No abstract

No abstract

:In this paper, resource use efficiency and technical efficiency of banana cultivation were measured in peri-urban areas of Coimbatore city of Tamil Nadu. The study revealed that quantity of nitrogen and the number of irrigations had a positive and significant influence on the yield of banana. The ratio of MVP to MFC was greater than one for nitrogen and number of irrigation indicated that the under utilization of resources, hence there exists the possibility of enhancing their yield by increasing their efficiency. The overall mean technical efficiency of banana was 0.73, which indicated the possibility of increasing the yield of the crops by adopting better technology and cultivation practices. The scale efficiency among the farmers ranged between 0.49 and 1.00 with mean scale efficiency score of 0.74. Further, it was found that 84.93 per cent of farms were below the optimal scale size, have the scope of increasing their scale efficiency and thereby operate at optimal scale to increase their farm productivity and income. It is concluded that the sample farms were operating either with increasing returns to scale or constant returns to scale. This implies that the input use could be increased thereby to realize higher output.

Herbicides can be regarded an effective tool for managing weeds, and their effective usage can reduce weed-related production losses up to 13%. Mordor Intelligence Report (2022), indicated that during the forecast period (2020–25), the worldwide herbicide market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.1%. The aim of the study was to assess the buying behaviour, market potential and constraints faced by the farmers’ during the purchase of herbicides. Study was carried out in selected districts of Tamil Nadu during 2021 with a sample size 200 farmers. The results of this study concluded that there is a significant association between demographic characteristics of the farmers and their preference in weeding operations at 1% significance. Cyperus (78.74), Trianthema (71.45) and Cynodon (69.61) were the major problematic weeds as reported by many of the sample farmers. Buying behavior of farmers’ preference towards product, dealer characteristics and consultancy were the most important parameters for the buying of herbicides.

Aims: To understand the functioning of bank-linked women-based self-help groups in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in two districts of the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The survey was conducted from April to May 2021. The reference year for the present study regarding financial parameters and group-related information was taken 2020 – 2021. Methodology: A total representative sample of 360 respondents with 120 SHG groups from two districts of the Rayalaseema region was taken for evaluation of the functioning of SHGs. All the respondents taken for the study were women. A well-structured interview schedule was used for collecting the primary data from the individuals. Results: It is revealed from the study that, savings activity by SHG is a regular activity. Through SHG group involvement a considerable change is observed among women in terms of various skills i.e., decision making, entrepreneurial skills, competency, managing, credit handling, coordination, and planning. Conclusion: It is concluded that using group meetings, member involvement, savings habit, external lending, and starting up of own enterprise a significant improvement of leadership qualities, managerial ability, psychological wellbeing, financial upliftment, and improved living standards are observed among all the rural women beneficiaries. validate reliability.