Farm to Fruit: Principles & Practices is an interdisciplinary academic book that presents agriculture as a connected system involving production, food science, vegetable science, processing, consumers, markets, finance, taxation, media, financial inclusion, and sustainable development. The book brings together contributions from ten professors belonging to different academic fields, with each chapter examining agriculture through the author’s area of specialization while remaining aligned with the central theme.
The book is edited by Dr. Raghvendra Singh and Dr. Ashish Srivastava, both associated with the Faculty of Agriculture and Allied Industries, Rama University. Their academic leadership provides the book with a strong agricultural foundation while encouraging multidisciplinary discussion and practical relevance.
The chapters explore scientific agricultural practices alongside value-chain development, circular economy, agricultural marketing, rural finance, accounting, taxation, consumer perspectives, and communication. This structure helps readers understand agriculture not only as a production activity but also as an economic, commercial, social, and institutional ecosystem.
Published by Govin Publication, the book is suitable for students, researchers, academicians, agricultural professionals, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and readers from agriculture, management, commerce, finance, food science, and allied disciplines.
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Chapter 9
Dr. Jitendra Kumar is an academician and horticulture specialist serving as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Allied Industries, Rama University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture with specialization in Vegetable Science from Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya. His academic and research interests include vegetable production, crop improvement, hydroponics, protected cultivation, post-harvest management, value addition, and sustainable horticultural technologies. He also manages the university’s hydroponic unit and contributes to practical training in fruit and vegetable preservation and processing.
As the author of Chapter 9, “Integrated Crop Management Practices in Vegetable Sciences,” in Farm to Fruit: Principles & Practices, Dr. Kumar examines comprehensive methods for improving vegetable productivity while conserving natural resources. The chapter discusses soil health, nutrient optimization, biofertilizers, organic amendments, crop water requirements, irrigation scheduling, and water-use efficiency. It also explores integrated pest and disease management through cultural, biological, mechanical, and responsible chemical approaches, including insecticide resistance management. The chapter presents integrated crop management as a balanced framework for achieving higher yields, better produce quality, environmental protection, and long-term resilience in vegetable production systems.
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