results of this study show that the Trans-Gengatic Plain Region(TGPR)ranks first in agricultural sustainability among India's 14 mainstream agro-climatic regions,while the Eastern Himalayan Region(EHR)ranks last.Higher livestock ownership,cropping intensity,per capita income,irrigation intensity,share of institutional credit,food grain productivity,crop diversification,awareness of minimum support price,knowledge sharing with fellow farmers,and young and working population,as well as better transportation facilities and membership of agricultural credit societies are influencing indicators responsible for higher agricultural sustainability in TGPR compared with EHR.Although,the scores of environmental sustainability indicators of EHR are quite good,its scores of social and economic security indicators are fairly low,putting it at the bottom of the rank of agricultural sustainability index among the 14 mainstream agroclimatic regions in India.This demonstrates the need of understanding agricultural sustainability in relation to social and economic dimensions.In a nation as diverse and complicated as India,it is the social structure that determines the health of the economy and environment.Last but not least,the sustainability assessment methodology may be used in a variety of India's agro-climatic regions.

From open to laparoscopic adrenalectomy: a review of 16-year experience

Objective To review the experience with adrenal surgery which was associated with significant morbidity and notable mortality in the past, although laparoscopic approach is beginning to be accepted as the procedure of choice Methods The indications and results of adrenalectomy in 104 patients (36 men, 68 women) over the past 16 years were reviewed Any potential improvement of surgical results over time was analyzed Results Ninety three patients (89%) had functional problems while malignancy was present in 11 patients (11%) Anterior approach was employed in 27 patients, posterior in 56, lateral in 10, and laparoscopic in 11 One patient required conversion from laparoscopic to anterior approach No operative mortality was seen, but the morbidity occurred in 16 7% Complication rate decreased significantly in this study period (1981 1990 versus 1991 1996, 22% versus 5%; P =0 02) Laparoscopic adrenalec^tomy was successfully performed for 59% of the patients requiring adrenalectomy recently, compared to 68% of posterior adrenalectomy in the past Conclusions Adrenal surgery is a safe procedure, associated with acceptable morbidity, which has decreased over time Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is becoming the preferred approach for the majority of patients requiring adrenalectomy