Fish is a highly nutritious and perishable food commodity, and its quality is greatly influenced by the biochemical and microbiological changes that occur after death. These changes, known as postmortem changes, play a critical role in determining the freshness, texture, flavour, and storage life of fish and fishery products. After death, the cessation of blood circulation and oxygen supply leads to a shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism in muscle tissues. This results in the depletion of energy reserves such as ATP, breakdown of glycogen into lactic acid, and subsequent alterations in muscle proteins. The process typically progresses through several stages including pre-rigor, rigor mortis, and post-rigor, followed by autolysis and microbial spoilage. These stages cause significant changes in muscle structure, biochemical composition, and sensory characteristics of fish. Factors such as temperature, handling stress, species, and storage conditions strongly influence the rate of these changes. Understanding postmortem changes is essential for the fish processing industry because proper handling, chilling, and preservation techniques can effectively slow down deterioration and maintain product quality.

Increasing water scarcity and the increasing population of the world pose many challenges to sustainable agriculture practices. Hydrogel is a type of material that can be used due to its ability to absorb, retain, and slowly release nutrients and water. In regions where there is a scarcity of water, hydrogel helps crops withstand drought and facilitates growth by retaining soil moisture. Moreover, they play an important role in controlling release of nutrients in agriculture and thereby reducing pollution. Using hydrogels with seeds helps crops grow even in stress conditions. They are also beneficial in contemporary agricultural methods like hydroponics and improving soil properties. Nevertheless, several challenges are associated with synthetic hydrogels such as their exorbitant costs and lack of knowledge among farmers about them.

The Namo Drone Didi scheme, launched by the Government of India in November 2023, has a budget of ?1,261 crore. It aims to deploy agricultural drones to 15,000 Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by 2025?26. This initiative addresses three key issues in Indian agriculture: health risks from manual pesticide use, crop yield losses of 20 to 40% due to imprecise spraying, and a shortage of rural labour caused by urban migration. Under a Drone-as-a- Service model, trained SHG members offer aerial spraying for ?350 to 450 per acre, with projected annual incomes of at least ?1 lakh. The field data show that Kisan drones can cover an acre in just seven to eight minutes. They also cut water use by 80 to 90% and reduce pesticide use by 30 to 40% compared to manual methods. Research indicates a 30% drop in production costs and a 41% rise in net farmer income. Beyond these benefits, the scheme empowers rural women as DGCA-certified agri-tech entrepreneurs, promoting economic participation and gender equity in Indian agriculture.