The custom hiring centre (CHC) plays a useful role in providing machineries to small and marginal farmers to carry out farming operations in shorter period. This study is confined to a CHC in Thondamuthur block of Coimbatore district. Primary data was collected from CHC using structured questionnaire and breakeven analysis was used to assess the financial viability of CHC. The results indicated that the CHC was financially viable. The BEP analysis revealed that rotavator followed by tractor and reversible plough generated maximum profit to the CHC. The cultivator did not generate sufficient revenue to cover the cost of initial investment. It was observed that the return on investment from machinery and implements depended on the machinery’s annual usage rather than its initial cost. CHC should provide machinery and implement based on the nature of crops prevailing in the region. The results also indicated that the subsidy provided by the government plays a critical role in generating sufficient returns on investment

Onion is a sensitive crop due to its skyrocketing prices and its demand is highly inelastic. This study depicts the issues faced by the farmers and consumers due to the price volatility of the onion. The time-series data on monthly arrivals and prices of selected markets were collected from January 2010 to November 2020 from the NHRDF database. The collected data was used for computing trend and seasonal index. The results showed a positive trend in prices of all the selected markets. Seasonal index for arrivals was maximum in Hubli Market during October (272.10), lowest in July (42.74), and for prices maximum in November (145.05) at Mumbai, lowest in May (51.37) at Indore. Prices and arrivals exhibited a positive relation in November month. Correlation analysis was carried out between Deviation in the rainfall and market arrivals for production centers. A negative and significant correlation was observed in Pimpalgaon and Hubli markets. The findings conclude that neither the farmers were not benefited by the hiked prices nor the consumers benefited during the low prices. The market intervention of the Government with a long-term approach will stabilize the price volatility of the onion

Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) has emerged as a viable institutional form for addressing the major challenges faced by the small and marginal farmers. The central government had been taking several measures to vigorously increase the number of FPOs in the country. But these measures by the government will become meaningless if farmers did not take the membership. Therefore, in order to ensure the membership of farmers and sustainability of FPOs, there is a need to identify the factors influencing membership of farmers in the FPOs. With this aim, the present study was carried out in Erode district of Tamil Nadu. A total of 180 respondents comprising of ninety member and ninety non-member farmers was selected by multistage purposive cum random sampling. A pre tested interview schedule was employed for data collection. The binary logistic regression was carried out to determine the factors influencing farmers’ membership in the FPOs. The results showed that education, number of dependents, credit availed per year, on-farm income, extension agency contact and membership in other organization or association or groups were found to have a significant influence on the membership of farmers in the FPOs. Except number of dependents and credit availed per year, the other variables are found to have a positive influence on the membership. The study concludes that farmers’ membership in FPOs can be improved by increasing their on-farm income through improved technologies, organizing farmers into farmers’ interest groups or farmers associations and by ensuring maximum participation of farmers in the extension activities taken by the governmental or non-governmental organizations

The study has been attempted to assess the impact of JLG finance in terms of access to loan, purpose wise utilization of loan, employment generation, income, consumption, asset creation, savings and investment and to identify the benefits and constraints realized by the beneficiaries in availing JLG finance. Thuraiyur block, Thiruchirappalli district was purposively selected for the study. There exists a positive impact on generation of employment and income in post JLG period and not much impact on asset creation in the form of household assets, savings, investment in terms of LIC policies etc., other than livestock. Nearly 80 percent of them had less than Rs.1000 per month as savings after joining JLG. Nearly forty-two percent of them are having old debts from informal sources particularly money lenders and other MFIs. Access to credit with low interest is the major benefits realized by the members in availing loan from JLG and asset creation was ensured. Low amount of loan sanctioned per time, no flexibility in repayment may be the most important constraints. The study suggested that training on agro based enterprises to JLG members, educating JLG members to avail life Insurance policies for self and family members, in availing various benefits provided by the state and central government to weaker sections by NGOs and promotion of savings may be encouraged

Stem rot is a potential threat to mustard and set as key disease in mustard growing area. the first symptoms appearance as elongated, water soaked spots then further it expands rapidly after 45-55 days after sowing that causes upto 81.5% losses with significantly reduction in yield. the findings revealed that carbendazim, thiophnatemethyl and propiconazole @ 0.1 percent and garlic, turmeric, eucalyptus spp., zingiber and azadirechta@ 20 percent, while, amritjal @ 15 percent were found significantly inhibited the growth and development of s. sclerotiorum under in-vitro. apart, reduced the girdled length on stem, numbers of sclerotium and surviving viability in soil under field evaluation. stem rot lowest girdled length on stem 1.76 cm, was noticed in carbendazim with 318.18 kg ha-1 statistically significant (p < 0.005) superior and at par with each other followed by allium sativum, eucalyptus amydalin, amritjal and trichoderma harzianum. it concluded that summer deep ploughing, trichoderma applied at time field preparation in incorporated with farm yard manure prepared inoculated active inoculum load of trichoderma harzianum then spraying of effective treatment before appearance of stem rot symptoms

The study was undertaken in the Satna and Rewa districts of Madhya Pradesh. The design one-shot-case study under the ex-post-facto approach was used for the present research study. The districts and the tahsils both were selected randomly. Two blocks from each district and six Gram Panchayat with 8 members from each block selected randomly. Thus, a total of 192 Gram Panchayat members from 24 villages were selected for the study. Data was collected by personally interviewing the respondents with the help of a specially designed and pretested schedule. The statistical methods such as mean, standard deviation, coefficient of correlation, multiple regressions were used for the analysis of data. It was observed that the majority of the respondents were from middle age, having education up to primary school level, belonging to Scheduled Tribe caste category, “labor and agriculture + labor” as their main occupation, landless and untrained. Annual income, socio-economic status, social participation, achievement motivation, mass media exposure, and cosmopoliteness were medium. As regards leadership background, most of them had a low background of leadership, while in the case of leadership experience and linkage with development agencies majority of them were from the medium category with medium knowledge of the functioning of Gram Panchayat.

Data on body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9, 12 months of age of Sangamneri local kids born between 2008 to 2013 at All India Coordinated Research Project on Sangamneri goat, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri were collected and subjected to least squares analysis to determine the year of birth, season of birth and THI groups. The overall least squares mean for birth weight in Sangamneri kids were 2.14±0.013 kg, for three months 7.10±0.07 kg, for six month 9.92±0.10 kg, for nine month 12.40±0.16 kg and for twelve month 15.12±0.29 kg. The year and season of birth had significant effect on birth weight. However, THI had non-significant effect on birth weight. Effects of year and season of birth was significant on 3, 6, 9 and 12 months body weight except season of birth had non-significant effect on 12 months body weight. The THI showed non-significant influence on body weights at different ages under study except 12 months body weight, indicated that the Sangamneri breed can thrive well in varying THI conditions

For effective de hulling and deseeding of tamarind fruits optimal moisture is required. The mechanical tamarind dryer consists of feed hopper, conveyor belt, a blower and coil type heater. The blower is operated by a half hp three phase motor. The belt drying unit is operated by a two hp gear motor. Drying studies were conducted at three different temperature (50, 60 and 70°C) and three different air flow rates (3.5, 5.0 and 7 m3/min). At air flow of 7m3/min at 60°C the moisture content of tamarind fruits can be reduced from 20 % (d.b) to 12.5% (d.b.) in a period of 50 minutes. In sun drying the moisture content of tamarind fruits can be reduced from 20% (d.b) to 13% (d.b) in a period of 8 hours 15 minutes. The sample dried at 60°C was found better in color

The Public investment in irrigation infrastructure is essential in the context of national goal of doubling farm incomes by 2023. The prudential constraints imposed by Fiscal Management laws and competing demands from various sectors have dampened irrigation sector investment outlays in Tamil Nadu. The study, using linear programming technique, has suggested a model for optimization of on budget and off budget borrowings by Government of Tamil Nadu from financial institutions like National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and state development loans to meet the desired investment level in irrigation sector within the policy constraints. The indicative model could be fortified further into a full-fledged decision support system to aid policy makers

A good deal of work in establishing closer linkage between research and extension has been done in the last few years. The result of painstaking efforts of research scientists have been carried to the farmers by an army of more than 70,000 village extension workers in the major states where professional agricultural extension system is functioning. The concept of leadership has undergone considerable change as research in this area of study progressed. Leadership was considered at one time to be a set of traits handed down chiefly through heredity from one person to another. In some societies the political leadership controls the economy; significant influence is exercised by them in the direction and rate in which changes take place in society. Secondary data in the form of published literature like journals, magazines, thesis, books etc were scanned to collect and review the available literature. The study showed that occupation is another important determining factor of rural leadership. It is through their occupation that the contestants come into touch with and influence the voters. Agriculture being the predominant occupation in rural areas, it is found that agriculturists are in a majority in power positions. The probable reason for annual incomes of panchayat leaders being on the upper side may be that, the leaders are generally elected from upper socio-economic strata of the society and also that contesting election even at panchayat levels entails considerable expenses which may be beyond the capacity of an ordinary rural person. The proposition that leaders in general belong to the upper socio-economic strata of the society also holds true when the size of land holding of panchayat leaders is analysed. Land holding is an important criterion which has contributed as a critical parameter in governing rural leadership. Janpad and jila panchayat leaders represents a larger constituency as compared to gram panchayat leaders. Comparatively more election expenditure is incurred by janpad and jila panchayat leaders owing to the wider area they represent and this could have been possible only if they belonged to upper socio-economic status category

The world largest dairy and dairy products producer is the India. Dairy is preferable product by each and every individual from children to aged person in the form of sweets, chocolates, hot beverages like tea, coffee, etc. Milk is one of the main components in dairy farm which has proteins, vitamins especially vitamin (B12), riboflavin, calcium and minerals. Dairy product is vital for nutritious dietary intake. The objective of this paper was to identify the factors which were influencing the consumer preference towards dairy products. The tools used for this study were percentage analysis, factor analysis and mean score. This study resulted that, taste factors was the most influencing factor followed by Self motivational factors, Nutrient factors, Affordable Price, Diet factors, Promotional factors, Emotional Factors, Quality factors, Conditional factors and Social factors

Agriculture sector play an important contribution in India GDP growth, without development in agricultural sector we can’t expect India’s development. Crop insurance was one of the risk shifting mechanism for farmer’s production from the various unpredictable losses that occurs through the natural calamities like flood, cyclone, drought, etc and it was launched for the purpose of helping the farmers financially and motivating them to continue the farming. The objective of this paper was to analyze the farmer’s awareness and various factors that determine level of farmers’ satisfaction towards crop insurance Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. The conclusion of this study was that most of the farmers were fully aware about the current insurance scheme because farmers mostly link with cooperative society and state agricultural department and gains the source of information from the social media and fellow farmers, Rabi season notified crop because most of the disaster occurred in the Rabi season so that farmers were voluntarily approach the crop insurance scheme. non loanee farmers were mostly aware about the loanee period for kharif and rabi season crops because of optional insurance for the non-loanee farmers so that they voluntarily involved the crop insurance scheme. Demographic factors like education, land holding, Experience, Loanee option and per capita expenditure were highly significant associate with the satisfaction level of farmers

The present study was attempted to examine the market potential of vegetable seedlings and the economic viability of commercial vegetable seedling nurseries. The study was conducted in Tamil Nadu. Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts were purposively selected for the study based on the number of commercial vegetable seedling nurseries. The study concluded that the total cost incurred for vegetable seedling production was Rs.10,62,965 and the net income was Rs.446537. The investment analysis revealed that sample nurseries were economically viable in terms of Net Present Value (394718), Benefit Cost Ratio (1.42). Delay of payment by the farmers for the purchase and massive competition among the nurseries were the major constraints in production and marketing of vegetable seedlings in the state

The power tiller utilization pattern in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu was analyzed. Coimbatore District comprises of three revenue divisions viz., Coimbatore North, Coimbatore South and Pollachi. In each division 40 sample were farmers’ who uses power tillers selected using snowball technique. Out of these 120 sample farmers 94 owned power tillers and 26 of them hired respondents. The average working hours of power tiller per day was six hours. Among the 120 farmers maximum share area cultivated was coconut (311.5 acre) and banana (267.95 acre). The maximum use of own power tiller in the study area was for transport of agriculture produce and input (61.37 percent), followed by tillage (13.77 percent) and rin basing (11.97 percent). The hired farmers used power tiller for intercultural operation with (53.98 percent) followed by ring basing (32.64 percent). The analyze time duration utilized for field operations by power tiller owned farmers was 17371 hours per year and farmers who hired power tiller used it for 628 hours respectively. The main reasons to purchase the power tiller was labour scarcity, simplification of work and word of mouth influence. The main reasons for hiring power tiller farmers due to high wage rate followed by farm size and lack of capital for buying power tiller