Assessment of Interfaith Harmony Between Muslims and Hindus in Socio-Cultural Activities in Swat

This research work investigated the interfaith harmony and social cohesion between two different religious followers of Hinduism and Islam in District Swat of Pakistan. The current world is facing various kinds of issues and challenges regarding interfaith harmony, peace and social cohesion. This is need of the time to establish a peaceful and harmonised day to day life standard for all the segments of society. This research was an effort to analyse the willingness among the Hindus and Muslims for enhancing their tolerance towards each other’s social and cultural activities. It also aimed to highlight the positive approach of the respondents towards the participation in the socio-cultural activities of each other. The results of association of social cohesion showed nonsignificant relationship with an opinion that Hindu and Muslim communities should take part in socio-cultural activities particularly the sports. Similarly, non-significant relationship was found based respondents’ data with an opinion that relations between Hindus and Muslims shall enhanced through participation in cultural and religious ceremonies. The result further concluded that there was peaceful and harmonised environment between Hindus and Muslims being living in the target area. The minorities were fully enjoying freedom and equality in District Swat. Based on the findings of the study, positive social interaction, mutual respect, positivity in thinking and positive role of local media have been recommended as policy guidelines for promoting inter-faith harmony.

Insecticide Resistance Management of Tomato Fruit Borer, Helicoverpa Armigera Hübner Lepidoptera Noctuidae Heliothinae , Employing a Bio-Intensive Integrated Pest Management Strategy

The study was conducted on the insecticide-resistance-management of the tomato fruit-borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), employing a bio-intensive integrated management strategy on the tomato crop during 2007 and 2008, at Faisalabad (Punjab), Pakistan. The study comprised of the following four sections: 1. 2. 3. 4. Host Plant Resistance, Role of weather factors in the population fluctuations, Contribution of physio-morphic and chemical plant-characters, in the population fluctuation of the pest, and the Bio-intensive management of H. armigera on tomato crop. Thirty two genotypes of tomato, viz., Tropic Boy, Royesta, Long Tipped, Money- Maker, Ebein, NARC-1, Roma VFN, Pant Bahr, Shalkot-96, Chico-III, Tommy, Nagina, Peelo, Pusba Rubi, Sun-6002, FS-8802, FS-8801, Tanja, Pomodoro, Rio-grande, Rockingbam, Manik, Nadir, Early Mecb, Roma Local, Big Long, Gressilesse, Pakit, Tropic, Nova Mecb, Sahil and Red Top were screened for their resistance against the tomato fruit-borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner.), during 2007. Maximum larval-population and percent infestation of the fruits were observed on Roma VFN, while these were found to be minimum on Sahil. Significant difference was observed among the genotypes, regarding the marketable fruit-yield in kg/plot. Roma VFN (a susceptible genotype), showed a minimum yield of 39.50 kg/plot; while, maximum yield of 99.56 kg/plot, was recorded on Sahil (a resistant genotype). Maximum, minimum and temperatures, each had significant and highly positive correlation with the fruit-infestation; whereas, the relative humidity showed a negative and significant correlation (P < 0.05) during the year 2008, while, during 2007, as well as on the basis of an average for both years, all the factors showed a non-significant correlation with the infestation. Various physio-morphic (hair-density and length of hair on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, and thickness of the leaf-lamina) and chemical plant characters (Moisture, total minerals, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Fat, Crude fiber and CHO) were studied on various selected genotypes of tomato, to determine their effect on the larval- population of the fruit-borer and its infestation of fruits, during 2008. Hair-density on the upper-surface, length of hair on the upper-surface and the thickness of leaf-lamina showed a negative and significant correlation with the larval-population of tomato fruit- borer. Moisture percentage, P, Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn contents exerted a positive and significant correlation with the fruit-infestation; whereas, the effect was negative and significant between the Fe-contents and fruit-infestation. Thickness of the leaf-lamina and moisture percentage in the leaves of tomato plant were the most important and contributed the maximum in the larval-population of tomato fruit-borer, i.e., 16.8 and 35.8 percent, respectively followed by the hair-density on the upper surface of the leaves and CHO with 15.9 and 10.4 percent contribution in the larval population fluctuations of the tomato fruit-borer, respectively. The study was conducted to integrate various control methods, viz., biological control (release of Chrysoperla carnea and Bracon hebetor, each @ 1 card/5-m 2 ), botanical control (spray of neem-seed kernel extract, Neemosol @ 1480 ml/ha), chemical control (spinosad, Tracer 240 SC @ 197.6 ml/ha) and entomopathogenic fungal control (Bacillus thuringiensis @ 2 kg/ha) alone and in all of their possible interactions for the management of Helicoverpa armigera, on the tomato crop, during 2008. These control methods were applied three times on the tomato crop (CV Sahil), after the appearance of the pest. An Integration of B. thuringiensis + tracer + B. hebetor + neemosol and C. carnea, resulted in a maximum yield (305.92 q/ha), lowest larval population of H. armigera and minimum infestation of marketable tomato fruits caused by the pest. This treatment, as such, proved to be the best.