Aims: The study is done with the objective of assessing the impact of groundwater irrigation development on cropping intensity and crop productivity in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, India. Study Design: Purposive random sampling Place and Duration of Study: Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu, India during 2019-20. Methodology: The data on irrigation sources and area under various irrigation sources in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu and India is subjected to growth analysis using trend studies and CAGR (Compound Annual Growth rate) to study the ground water irrigation development. Whereas, regression analysis was done with the primary data collected from 120 farming households in Krishnagiri on agricultural land use and irrigation to study the impact of groundwater irrigation on cropping intensity and crop productivity. Results: As the net tube wells and other well irrigated area to net sown area (GWA) increases, there has been a corresponding increase in cropping intensity and crop productivity. The rise in percent of net tank and canal irrigated area to net sown area and percent of fertilizer applied area to net sown area have also increased cropping intensity and crop productivity whereas the increase in percent of net rainfed area to net sown area have decreased the cropping intensity and crop productivity. Conclusion: The ground water utilization through tube well construction have increased the cropping intensity and crop productivity.

Specialized commodity trading is gaining momentum in many parts of this nation. One such specialized trading is Garlic Trading. In respect of Garlic markets, India is having 21 important organized assembling wholesale markets. Among these organized wholesale markets, large number of private and unorganized markets is functioning in all the major garlic producing states. These markets handle a significant quantum of garlic bulbs and acts as a wholesale market in those regions and are becoming price takers. One such market is functioning over a long period of time in Tamil Nadu is the Vadugapatti Garlic wholesale Market of Theni District and the other one is Mettupalayam market wherein the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society, Mettupalayam is one of the institution facilitates garlic marketing and supplies to Vadugapatti. Besides, Madhya Pradesh, Utter Pradesh and Rajasthan are the states supplying Garlic to Vadugapatti Wholesale Market of Tamil Nadu. Selected members of Vadugapatti Garlic Merchants Association have been interviewed following the Case Study Approach to study the garlic marketing practices prevalent among the sample farms. The study focused on the marketing channels prevalent in Garlic trading, price spread and marketing efficiency and the status of export of garlic to different countries from India. These are also presented and discussed in detail.

Aims: To study and analyze the major determinants of financial performance of the microfinance institutions in Tamil Nadu. Study Design:  Purposive Random Sampling method was used. Both primary and secondary data was used for the analysis. Place and Duration of Study: In Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district was purposively selected for the study. Survey was conducted for the collection of primary data pertaining to the period of 2021-22 and also secondary data was collected for the period of 2010-2019 from the Microfinance Information Exchange Market. Methodology: The secondary study is based on unbalanced panel data consists of 10 major Microfinance institutions in Tamil Nadu, out of around 25 microfinance institutions. To study the major determinants of financial performance of the 10 microfinance institutions in Tamil Nadu panel regression (fixed and random effect model) technique was employed. In addition, to analyze the general characteristics and constraints the percentage analysis and Garrett ranking technique was employed respectively. Results: The results of the study revealed that financial indicators such as operating self-sufficiency, Return on Assets, and Assets had a positive impact on increasing the performance of MFI. According to the panel regression, Debt-Equity Ratio, Number of Active Borrowers, Percentage of Women Borrowers, Operating Expenses to Asset ratio and Total Equity to total Asset are statistically significant in the model and suggesting the improvement in the Microfinance loan and building of training facilities. Conclusion: This study shows that the majority of the respondents depend on MFIs are females than males, and most of the beneficiaries were in the middle age group of 30-40 years old who preferred to approach the MFI for getting loans. The results specified Operating Self Sufficiency is positively and significantly related compared to Return on assets and Asset value.

The rising demand for organic food is gaining momentum across the globe. Organic farming has seen an increase in demand due to increased awareness of human health and environmental challenges in agriculture, as well as appealing farm revenue. However, due to the high cost of certification and the demanding certification standards, many small and marginal farmers had backed out from practicing organic farming. But with the introduction of Participatory Guarantee Systems of Organic Certification by IFOAM, these farmers have a second chance to consider switching to organic agriculture. A study on the value chain flow of PGS certified organic product is important to understand the actors, enablers and core processes involved. A normal value chain consists of a structured networks of producers, marketers, processors, and service providers (including non-governmental organizations) who combine to expand supply and the value addition through their activities. This paper attempted to identify the value chain flow of PGS certified Nendran banana in Trivandrum and Thrissur districts of Kerala state by conducting a detailed survey with the stakeholders involved. The study also identified the constraints faced by the nendran banana growers in adopting the PGS system of organic certification.

This work is the output of post graduate research study carried out by the first author who has collected data from the field in line with the objectives set forth for the study and the research design contemplated for the study. The second author is the Chairman of Advisory committee for the Post Graduate research work of first author and guided him in designing the study and facilitated him throughout the study in terms of fixing objectives, reviewing literature, designing data collection tool, data collection, tabulation of data, analysis, interpretation and report writing. The third author is the member of advisory committee for the first author for his thesis work who facilitated him to get his data analyed using SPSS.17