This study is on the production and marketing of banana crop in the Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu. It is based on the data collected from 120 banana-producers in the blocks of Andanallur and Musiri during 2010-2011. The study has revealed that banana cultivation in Tamil Nadu is profitable enterprise as the net returns have been found to be Rs. 32793.96 and Rs. 37339.70 for Karpooravalli and Poovan banana, respectively. The total cost of cultivation was Rs. 140691.04 for Karpooravalli and Rs. 123220.30 for Poovan banana farms. Cost of production per bunch for Karpooravalli farms was higher (Rs. 61.23) when compared to Poovan (Rs. 51.73) farms. Gross income per hectare was the highest for Karpooravalli farms (Rs. 173485) when compared to Poovan farms (Rs. 160560). The banana-producers have been found to be follow three channels for the marketing of banana; channel I: Producer  Pre harvest contractor  Commission agent  Retailer  Consumer; channel II: Producer  Wholesaler  Retailer  Consumer; channel III: Producer Commission agent  Retailer  Consumer. The marketing cost has been found to be higher channel II when banana was sold through channel I due to commission charges, transport charges and loading and unloading charges were contributed major proportion. The producer share has been computed as 59.06 per cent in the channel II. The study has suggested that measures need to be adopted to increase access of farmers to market information and they should be educated to sell their produce in the regulated markets which fetch higher returns as compared to village level marketing.

:The present study was conducted to assess economics of marigold cultivation under contract farming vis-à-vis non-contract farming in erode district of Tamil Nadu and to examine the yield and price uncertainty, contractual arrangements in marigold cultivation. There were no price uncertainties in contract farming whereas there were very high price uncertainties in the case of noncontract farming. Farmers were satisfied with terms of contract. The major benefits to the contract farmers were assured buyer for the produce, all the produce can be sold even in case of damage and the farm gate collection. Important reason given by the former contract farmers for discontinuing cultivation of marigold on contract was low price for the produce.

Finger millet is widely grown all parts of the world and it is consumed by all people. This paper studies the impact of climate variability on yield of finger millet crop in Tamil Nadu using Panel regression analysis. The data on maximum and minimum rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature and yield of finger millet was collected and used for analysis. Panel data model was used to estimate effect of climate variability. The temperature and its square terms shows the significant impact on finger millet yield, it means after the certain level increase in temperature leads to yield loss. The square term of the SWM maximum temperature will increase the yield of finger millet up to a threshold level, beyond which the yield will decrease. Higher temperature during north-east monsoon season would mean lower yield rates. The regression coefficient of interaction term for NEM rainfall and NEM maximum temperature was found to be positive which indicate that the joint effect of rainfall and temperature during the north-east monsoon season on finger millet yield was positive thus contributing for increased productivity. Thus increasing in climatic variables would support the millets up to a certain level and after that it lower the yield of finger millet.