The different aspects of entomophagy and entomotherapy used by ethnic people in Bangladesh were d... more The different aspects of entomophagy and entomotherapy used by ethnic people in Bangladesh were documented. A comprehensive survey was conducted on the entomophagy practice of the ethnic communities in Bangladesh as only ethnic people consume insects in Bangladesh. From the 9 largest ethnic groups, 6 groups i.e. Garo, Chakma, Tanchangya, Marma, Mro, and Tripura consume insects. A total of 36 insect species from 19 families and 8 orders were consumed by the six ethnic groups of Bangladesh. In terms of insect orders, Coleoptera ranked the highest in number (14 species) followed by Hymenoptera (7 species), Orthoptera (5 species), Hemiptera (5 species) and Dictyoptera (2 species) while only 1 species was consumed from Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Isoptera. In terms of preference, field cricket ( Brachytrupes sp.), short horned grasshopper ( Oxya sp.) and giant water bug ( Lethocerus indicus ) were the top three insect species consumed by 84%, 83%, and 79% of the total ethnic respondents, respectively. Individual survey indicated that the Chakma, Marma, Mro, Tanchangya, Tripura and Garo ethnic people consumed 32, 22, 29, 21, 26 and 14 species of edible insects, respectively. Nine insect species are used for medicinal purposes against cough, fever, nocturnal emission, burning and gastroenteritis. Generally ethnic peoples collect insects from their natural habitat, consumed mostly as snacks, and complete meal. Availability of edible insects is highly dependent on seasons. Despite the consumer demand, insect consumption is decreasing gradually, mainly due to the unavailability of insects resulting from random application of pesticides and fertilizers in the fields. Top three entomophagic constraints of the respondents included lack of knowledge about modern insect rearing, insect harvesting and storage facilities of insects. Our study concluded that Bangladesh has large entomophagic ethnic communities with a diverse group of edible insect species.
Eradication of poverty is an important objective of economic policy. Therefore, measurement of po... more Eradication of poverty is an important objective of economic policy. Therefore, measurement of poverty has to be sound as it has significant policy implications. This paper presents the methodology followed by the Expert Group (Rangarajan) and explains some of the issues that were raised after the publication of the Report. Apart from the methodology, some of the issues discussed in the paper are: use of calories, multi-dimensional poverty, urban poverty, NAS (National Accounts Statistics)-NSS (National Sample Survey) consumption differences, poverty measures in other countries, public expenditure and poverty, NSS and SECC (socio-economic caste census), headcount and depth of poverty, inequality and poverty and, criteria for eligibility under programmes. The methodology adopted by the new group on poverty is based on sound principles. However, as the group has clearly indicated, this measure is not considered as an appropriate basis for determining entitlements under various programmes. But to obtain a general picture of the progress of the country, a suitable measure on poverty is useful. It represents absolute minimum. Obviously, policy should work towards not only to reduce the number of people below that line but also ensure that people in general enjoy a much higher standard of living. Policy makers must continue to follow the two-fold strategy of letting the economy grow fast and attacking poverty directly through poverty alleviation programmes.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Development Paper are those of the author(s) and should n... more Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Development Paper are those of the author(s) and should not necessarily be considered as reflecting the views or carrying the endorsement of the United Nations. Development Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. This publication has been issued without formal editing.
India took early action to limit the spread of COVID-19, ordering a 21-day nationwide lockdown fo... more India took early action to limit the spread of COVID-19, ordering a 21-day nationwide lockdown for its population of 1.3 billion people starting March 25. Subsequently the lockdown was extended three more times before May 31. The unlocking of India began June 1, except in containment zones. The novel coronavirus has spread widely in India and the number of reported infections is 217,000, with relatively few deaths, at 6,075, as of June 4. However, as COVID-19 cases are increasing fast, there is great concern about the disease's potential spread and impact. India has to be ready for a possible surge. The government views the pattern of the spread of COVID-19 as similar to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, meaning the spread is unlikely to be uniform. It is concentrated in a few big cities and states and its spread is less in rural areas and smaller towns and cities.
The prospective benefit of mHealth can be expected to revolutionize health service profileworldwi... more The prospective benefit of mHealth can be expected to revolutionize health service profileworldwide. mHealth consist of short message service (SMS), web based interventions, smart phoneapplications and telehealth. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is now familiar among women in theirreproductive age as a disorder affecting them irrespective of their age. Young women in India have highprevalence of PCOS ranging from 9.13 to 36 per cent. PCOS inclines young women at a greater risk ofdeveloping insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome as well as cardiovascular disease. Hundred youngwomen aged 19-25 years were selected from ten hostels located in Coimbatore city, Tamil Nadu.Formulation of the interview schedule was done as a tool to assess the information of the locale, theirhealth status, lifestyle practice and physical activity level. The tools used for dietary assessment included24 hour dietary recall carried out for three consecutive days and a questionnaire to know their frequencyof...
There is a coexistence of undernutrition, over-nutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies in India... more There is a coexistence of undernutrition, over-nutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies in India. A structural shift in the dietary pattern and nutrition transition is observed. The contribution of cereals to calorie and protein intake is high, and an increased share of non-cereals items in calories and protein intake is reflected. The consumption of unhealthy foods has increased. Widespread adoption of healthy diets may lead to some adverse environmental impacts. Multi-pronged strategies with increased coverage, better targeting, change in the design, higher allocations of funds, and coordination between different policies and programmes to achieve SDG 2 targets are required. Pathways for nutritional security consist of improving dietary diversity, kitchen gardens, reducing postharvest losses, bio-fortification of staples with its inclusion in safety net programmes, women’s empowerment, enforcement of standards and regulations, improving WASH, nutrition education, and effective us...
Natural Resource Management and Policy, Oct 21, 2017
In this section, we present the results of a consultation with a panel of leading thinkers on agr... more In this section, we present the results of a consultation with a panel of leading thinkers on agricultural and climate change policy. We interviewed these experts using a set of questions based on the main findings, conclusions, insights and questions that emerged from our set of case studies and conceptual papers. This section is divided into four parts, each focusing on a set of questions relating to the conclusions that emerged from the case study and conceptual chapters. (i) Focus on changes in production systems as adaptation: priorities and policy actions; (ii) Incorporating climate change into agricultural research and extension; (iii) Taking a close look at national policies affecting risk management: index insurance, safety nets and input subsidies and (iv) Priorities for the future and summary of main points. Overall, there is a fairly high level of agreement amongst the panel members in responding to most of the interview questions, although with some difference in emphasis or applications. However there are also some differences of opinion that emerge from their responses. In this chapter, we discuss the main points made on each of the issues addressed, highlighting the areas of agreement, as well as differences. P. Caron (*) CIRAD,
A multidimensional Sustainable Energy Security (SES) index is developed. The SES index evaluates ... more A multidimensional Sustainable Energy Security (SES) index is developed. The SES index evaluates the performance of the energy demand sub-system using 23 metrics. Dimensional indices are calculated for 2002, 2007 and 2012 for various sectors for India. The aggregate demand sub-system SES index shows an increase by 10% from 2002 to 2012. The index is 30% short of the target implying a large scope for improvement.
The different aspects of entomophagy and entomotherapy used by ethnic people in Bangladesh were d... more The different aspects of entomophagy and entomotherapy used by ethnic people in Bangladesh were documented. A comprehensive survey was conducted on the entomophagy practice of the ethnic communities in Bangladesh as only ethnic people consume insects in Bangladesh. From the 9 largest ethnic groups, 6 groups i.e. Garo, Chakma, Tanchangya, Marma, Mro, and Tripura consume insects. A total of 36 insect species from 19 families and 8 orders were consumed by the six ethnic groups of Bangladesh. In terms of insect orders, Coleoptera ranked the highest in number (14 species) followed by Hymenoptera (7 species), Orthoptera (5 species), Hemiptera (5 species) and Dictyoptera (2 species) while only 1 species was consumed from Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Isoptera. In terms of preference, field cricket ( Brachytrupes sp.), short horned grasshopper ( Oxya sp.) and giant water bug ( Lethocerus indicus ) were the top three insect species consumed by 84%, 83%, and 79% of the total ethnic respondents, respectively. Individual survey indicated that the Chakma, Marma, Mro, Tanchangya, Tripura and Garo ethnic people consumed 32, 22, 29, 21, 26 and 14 species of edible insects, respectively. Nine insect species are used for medicinal purposes against cough, fever, nocturnal emission, burning and gastroenteritis. Generally ethnic peoples collect insects from their natural habitat, consumed mostly as snacks, and complete meal. Availability of edible insects is highly dependent on seasons. Despite the consumer demand, insect consumption is decreasing gradually, mainly due to the unavailability of insects resulting from random application of pesticides and fertilizers in the fields. Top three entomophagic constraints of the respondents included lack of knowledge about modern insect rearing, insect harvesting and storage facilities of insects. Our study concluded that Bangladesh has large entomophagic ethnic communities with a diverse group of edible insect species.
Eradication of poverty is an important objective of economic policy. Therefore, measurement of po... more Eradication of poverty is an important objective of economic policy. Therefore, measurement of poverty has to be sound as it has significant policy implications. This paper presents the methodology followed by the Expert Group (Rangarajan) and explains some of the issues that were raised after the publication of the Report. Apart from the methodology, some of the issues discussed in the paper are: use of calories, multi-dimensional poverty, urban poverty, NAS (National Accounts Statistics)-NSS (National Sample Survey) consumption differences, poverty measures in other countries, public expenditure and poverty, NSS and SECC (socio-economic caste census), headcount and depth of poverty, inequality and poverty and, criteria for eligibility under programmes. The methodology adopted by the new group on poverty is based on sound principles. However, as the group has clearly indicated, this measure is not considered as an appropriate basis for determining entitlements under various programmes. But to obtain a general picture of the progress of the country, a suitable measure on poverty is useful. It represents absolute minimum. Obviously, policy should work towards not only to reduce the number of people below that line but also ensure that people in general enjoy a much higher standard of living. Policy makers must continue to follow the two-fold strategy of letting the economy grow fast and attacking poverty directly through poverty alleviation programmes.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Development Paper are those of the author(s) and should n... more Disclaimer: The views expressed in this Development Paper are those of the author(s) and should not necessarily be considered as reflecting the views or carrying the endorsement of the United Nations. Development Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. This publication has been issued without formal editing.
India took early action to limit the spread of COVID-19, ordering a 21-day nationwide lockdown fo... more India took early action to limit the spread of COVID-19, ordering a 21-day nationwide lockdown for its population of 1.3 billion people starting March 25. Subsequently the lockdown was extended three more times before May 31. The unlocking of India began June 1, except in containment zones. The novel coronavirus has spread widely in India and the number of reported infections is 217,000, with relatively few deaths, at 6,075, as of June 4. However, as COVID-19 cases are increasing fast, there is great concern about the disease's potential spread and impact. India has to be ready for a possible surge. The government views the pattern of the spread of COVID-19 as similar to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, meaning the spread is unlikely to be uniform. It is concentrated in a few big cities and states and its spread is less in rural areas and smaller towns and cities.
The prospective benefit of mHealth can be expected to revolutionize health service profileworldwi... more The prospective benefit of mHealth can be expected to revolutionize health service profileworldwide. mHealth consist of short message service (SMS), web based interventions, smart phoneapplications and telehealth. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is now familiar among women in theirreproductive age as a disorder affecting them irrespective of their age. Young women in India have highprevalence of PCOS ranging from 9.13 to 36 per cent. PCOS inclines young women at a greater risk ofdeveloping insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome as well as cardiovascular disease. Hundred youngwomen aged 19-25 years were selected from ten hostels located in Coimbatore city, Tamil Nadu.Formulation of the interview schedule was done as a tool to assess the information of the locale, theirhealth status, lifestyle practice and physical activity level. The tools used for dietary assessment included24 hour dietary recall carried out for three consecutive days and a questionnaire to know their frequencyof...
There is a coexistence of undernutrition, over-nutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies in India... more There is a coexistence of undernutrition, over-nutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies in India. A structural shift in the dietary pattern and nutrition transition is observed. The contribution of cereals to calorie and protein intake is high, and an increased share of non-cereals items in calories and protein intake is reflected. The consumption of unhealthy foods has increased. Widespread adoption of healthy diets may lead to some adverse environmental impacts. Multi-pronged strategies with increased coverage, better targeting, change in the design, higher allocations of funds, and coordination between different policies and programmes to achieve SDG 2 targets are required. Pathways for nutritional security consist of improving dietary diversity, kitchen gardens, reducing postharvest losses, bio-fortification of staples with its inclusion in safety net programmes, women’s empowerment, enforcement of standards and regulations, improving WASH, nutrition education, and effective us...
Natural Resource Management and Policy, Oct 21, 2017
In this section, we present the results of a consultation with a panel of leading thinkers on agr... more In this section, we present the results of a consultation with a panel of leading thinkers on agricultural and climate change policy. We interviewed these experts using a set of questions based on the main findings, conclusions, insights and questions that emerged from our set of case studies and conceptual papers. This section is divided into four parts, each focusing on a set of questions relating to the conclusions that emerged from the case study and conceptual chapters. (i) Focus on changes in production systems as adaptation: priorities and policy actions; (ii) Incorporating climate change into agricultural research and extension; (iii) Taking a close look at national policies affecting risk management: index insurance, safety nets and input subsidies and (iv) Priorities for the future and summary of main points. Overall, there is a fairly high level of agreement amongst the panel members in responding to most of the interview questions, although with some difference in emphasis or applications. However there are also some differences of opinion that emerge from their responses. In this chapter, we discuss the main points made on each of the issues addressed, highlighting the areas of agreement, as well as differences. P. Caron (*) CIRAD,
A multidimensional Sustainable Energy Security (SES) index is developed. The SES index evaluates ... more A multidimensional Sustainable Energy Security (SES) index is developed. The SES index evaluates the performance of the energy demand sub-system using 23 metrics. Dimensional indices are calculated for 2002, 2007 and 2012 for various sectors for India. The aggregate demand sub-system SES index shows an increase by 10% from 2002 to 2012. The index is 30% short of the target implying a large scope for improvement.
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