Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) manifests high genetic variability and is classifiable into ten genotypes (A-J). HBV infection can lead to variable clinical outcomes, ranging from self-limiting acute hepatitis to active chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study characterizes HBV strains circulating among patients with acute (AHB) and chronic HBV infection (CHB). Among a total of 653 HBsAg positive cases, 40 manifested acute infection. After sequencing the surface(S), basal core promoter/pre-core(BCP/PC) and the X gene regions, phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA4 by neighbor-joining method. Statistical robustness was established with bootstrap analysis. Nucleotide diversity was determined by Shannon entropy per site using the Entropy program of the Los Alamos National Laboratories. Analyses of acute patients revealed that HBV/D2 is the major circulating sub-genotype and commonly associated with sexual promiscuity and the age group between15-30 years. Comparison of AHB and CHB patients revealed that HBeAg positivity, ALT levels and genotype D were significantly high in AHB, whereas CHB patients were predominantly male, had a high viral load, and were commonly associated with genotype C. The frequencies of mutations in the S, BCP/PC, and X gene were low in AHB as compared to CHB. Drug resistant mutations were not detectable in the polymerase gene of AHB. Average nucleotide diversity in AHB was considerably low as compared to CHB. Further, the highest average ΔH (average difference in entropy between chronic and acute infection) was observed in the BCP/PC region implying that this region was most vulnerable to mutations upon HBV persistence, especially in case of genotype C. Additionally, among all substitutions, the A1762T and G1764A BCP mutations were the strongest indicators of chronicity. In conclusion, the study exhibits a general portrait of HBV strains circulating among acute hepatitis B patients in Eastern India and their intricate differences with chronic patients which should be useful from the clinical point of view.

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A farmer-participatory field experiment was conducted in Tripura, NE India to find out the relative efficiency of integrated use of leaf colour chart (LCC), alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and system of rice intensification (SRI). The rice was grown during the rabi (2012–13 to 2014–15) under two crop stand establishment methods of, system of rice intensification (SRI), and Conventional Rice Culture (CRC). The results of AWD for the water management in rice farming under SRI revealed that ~30% of irrigation water can be saved over conventional flooding method. The use of LCC was helpful to ascertain the amount of N fertilizer and its time of application for maintaining an optimal leaf N content and achieving higher rice yield. Agronomic efficiency (AEN) was significantly higher (73%), which resulted in more than 47% higher yield and N uptake over recommended N application. The adoption of AWD and N application with LCC (< 4) timing were the optimum and best methods of water and N management for transplanted rice under SRI.

Increasing productivity of crops ensure the food and nutritional security of the farmers which depends upon the soil fertility and productivity. Pulses can play a vital role in nutritional requirement and also increases the fertility status of the soil. In Tripura state, pulses are grown in very small area using mostly local varieties. Area under different pulses crop in Tripura is 5361 ha (2008-09) and production is 3496 MT. In general, farmers do not follow scientific package of practices due to which the productivity of pulses is only 600 kg/ha. With a view to increase the productivity level of pulses and nutritional security of the farmers family of South Tripura, 60 front line demonstration (FLD) on three pulse crops like lentil, Moong and Arhar was undertaken during Kharif and Rabi season of 2008-10 by Krishi Vigyan Kendra of South Tripura. The objective of the FLD on pulses was to demonstrate the potential of improved varieties and technologies to the farmers. Five villages were identified through PRA method. Awareness programme and training on scientific cultivation practices of lentil, Moong and Arhar were conducted before starting the FLD. Besides imparting training, printed leaflets on pulses were distributed among the farmers for their ready reference. Field day programme was also conducted in the farmer's field in standing crop. Altogether 12 ha area of pulses was covered under this programme. Improved variety of lentil (WBL-58), Moong (HUM-16) and Arhar (Narendra-1) were demonstrated for obtaining higher yield as compared to local varieties and traditional method of cultivation. Yield percentage increased from 21.43 to 40 per cent. Farmers earned upto Rs. 43,000/-by selling pulses crops in the local market. The enhanced production through the demonstration of improved technologies with improved varieties in pulses helping farmers for its adoption for achieving the nutritional security (protein) of their family.How to cite this article : Chakraborti, Mandira (2015). Boosting of pulse productivity through front line demonstration to improve the nutritional security of the farmers of Tripura. Agric. Update, 10(4): 323-326.

In South Tripura district groundnut is grown in very small pocket using local varieties. In general, farmers do not follow scientific package of practices and not using the improved variety due to which the productivity of groundnut is only 1200 kg/ha. With a view to increase the productivity level of groundnut in the district total 80 numbers of demonstration has been taken covering 17 ha area in six selected villages during Kharif and Rabi season of 2011and 2012 by KVK, South Tripura. The objective of the FLD on groundnut was to demonstrate the potential of improved varieties and technologies to the farmers. Awareness programme and training on scientific cultivation practices of groundnut was conducted before starting the demonstration programme. Besides imparting training, printed leaflets on groundnut were distributed among the farmers for their ready reference. Field day programme was also conducted in the farmer's field in standing crop. Improved variety of groundnut viz., GG-7 and GG-20 were demonstrated for obtaining higher yield as compared to local varieties and traditional method of cultivation. Increase in yield percentage varies from 26.83 to 50.43 per cent for both the varieties over the local check. Farmers earned upto Rs. 38550/-for both the varieties by selling the groundnut in the local market.