International Journal of Social Sciences and Management

Approaches to Online Evaluation in Higher Education in the Emergency Shift of COVID – 19: An Empirical Study of West Bengal

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This paper tried to assess the approaches adopted in online evaluation system during COVID 19 pandemic in higher education. Day to day teaching learning as well as the evaluation system have been significantly affected during the emergency shift of COVID 19. The main objectives of this paper were to study the different practices of evaluation system; its, validity and effectiveness; and institutional preparedness to conduct the whole process of online evaluation. The paper also highlighted the issues and challenges faced by the students during formative and summative evaluation. Self-made online questionnaire was distributed to the college and university students and teachers of West Bengal. Descriptive survey method was used to collect data and simple percentage analysis was used for data analysis. It is found that the system was not ready for the rapid change. Sudden changes made the evaluation system a mess. The summative evaluation followed the same pattern of question papers. Only the pattern of formative evaluation was different. Online media and devices were used rigorously. This emergent shift in evaluation in turn has encouraged students to copy from internet. Unethical issues were present due to the absence of the teachers. That leads to several misconducts and cheating. Higher education institutions followed their own customized system for evaluation. Students’ satisfaction and institutional preparedness were also not up to the mark. It was failed to differentiate between the high and low achievers.

Status of Ginger (Gingiber officinale), Large Cardamom (Amomum subulatum) and Tea (Camellia sinensis) In Koshi Province, Nepal

Raju Poudel, Rishi Ram Kattel, Shiva Chandra Dhakal — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The study was conducted in Koshi Province in Nepal to review the status of ginger, large cardamom and tea through trend analysis and Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis techniques. The area contribution of ginger in Koshi Province to the nation was found 34.32%, where the contribution on national production was found 36.61%. Productivity of ginger was found in the increasing trend until 2006/07, slightly decreased in 2007/08 and 2008/09, lowered in 2014/15 A.D. The area contribution of Large Cardamom in Koshi Province to the nation was found 90.9%, where the contribution on national production was found 90.8%. Productivity of Large cardamom was in the increasing trend until 2008/09, slightly decreased in 2009/10 and 2010/11, lowered in 2014/15 A.D. The area contribution of Tea in Koshi Province to the nation was found 90.26%, where the contribution on national production was found 96.73%. In 2003/04 productivity of Tea was in the increasing trend until 2013/14, slightly decreased for five consecutive years (2014/15 to 2018/19), lowered in 2016/17 A.D. All the parameters of production status (area, production, and productivity) of these commodities were found increasing in the national context. Results from study clearly revealed that, collection and auction market point establishment, fixation of minimum ceiling/ floor price, value chain alliance and financing strategy and plan development, effective insurance scheme and access to loan mechanism, post-harvest handling practices at the farm level need to be developed to increase the area, production and productivity of these high value commodities in Koshi Province of Nepal which have great prospects and significance in the global markets.

Modern Technology and Scope of Precision Agriculture (PA)

Dak Khadka — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Traditional agriculture practices are time consuming, less productive and uneconomic. Due to uncontrolled use of resources and inputs frequently occurred by farmers caused environmental degradation, land loss and economic loss of farmers. Smart farming known as Precision agriculture which uses the modern technology and tools such as Global position system, Geographic information system, remote sensing and information and communication in integrations provides detail information about crop growth, soil conditions, nutrient level, irrigation systems as data sets which helps to take decisions in right time so that it increases the crop productivity. The use of tools like GPS, GIS and Remote sensing optimize the use of natural resources and inputs for a given crop production and quality. Agriculture becomes more productive and consistent by digital technology and effective use of resources and time. The main gist of this study is to present the scope and implications of the precision agriculture (PA) in future.