Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology

Employability Challenges and Solutions from the Perspective of Agricultural Graduates in Andhra Pradesh

2026-06-26T07:01:17+00:00

Background: Agricultural education produces skilled human resources, yet agricultural graduates continue to face difficulties in securing suitable employment. Empirical evidence on graduates’ perceptions of job-seeking constraints and institutional responses remains limited in Andhra Pradesh.

Aims: This study identified the challenges faced by agricultural graduates in obtaining employment and documented their suggestions for improving employability through academic and extracurricular support.

Study Design: Exploratory research design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Andhra Pradesh during 2025.

Methodology: Data were collected from 120 B.Sc. (Agriculture) graduates who had completed their degree programmes during the academic years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 from S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, and Agricultural College, Bapatla, under Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University. Sixty respondents were randomly selected from each college. An unstructured questionnaire with open-ended questions was administered through Google Forms. Responses were read, coded, grouped into thematic categories and analysed using multiple-response analysis. Frequencies and percentages were calculated based on the total number of respondents, and challenges and suggestions were ranked according to frequency.

Results: The leading challenges were lack of awareness of available job opportunities other than sales and marketing roles (32.50%), high competition due to limited vacancies in the government and private sectors (30.83%), and limited career guidance and placement support during graduation (26.67%). Other challenges included insufficient efforts to enhance personal skills, employer preference for experienced candidates, low pay scales, limited industry-specific exposure, weak professional networks and mismatch between available jobs and graduates’ expectations. Students suggested regular campus recruitment drives (35.00%), industry-linked internships and industrial visits (28.33%), certification courses in frontier agricultural technologies, personality development sessions, industry-relevant courses, stronger placement cells, alumni interactions, and participation in seminars and hackathons.

Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for stronger placement support, industry exposure and skill-oriented curricular inputs to improve agricultural graduate employability.

Assessment of Farmers' Preference for Moth Bean Traits and Production Constraints in Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, India

2026-06-26T10:32:23+00:00

Moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia), locally known as Nari Payiru, is an important pulse crop cultivated by resource-poor farmers in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, mainly during the winter season. The study assessed farmers' varietal and trait preferences, yield dynamics, production economics, marketing behaviour and major production constraints in the crop. Data were collected from 120 respondents through focus group discussions in the high-production blocks of Vikravandi, Mailam, Vallam and Marakkanam. Yield and cost-related information was validated through front-line demonstrations at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Villupuram, and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Garrett's ranking technique. Among the evaluated varieties, TMV 1 was ranked first by farmers, followed by CAZRI Moth bean 6. Farmers prioritised maturity duration, plant habit and drought hardiness as preferred traits. Moth bean cultivation in the study area was characterised by low-input, rainfed management, with average yields of 1,500-1,600 kg/ha, although yields as low as 200 kg/ha were recorded under adverse climatic conditions. At an average cultivation cost of Rs. 46,400/ha and an average sale price of Rs. 80/kg, the gross income was approximately Rs. 1,27,600/ha, with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.75. The major constraints were climate-related yield variability, price fluctuation, yellow mosaic virus, insect damage, seed availability and marketing issues.

Role of Agricultural Policies in Promoting the Sustainability of Food Security in Benin

2026-06-27T12:21:42+00:00

Food security remains a central challenge for agricultural and social development in Benin, particularly in a context marked by climate variability, economic pressure and persistent rural vulnerability. This study examined the role of agricultural policies in promoting the sustainability of food security in Benin. A qualitative approach was adopted, combining a documentary review with semi-structured interviews conducted with 11 stakeholders involved in the formulation or implementation of agricultural and food-security interventions. The respondents were drawn from macro- and meso-level institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Departmental Directorate of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Territorial Agencies for Agricultural Development and non-governmental organisations operating in food and nutrition security. The analysis was organised around the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilisation and stability. It also considered the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The findings show that agricultural policies in Benin have mainly contributed to improving food availability through support for production, input access, agricultural infrastructure, technical assistance and the promotion of priority value chains. Food utilisation is also supported through institutional mechanisms, sanitary standards, nutrition awareness, dietary diversification and culinary demonstrations. However, access to food remains weakened by household income constraints, price instability, limited market differentiation for agroecological products and insufficient economic empowerment of vulnerable groups. Stability is the most fragile pillar, as interventions often depend on project-based support and face limited financial and human resources for long-term follow-up. The study concludes that agricultural policies integrate sustainability principles, but their implementation remains uneven and insufficiently balanced across all food-security pillars.

Students’ Confidence, Personality Development, and Communication Competence: Essence of Communication and Public Speaking Workshop

2026-06-30T09:03:55+00:00

Effective communication and public speaking skills are essential for students’ academic participation, confidence and professional readiness. This study assessed undergraduate students’ perceptions of a three-day communication and public speaking workshop conducted at NAHEP, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, from 16 to 18 April 2026. A descriptive survey design was used, with purposive sampling to select students who were interested in developing communication competencies and had not previously attended formal public speaking training. Of the 40 students enrolled, feedback was obtained from 21 consenting respondents, giving a response rate of 52.5%. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising 12 five-point Likert-scale items and open-ended questions on perceived confidence changes and suggestions for improvement. Responses were analysed using percentage analysis, mean score, standard deviation and weighted mean ranking in Microsoft Excel. The findings indicated favourable participant evaluations across workshop content, trainer communication, activities, pacing, learning environment and overall satisfaction, with mean scores ranging from 4.38 to 4.76. The learning environment received the highest mean score, whereas activities related to speaking confidence received the lowest but still positive mean score. Self-reported low confidence declined from 57.14% before the workshop to 0.00% after the workshop, while high confidence increased from 9.52% to 47.62%. The results suggest that structured, activity-based workshops may support students’ perceived communication confidence, although findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample, self-reported data and absence of a control group.

Economic Analysis of Production and Marketing of Organic Turmeric in Kandhamal District of Odisha, India

2026-06-30T10:25:20+00:00

Aims: This study analysed organic turmeric farming in Kandhamal district of Odisha, India, by assessing growers’ awareness of organic practices and production constraints, estimating production economics and resource-use efficiency, and examining marketing channels, price spread and marketing efficiency.

Study Design: The study followed descriptive and exploratory research designs.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in 2024 in five major turmeric-producing blocks of Kandhamal district: Daringbadi, G. Udaygiri, Phiringia, Raikia and Nuagaon.

Methodology: A multistage purposive sampling procedure was used to select 10 villages across the five blocks. Probability Proportional to Size sampling was applied to select 30 farmers from each village according to land-size classification, giving a total sample of 300 organic turmeric growers. In addition, 50 market intermediaries were selected through judgemental sampling. The data were analysed using chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, Garrett ranking, benefit-cost ratio, Cobb-Douglas production function, marginal value product analysis, Kendall’s W statistic and Acharya’s modified marketing efficiency method.

Results: Farmers showed high awareness of basic practices, including planting time, but lower awareness of specialised bio-inputs such as Bijamruta. Organic turmeric cultivation generated an average gross income of ₹4,29,900.98 per hectare, with an average yield of 7,103.85 kg per hectare and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.92. Labour was a major cost component, and high labour cost was the leading production constraint. Resource-use efficiency results indicated over-utilisation of seed, bullock ploughing, mulching and primary processing materials, while labour for land preparation, sowing and weeding was under-utilised. Although 80 per cent of growers used the traditional intermediary channel, the direct-to-processor channel had the highest marketing efficiency (11.10) and the highest producer’s share in the consumer rupee (92.37 per cent).

Conclusion: Organic turmeric cultivation in Kandhamal is economically feasible, but its performance is constrained by labour cost, resource-use inefficiencies, transportation cost and limited regulated market access.

Marketing Efficiency, Price Spread and Marketing Constraints Faced by Banana Growers in Maharashtra, India

2026-07-03T10:28:07+00:00

Banana (Musa spp.) is a major commercial fruit crop in India and contributes to farm income, rural employment and fruit-market trade. This study examined marketing channels, marketing efficiency, price spread, producer share and the primary marketing constraints faced by banana growers in Maharashtra. Primary data were collected from 400 banana growers using a structured, pre-tested interview schedule. Channel-wise cost and margin analysis, producer share in the consumer’s rupee, price spread, Shepherd’s Marketing Efficiency Index and Garrett’s ranking technique were used for the analysis. The findings showed that Channel II (Producer-Trader-Retailer-Consumer) was the predominant marketing channel, accounting for 47 per cent of farmers and 3,980 quintals of marketed produce. The highest producer share (83.67 per cent) was recorded in Channel I (Producer-Consumer), whereas the highest price spread (Rs 468/qtl) and the lowest producer share (60.61 per cent) were observed in Channel III (Producer-Exporter-Overseas Market). Transportation was the largest marketing cost component (Rs 120/qtl). Grade-I bananas accounted for 52 per cent of marketed surplus and formed the major share of exportable produce. Garrett ranking indicated that labour shortage and price fluctuation were the most important production and marketing constraints, respectively. The results suggest that collective marketing through FPOs, improved transport systems, storage facilities, grading practices and direct market channels may improve producer share and marketing efficiency.

Assessing the Technological Knowledge and Practices of Farmers on Mushroom Production: A Case Study in Assam

2026-07-08T07:08:05+00:00

Mushroom cultivation can support livelihood diversification, nutritional security and small-scale enterprise development in Assam. However, the effectiveness of mushroom production depends on farmers’ technological knowledge and their adoption of recommended cultivation, post-harvest and value-addition practices. This study assessed the technological knowledge and production practices of mushroom growers in Jorhat district, Assam. Data were collected from 60 mushroom farmers selected through snowball sampling from four villages during September and October 2021. A structured interview schedule was used to assess knowledge through 35 statements under seven major areas, including climatic requirements, substrate preparation, spawn quality, bag preparation, crop management, harvesting, post-harvest handling, value addition and nutritional aspects. Farmers’ practices were assessed using 24 statements categorised as complete, partial or no practice. The findings showed that 66.67% of respondents had a moderate level of technological knowledge, 23.33% had a high level and 10.00% had a low level. Respondents showed strong knowledge and adoption of core practices, including selection of suitable varieties, use of paddy straw as substrate, substrate preparation, spawn handling, bag preparation, incubation, hygiene maintenance and harvesting. However, adoption was weaker in post-harvest handling, refrigerated storage, packaging and value addition. Only 13.33% completely practised refrigerated storage for one week, while 83.34% did not use brown bags and 83.34% did not practise value addition. Targeted training in storage, packaging and value-added product preparation is therefore required.

Status of Extension and Advisory Services in the Crop Sector of Mongolia

2026-07-09T12:45:14+00:00

Aims: To assess the current status of extension and advisory services (EAS) in Mongolia’s crop sector by mapping the institutional and policy landscape, characterising the services and capacities of providers, analysing farmers’ access to and satisfaction with services, and identifying systemic challenges, opportunities, and policy options.

Study Design: A mixed-methods study combining documentary research, key informant consultations, and two anonymous structured surveys, interpreted through the “best-fit” framework for agricultural advisory services.

Place and Duration of Study: Mongolia, covering all 21 aimags (provinces) and Ulaanbaatar, in early 2024, under the AFACI-funded Improvement of Rural Agricultural Technology Extension System in Asia (RATES) project.

Methodology: Online surveys of 72 EAS providers and 290 farmers were combined with documentary analysis and consultations with national and local institutions.

Results: Mongolia’s EAS has evolved into a pluralistic landscape comprising public agencies, research institutions, farmer associations, private enterprises, and development partners, though systematic coordination remains limited. The public system extends from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry through departments in 21 provinces to divisions in 330 districts, with approximately 370 extension staff positions, many of which remain vacant. Among farmers, 58% receive professional advice once a year or less, 90% desire more frequent engagement, and 53% rate system performance as poor. Providers identify financial constraints, lack of equipment, and insufficient training facilities as primary limitations, rather than lack of expertise or motivation. Five interconnected challenges emerge: insufficient human resources, inadequate financing, weak coordination, limited research–extension integration, and gaps in service coverage and content.

Conclusion: Strengthening EAS requires institutionalising extension in the forthcoming Law on Agriculture, reinforcing the coordinating mandate of the Research and Development Centre, filling vacant positions, securing stable financing, rebuilding research–extension linkages, and expanding digital advisory platforms and farmer-association delivery channels.

The Pomegranate Revolution in the Arid Terrain of Barmer and Balotra

2026-07-10T07:06:18+00:00

This study examines the macro-structural and microeconomic transformation of Rajasthan's hyper-arid Barmer and Balotra districts, where farming systems have shifted from volatile, rain-fed subsistence agriculture to high-value commercial horticulture. It focuses on the regional Pomegranate Revolution, particularly the adoption of the export-oriented Bhagwa Sindhuri pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), supported by drip irrigation, local aquifer access and state-led canal extensions. Over the past two decades, this transition has expanded horticultural cultivation to more than 16,000 ha and generated an estimated annual revenue of Rs. 13–14 billion (Rs. 1300–1400 crore). To validate this shift at the farm level, primary data from a stratified sample of 190 farming households across nine prominent agricultural villages were analysed using a paired two-sample t-test for means. The results indicate a statistically significant increase in per-hectare farm revenue, from a subsistence baseline of Rs. 54,444.44/ha to a post-adoption mean of Rs. 226,111.11/ha. This represents a mean net income increase of Rs. 171,666.67/ha, with strong rejection of the localised null hypothesis (t = 21.28, df = 8, p < 0.001). The study further discusses how income growth has influenced seasonal migration, agricultural labour allocation and rural asset creation, while also recognising structural and environmental constraints, including high initial capital requirements, groundwater depletion and rising sub-surface salinity.

Adoption Behaviour of Farmers toward Agritech Startup Solutions: The Role of Training and Awareness Programmes in Rajasthan, India

2026-07-10T12:20:43+00:00

Agritech startup solutions have emerged as an important determinant of digital transformation in agriculture by improving farm decision-making, resource-use efficiency, and market connectivity. However, their adoption among small and medium-scale farmers remains uneven, particularly in developing regions where awareness, training, trust, and digital literacy vary considerably. This study examined farmers' adoption behaviour toward agritech startup solutions and assessed the influence of training and awareness programmes on adoption in Rajasthan, India.

An explanatory sequential mixed-methods research design was adopted. Primary quantitative data were collected from 360 farmers selected from Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, and Bikaner districts using a structured questionnaire, followed by qualitative interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews to support interpretation of the quantitative findings. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, analysis of variance, multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression, and structural equation modelling were employed for data analysis.

The analysis indicated that 187 farmers (51.9%) had adopted at least one agritech startup solution, whereas 173 (48.1%) remained non-adopters. Multiple linear regression explained only a small proportion of variance in adoption intensity (R² = 0.036, F(7,352) = 1.874, p = .073), and binary logistic regression showed a similarly limited explanatory power (Nagelkerke R² = 0.046, model χ² = 12.740, p = .079). Awareness was the only variable to reach statistical significance in the logistic model (p = .016), while Training Quality approached significance in the linear model (p = .050); Trust, Perceived Usefulness, Social Influence, Perceived Risk, and Perceived Ease of Use were not significant predictors of adoption. Farmers indicated the highest awareness of weather–pest advisory services, followed by FinTech applications and AI-based advisory systems, while awareness of soil IoT sensors remained comparatively lower. Reliability analysis suggested acceptable internal consistency across all latent constructs (Cronbach's α = 0.78–0.91). The qualitative findings indicated that practical demonstrations, continuous extension support, and locally relevant training were described by farmers as important to their willingness to adopt digital agricultural technologies, although this qualitative emphasis was not fully supported by the quantitative results.

The study concludes that awareness building emerged as the most consistently supported factor associated with agritech adoption in the study area, while training, trust, usefulness, and social influence — although theoretically relevant and qualitatively salient — were not statistically supported as significant determinants in this sample. The proposed Training–Trust–Utility–Network (TTUN) framework is offered as a conceptual proposition for future testing rather than an empirically supported model, and requires validation with a larger and/or differently sampled dataset before broader application.

District-level Agricultural Development in Himachal Pradesh: A Composite Agricultural Development Index Approach

2026-07-13T12:37:44+00:00

Aims: Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh exhibits considerable spatial heterogeneity owing to variations in agro-climatic conditions, resource endowments and farming systems. Productivity-based measures alone do not adequately capture the multidimensional nature of agricultural development in mountain regions. This study constructs an Agricultural Development Index to assess and compare district-level agricultural development in Himachal Pradesh by integrating multiple dimensions of agricultural performance.

Data and Methods: The study is based on unit-level data from the National Sample Survey (NSS) Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households, 70th Round (2012-13) and 77th Round (2018-19). Fourteen indicators representing five dimensions were selected to capture the multidimensional nature of agricultural development. The indicators were standardised using the Z-score method and aggregated with equal weights to construct the Agricultural Development Index, which was subsequently used to rank the districts.

Results: The findings reveal substantial inter-district disparities in agricultural development in the state. Horticulture-oriented districts, particularly Kinnaur, Shimla and Sirmaur, consistently recorded the highest ADI scores, reflecting the contribution of crop diversification, commercialisation and high-value agriculture. Conversely, districts dominated by traditional cereal-based farming and characterised by lower market integration showed comparatively weaker agricultural performance. Although mechanisation remained constrained in several hill districts owing to difficult terrain, higher levels of agricultural development were generally associated with greater diversification towards horticulture and stronger market orientation.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that agricultural development in mountain regions is inherently multidimensional and cannot be adequately assessed through productivity indicators alone. The Agricultural Development Index provides a framework for identifying regional disparities and supports district-specific policies aimed at promoting balanced, inclusive and sustainable agricultural development in Himachal Pradesh.

Agricultural Extension Workers’ Willingness to Share Information and Exchange Knowledge to Utilize the Lentera DESA Platform

2026-07-14T11:30:51+00:00

Agricultural extension workers play an important role in supporting farmers’ access to agricultural information and innovation. However, the declining number of extension workers in the Special Region of Yogyakarta has created challenges in maintaining effective information flow among extension institutions and farmer groups. Digital platforms such as Lentera DESA may provide opportunities for extension workers to share information and exchange knowledge beyond institutional and regional boundaries. This study aimed to analyse the level of willingness to share information and the level of knowledge exchange among agricultural extension workers who participated in digital literacy training related to the use of the Lentera DESA platform in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The 50% threshold was used as a reference point because, theoretically, extension workers who have participated in digital literacy training are expected to be more likely to share information and exchange knowledge actively. This threshold also took initial observations into account, although the study was conducted during the transition period of the extension-worker nomenclature shift to the central government, which resulted in additional tasks and potentially affected participation in knowledge-exchange activities. The study was conducted from December 2025 to March 2026 using a quantitative approach. A census method was applied to include all 102 agricultural extension workers who participated in the training. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using a one-tailed proportion test. The findings showed that most respondents were middle-aged adults, held a bachelor’s degree, and had 16–20 years of work experience. The proportion test for willingness to share information produced a calculated Z-value of -1.39, which was lower than the critical Z-value of 1.645 at the 5% significance level. The proportion test for knowledge exchange produced a calculated Z-value of -6.73, which was also lower than the critical value. These results indicate insufficient evidence to conclude that more than 50% of the extension workers had a high willingness to share information or a high level of knowledge exchange. The study suggests that information-sharing and knowledge-exchange practices related to the Lentera DESA platform remain limited among the training participants.

Production and Export Dynamics of Onion in India: An Analysis of Growth and Instability

2026-07-16T10:17:27+00:00

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of India's most important commercial vegetable crops and contributes substantially to agricultural production, farmers' income, employment generation, and export earnings. India is among the world's leading onion producers and exporters; however, the sector has experienced considerable fluctuations in production and export performance. The present study analysed growth and instability in onion production, export quantity, export value, and unit export value in India using secondary data obtained from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other published sources for the period 1995–96 to 2024–25. The study period was divided into Period I (1995–96 to 2009–10), Period II (2010–11 to 2024–25), and the overall period (1995–96 to 2024–25). Compound Growth Rate (CGR), Coefficient of Variation (CV), Cuddy–Della Valle Instability Index (CDVI), and Coppock's Instability Index (CII) were used to analyse growth and instability. The results indicated considerable improvement in onion production and export performance during the study period, accompanied by increasing variability. Export value was the most volatile variable, followed by export quantity, unit export value, and production, indicating the influence of international market fluctuations, domestic price volatility, and export policy interventions. The instability indices also confirmed that export earnings were substantially more unstable than production. The study suggests that stable export policies, scientific storage facilities, efficient post-harvest management, market intelligence systems, export diversification, and value addition could mitigate instability, enhance the global competitiveness of Indian onion exports, and support sustainable producer incomes.

Agricultural Marketing Reforms and Infrastructure Development in Kashmir Valley: A Study of e-NAM and Stakeholder Perceptions on PPP Investment

2026-07-18T07:20:13+00:00

Agricultural marketing plays a vital role in improving farmers' income and ensuring the efficient movement of agricultural commodities from producers to consumers. In the horticulture-dominated Kashmir Valley, efficient marketing systems are particularly important because of the perishable nature and high economic value of fruits and vegetables. However, inadequate marketing infrastructure, limited digital adoption, and inefficient market linkages continue to constrain market performance. The present study assessed the implementation status of the electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) with an emphasis on technology adoption, operational efficiency, infrastructure development, and stakeholder perceptions regarding investment in agricultural marketing infrastructure in the Kashmir Valley. The study was based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey of 200 respondents across 10 selected APMC mandis, while secondary data were obtained from official reports, market records, and the e-NAM portal. Descriptive statistical tools, including percentages and tabular analysis, were employed for data analysis. The findings revealed that 75% of respondents perceived that e-NAM improved market transparency, while 70% reported better price discovery. According to the respondents, farmers were perceived to be the most active participants on the e-NAM platform (80%), whereas the active participation of traders (30%), commission agents (20%), and Farmer Producer Organizations (25%) was perceived to be comparatively limited. Respondents identified inadequate infrastructure, low stakeholder awareness, and limited digital literacy as the major constraints affecting the wider adoption of e-NAM. Stakeholders further prioritised investments in cold storage, grading facilities, and refrigerated transportation to strengthen agricultural marketing systems. The study concludes that strengthening physical and digital marketing infrastructure, enhancing stakeholder awareness and technical capacity, and promoting Public–Private Partnership (PPP)-based investments are likely to facilitate the wider adoption of e-NAM and improve agricultural marketing efficiency in the Kashmir Valley.

Factors Influencing the E-Readiness of Field Extension Functionaries for Digital Agricultural Extension in Chhattisgarh, India

2026-07-22T07:38:17+00:00

The successful implementation of digital extension services is contingent upon the preparedness of extension functionaries, particularly with respect to their access to information and communication technologies (ICTs), the availability of adequate infrastructural support, and their individual levels of digital competence. These factors collectively influence the effective adoption, delivery, and sustainability of digital extension initiatives aimed at improving the dissemination of knowledge and advisory services. The present study was conducted in Chhattisgarh in 2025 to assess the factors influencing the e-readiness of field extension functionaries for digital agricultural extension. A proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to select respondents from the three agro-climatic zones of the state. Of the 3,063 filled posts of Rural Agricultural Extension Officers (RAEOs), 305 respondents were selected for the study. The factors were assessed under three major dimensions of e-readiness, namely access to ICTs, infrastructure readiness, and personal readiness, using a structured and pre-tested interview schedule. The responses were measured on a three-point continuum and converted into index values. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents reported partial accessibility to ICT facilities and partial availability of the infrastructural support required for digital extension activities. In contrast, respondents exhibited comparatively better personal readiness, particularly in troubleshooting basic technical issues and using mobile applications for advisory services. The study concludes that the e-readiness of field extension functionaries for digital agricultural extension in Chhattisgarh was moderate, indicating the need to strengthen ICT access, infrastructure, and digital competencies through systematic capacity-building interventions for the effective implementation of digital agricultural extension services.

Assessment of Constraints Affecting the Adoption of Recommended Rice Production Technologies among Rice Growers in Karnal District of Haryana, India

2026-07-23T11:56:28+00:00

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food crop of paramount importance to food security in India, yet its productivity remains constrained by a complex interplay of technical, economic and marketing barriers at the farm level. The present study was undertaken to identify, analyse and rank the key constraints affecting the adoption of recommended rice production technologies among smallholder farmers in Karnal district, Haryana. A multi-stage sampling design was employed, in which three blocks (Karnal, Gharaunda and Nilokheri) were selected on the basis of their relatively low rice productivity. Five villages were selected from each block, resulting in a total of fifteen villages. Subsequently, ten rice growers were selected from each village, yielding a total sample of 150 respondents. Primary data were collected from the respondents using a structured interview schedule. The findings revealed that inadequate awareness of scientific recommendations (Garrett Mean Score = 62.4) was the most important technical constraint. High labour costs and the scarcity of local agricultural labour (71.8) constituted the leading economic constraint, whereas price fluctuations and inadequate realisation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) (Garrett Mean Score = 64.2) constituted the major marketing constraint. Among the suggested measures, subsidies for farm machinery through Custom Hiring Centres (70.8) received the highest economic priority; strengthening agricultural extension services through regular training programmes and field demonstrations (69.5) was the leading technical suggestion; and ensuring effective MSP implementation with timely procurement (69.0) was the principal marketing suggestion. The study recommends strengthening extension services, improving access to quality inputs, promoting farm mechanisation and enhancing market-support systems to improve the adoption of recommended rice production technologies.

Structural Changes and Productivity Dynamics of Pineapple Cultivation in Manipur, India

2026-07-24T09:11:54+00:00

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) is an important horticultural crop in Northeast India and contributes to rural livelihoods and the regional economy. This study assessed structural changes and productivity dynamics in pineapple cultivation in Manipur using secondary time-series data for 2011–12 to 2023–24. Changes in cultivated area, production, and productivity were examined through descriptive statistics, compound annual growth rate, linear trend regression, comparative period assessment, and index analysis. The cultivated area recorded a compound annual growth rate of −0.87%, whereas production and productivity increased by 0.62% and 1.51% per year, respectively. Linear trend regression indicated a significant positive trend in productivity (R² = 0.525), while the trends in area (R² = 0.255) and production (R² = 0.068) were weaker. Comparison of the early period (2011–12 to 2018–19) with the recent period (2019–20 to 2023–24) showed that average cultivated area declined by 8.68%, while average production and productivity increased by 6.05% and 16.40%, respectively. The index analysis similarly showed that productivity remained above its base-year level despite the contraction in cultivated area. Collectively, the results indicate that pineapple production in Manipur has increasingly been sustained by productivity improvement rather than land expansion. Continued attention to productivity-enhancing practices and efficient resource management is therefore important for maintaining production under limited land availability.

The Economic and Environmental Implications of the Indigenous Rice Cultivation Methods Practised in the Hills of Assam

2026-07-25T10:22:52+00:00

Hill terrain often restricts the use of farming methods commonly applied in plains, leading communities to retain locally adapted cultivation practices. This study documented indigenous rice cultivation methods in West Karbi Anglong district, Assam, and examined their economic and environmental implications. Primary data were collected through a field survey of 100 rice farmers, while secondary sources supported the environmental discussion. Farmers were classified according to indigenous, modern, or combined cultivation methods. Economic performance was examined using analysis of variance and cost-benefit analysis. Of the respondents, 31% used indigenous methods, 22% used modern methods, and 47% combined both approaches. Indigenous cultivation involved limited or no chemical fertiliser use, traditional tools and animal power, and the collective labour system known as aajir. Total output differed significantly among the three groups ( F_2,97= 8.457, p < 0.01). Modern-method farmers recorded the highest mean output; however, only 27.27% were profitable. By comparison, 90.32% of indigenous-method farmers and 68.1% of combined-method farmers were profitable. The findings indicate that higher output did not necessarily correspond to a greater likelihood of profitability, particularly where production costs varied across cultivation systems. Indigenous practices may reduce selected labour and fertiliser costs and may offer environmental benefits through reduced chemical inputs, fallowing, and minimum tillage, although these effects were not measured directly. Policies for hill agriculture should integrate locally appropriate technologies with indigenous knowledge and account for terrain, costs, labour availability, productivity, and environmental conditions.

Navigating the Climate Change Challenge: Harnessing Climate-smart Agriculture for a Sustainable Future

2026-06-30T13:46:11+00:00

Climate change has become one of the most consequential pressures on global agricultural systems, threatening crop and livestock productivity, rural livelihoods, and food security across regions of differing development status. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been advanced over the past decade as an integrative framework intended to reconcile three frequently competing objectives: sustainably raising agricultural productivity and incomes, strengthening the adaptive capacity and resilience of farming systems, and reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production wherever feasible. This critical review synthesises recent peer-reviewed evidence on the conceptual foundations, technical practices, adoption determinants, institutional architecture, and regional manifestations of climate-smart agriculture. It traces how climate variability and long-term warming are altering crop yields, water availability, pest and disease dynamics, and livestock productivity, and examines how practices such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry, climate-smart irrigation, crop diversification, climate-resilient cultivars, precision and digital technologies, and improved livestock management contribute to adaptation and mitigation outcomes. Particular attention is given to the socioeconomic and institutional determinants that shape uptake among smallholder farmers, including credit access, land tenure, extension services, gender relations, and the role of indigenous and local knowledge systems. The review further considers the international policy and financing architecture surrounding CSA, the persistent gap between adaptation finance commitments and realised flows, and the unevenness of regional experience, with particular reference to sub-Saharan Africa and South and South-East Asia. Throughout, it engages critically with conceptual ambiguities and equity concerns that have been raised regarding the climate-smart agriculture paradigm, including concerns about insufficient attention to structural inequality and the political economy of agricultural transformation. The review concludes that climate-smart agriculture offers a useful, if imperfect, organising framework for agricultural adaptation and mitigation, whose practical value depends heavily on context-specific institutional support, financing, and attention to distributional consequences, rather than on the diffusion of any single technological package.