Indian agriculture is at a critical juncture, facing challenges of declining soil fertility, rising input costs, climate variability, and livestock health concerns. Traditionally, apiculture has been practiced as a stand-alone enterprise focused on honey production. However, recent innovations highlight its potential as an integrated component of farming systems. This article explores the concept of “Beehives in Barnyards”, a practical and science-based approach that combines apiculture, crop farming, and veterinary science into a single sustainable model. By placing beehives near barns and crop fields, farmers can harness enhanced pollination services to improve crop yields, utilize bee-derived products such as honey and propolis for natural veterinary remedies, and diversify income streams through honey, wax, and other apicultural products. Case studies from Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, and Assam demonstrate how this integration improves productivity, reduces dependence on chemical inputs, strengthens animal health, and creates new market opportunities. The approach aligns with India’s vision of climate-smart agriculture and offers a pathway toward holistic rural prosperity by bridging agriculture and animal husbandry.

This study presents the first parasitological investigation of two commercially important fish species: the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and the red scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa) from the Misurata local market in Libya. A total of 40 specimens, with 20 specimens per species, were examined for Anisakis spp. infections in their digestive tracts, gills, and livers. The prevalence of Anisakis spp. was found to be 80% in S. scombrus and 40% in S. scrofa, with a statistically significant difference (P≤0.05) in the infection rates between the 2 species. Additionally, S. scombrus showed a significantly higher infection intensity, with the heaviest burden of parasites concentrated in the digestive system. The distribution of Anisakis spp. across different organs varied by host species. These findings highlight distinct infection profiles that are likely influenced by differences in host ecology and feeding behaviour. The results of this study provide an important baseline for food safety and fisheries management in the region.

Medicinal plants have traditionally played a vital role in conventional medical practices by providing therapeutic effects and contributing to the development of recent drugs. However, increased urbanisation and ecological loss are threatening the integrity of ethnobotanical knowledge. To address this concern, the present study aims to describe native utilisation of medicinal plants along with traditional knowledge systems in Tehsil Kadipur, Haryana, India. A systematic ethnobotanical investigation was conducted from December 2023 to March 2024. Standardised questionnaires and structured interviews with local informants were used to gather data. Quantitative ethnobotanical indicators, including Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were used to examine the obtained information. The evaluation identified 32 botanical groups and 62 species of therapeutic plants. The Asteraceae family was the most represented with seven species, followed by Fabaceae (5 species), and Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae (4 species each). Trees, shrubs, herbs, and climbers were among the various living forms that were reported. Decoction became the most popular preparation technique, while leaves became the most used plant element. Ocimum tenuiflorum L. had the strongest cultural and therapeutic relevance, with the highest RFC value (0.79). Plant species utilised for treating immunological illnesses showed the highest ICF score (0.56), showing substantial agreement among informants regarding their usefulness. The study underlines the critical need for conservation techniques and community-based initiatives to maintain both plant biodiversity and traditional medical practices. Such activities are crucial for supporting future pharmacological research, encouraging sustainable healthcare, and protecting cultural heritage.

The younger generation's increasing disconnection from their cultural roots and traditional practices has led to a decline in the transmission of valuable ethnobotanical knowledge. This study was carried out in Dolakha District to see if there are significant differences in number of plants known, identifying number of plants, number of known plants for ailments treated and number of plant species whose parts to be collected known across different generations: Young generation (15-30 years), mid-generation (31-50 years), Older generation (>50 years). Also, factors (Education, gender, distance from forest and age) influencing ethnobotanical knowledge were examined. Purposive sampling was used and key informants (n=8) were interviewed to list and document plants, their part used and ailment treated in the study area. In total, 72 plant species were documented. Documentation from key informants served as a basis for comparing knowledge across generations. Stratified sampling was carried out. The population was divided into 3 groups: Younger generation (n=40), Mid- generation (n=40) and Older generation (n=40). ANOVA test was applied. Alternative hypothesis was accepted indicating significant differences in number of plants known, identifying number of plants, number of known plants for ailments. In average, young generation can identify 19.825 fewer plants than the middle generation and 29.825 fewer plants than Old generation. In average, Number of Plants Whose Parts to Be Collected Known by young generation was 18.400 lesser than Middle generation and 29.500 lesser than Old generation. The average Number of Plants Known for Medicinal Use by Young generation was 20.400 less than that of middle generation and 30.775 lesser than Old generation. The difference in knowledge across generations shows that if the traditional medicinal knowledge tends to decrease over generations in such a way, there is high threat in loss of such knowledge from entire community. This discrepancy indicated a disconnection of younger generation from traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. The reliance on oral traditions fully without documentation results risk of losing such invaluable ethnobotanical knowledge as older generations pass away.

Agricultural livelihoods in Afghanistan’s central highlands are highly dependent on snowmelt and seasonal precipitation, rendering them acutely vulnerable to climatic variability and environmental stress. This study examines the combined effects of climate change and rural air pollution on water availability, agricultural productivity, and human capital in the snow- and rain-fed provinces of Daikundi, Bamyan, and Ghor. Existing research largely remains at the national scale and fails to capture how seasonal precipitation shifts interact with rural pollution sources to shape provincial-level agricultural and socio-economic outcomes. To address this gap, the study applies a qualitative synthesis of secondary data, integrating provincial climate indices, national precipitation trend analyses, hydrological observations of springs and kariz systems, agricultural yield studies, food security assessments, and socio-economic evidence within environmental production and human capital frameworks. The findings indicate that timing and variability risks, earlier snowmelt, declining winter–spring precipitation, and longer consecutive dry periods, now rival volumetric rainfall decline in constraining growing seasons, disrupting groundwater recharge, and reducing crop yields. Concurrently, chronic rural air pollution from biomass fuels, coal, and diesel-powered irrigation imposes cumulative burdens on crop photosynthesis, household health, and labor productivity, intensifying food insecurity, distress migration, and educational withdrawal. Together, these interacting pressures undermine environmental, social, and economic sustainability by accelerating groundwater depletion, widening inequality, and eroding human capital, highlighting the necessity of province-level climate governance, sustainable water management, and cleaner rural energy pathways to strengthen long-term resilience in Afghanistan’s central highlands.

Ecotourism, as a sustainable tourism model, offers a significant opportunity for environmental preservation and community advancement. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), characterised by its rich biodiversity, remarkable landscapes, and cultural legacy, ecotourism holds substantial potential to advance the region's sustainable development. This study examines the present condition of ecotourism in the KRI, evaluating the opportunities and obstacles it encounters. The researchers analyse the environmental, social, and economic effects of ecotourism, emphasising critical aspects such as biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage preservation, and community engagement. The results indicate that although the KRI possesses significant ecotourism potential, certain difficulties, including environmental deterioration, political instability, and inadequate infrastructure, need to be resolved. The paper ends with suggestions for improving sustainable ecotourism in the KRI, stressing the importance of careful planning, getting everyone involved, and creating helpful policies to ensure that ecotourism benefits the area's environmental and social goals.

In an era defined by technological advancement and human superiority over the Earth’s systems, the health of our natural environment do not stands good. Climate extremes, biodiversity collapse, soil degradation, freshwater scarcity and oceanic pollution are not isolated crises but they are interconnected symptoms of a planetary system under acute anthropogenic stress. As scientists, policymakers and global citizens, we share an urgent, non-negotiable responsibility to conserve the environment not merely as an ethical duty but as a prerequisite for human survival.

Convective hot air drying is extensively used for processing potatoes; nonetheless, the blanching conditions strongly influence the processing outcomes. This research examined the influence of blanching time (3, 4, and 5 minutes) on the physical, colour, structural, and rehydration attributes of potato flakes dried by convective hot air drying. The parameters assessed included bulk density, true density, porosity, moisture content, colour coordinates (L* and b*), and rehydration ratio. An increment in blanching time led to reduced bulk density and final moisture content; moreover, porosity was improved, implying more efficient diffusion of moisture during the convective hot air-drying process. Colour attributes were significantly impacted, and moderate blanching yielded enhanced brightness; nonetheless, apparent blanching led to deteriorated colour and heightened yellow chroma. The rehydration property was not linear, attributed to blanching-mediated changes in the structural attributes. The findings underscore the pivotal influence of blanching time on structure, mass transfer, and processing-quality relationships during convective hot air drying of potatoes. Therefore, blanching time optimisation is paramount for closing the efficiency-quality gaps.