Based on secondary data for various land classes between 1966-1967 and 2021-22, this paper examines Punjab's shifting land use patterns and their implications for the agricultural sector.The findings revealed a transition of land use from desirable ecological and agricultural sector to undesirable ecological and non-agricultural sector.The state's net sown area had been rising until the 1990s and then began to decline.The land put to non-agricultural uses, permanent pastures, and other grazing lands, land under miscellaneous tree crops not included in area sown, and the net sown area have shown a significant positive impact on cropping intensity.Conversely, the current fallow land has exhibited a negative and significant impact on the cropping intensity.It is advised that a scientific and institutional framework be built for proper management and conservation of land resources.Additionally, adopting sustainable intensification, precision farming, and advanced conservation agricultural practices can ensure the long-term viability of Punjab agriculture amid changing land use pattern.

Paddy residue management and high soil moisture content are the two major issues faced by farmers of lowland area of Indo-Gangetic Plains, obstructing the seamless paddy-wheat transition.Surface seeding technology is a resource-conserving technology that can overcome both constraints, increase productivity, and reduce resource depletion altogether.In economic terms, SST in comparison to conventional tillage was profitable due to reduced cost of cultivation and increased returns.SST has the potential to optimize resource utilization as the resources are underutilized.Environmentally, the technology can earn carbon credits by reducing carbon emissions.Additionally, SST contributed in mitigating the overexploitation of groundwater by enhancing water productivity, reflecting higher output production per unit of water.Mass adoption of SST can transform wheat cultivation in lowland areas in a sustainable and economically viable way. .

This study examines the evolution of agricultural cost, allocative and technical efficiency in India from 2000 to 2021, a period marked by significant technological and structural changes shaped by successive agricultural revolutions and policy shifts.While past decades saw remarkable gains in crop output and productivity, recent trends highlight growing concerns over input inefficiencies, rising production costs, and sustainability challenges.Utilizing Farrell's efficiency framework and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), I estimate and decompose cost, allocative, and technical efficiencies for 16 major crops across 15 Indian states.The analysis reveals notable crop-level variations, offering critical insights into whether inefficiencies arise from suboptimal input allocation or technical constraints.By providing a comprehensive assessment of production and cost efficiency in Indian agriculture, the findings aim to inform policy, guide resource allocation, and support strategies for long-term equitable agricultural growth.

Based on primary inputs collected from 241 kiwi cultivating households from Arunachal Pradesh, present paper examines the technical efficiency of kiwi growers.Stochastic Frontier Analysis depicts that the average level of technical efficiency of kiwi growers in Arunachal Pradesh is 53 per cent indicating an ample scope for improvement in it.Factors such as farming experience, access to government support and years of involvement in kiwi cultivation were found to be significantly increasing the technical efficiency of kiwi growers.Further, locational variation in technical efficiency of the kiwi growers was found.Based on the findings of the study, enhancing the coverage of government support services for kiwi farmers appears to be as an significant policy solution for efficient kiwi cultivation.

India, a top chilli producer and exporter, dominates global trade with a 44.22 per cent market share, high competitiveness with RCA of 10.82, and strong trade intensity with TII of 3.67.Markov chain analysis showed China and Vietnam as stable markets, while others fluctuated.A gravity model revealed GDP, population, urbanization, trade openness, and Ease of Doing Business in importing nations boosted exports.Regional factors such as ASEAN membership and shared languages also enhanced trade.The study highlights economic strength, trade policies, and regional integration as key drivers for sustaining India's chilli export growth.

The study conducted in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state focuses on mapping key actors and activities within the mango value chain, specifically for the Totapuri variety used in processing.It also analyzes factors influencing farmers' choice of marketing channels and marketing constraints faced in the process.Primary data was collected from 150 farmers and 30 intermediaries (Ramp traders, pre-harvest contractors and processors) using random and snowball sampling techniques, respectively, through structured interviews.Value chain mapping, percentage analysis and multinomial logistic regression were employed for the study.Findings showed that the mango value chain for processing varieties involved multiple actors, including growers, pre-harvest contractors, input suppliers, financial institutions, processing units and ramp traders.Three channels were identified: farmers selling to processors, ramp traders and pre-harvest contractors, with processors distributing mango based products to domestic and international markets.Among three channels, Channel I was the most efficient with the highest producer's share (95.95 %) and marketing efficiency (12.87), highlighting that direct marketing can significantly enhance farmer returns and overall value chain performance.Regression analysis revealed that family size, yield per acre, market distance, access to credit and finance, price realisation, timely payments, and pre-agreement contracts significantly influenced the farmers' marketing channel choices.The key market-related constraints faced by mango farmers include price fluctuations, unsupportive government policies, lack of market information and delayed payments.The study recommended for enhancing infrastructure, market intelligence and value chain financing solutions to improve the efficiency of the mango value chain for processing varieties. .

The study investigates the impact of e-commerce participation on price and revenue of chilli cultivators in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.The significance of chilli as a spice and vegetable made both public and private sectors contribute to the improvement in production and marketing of chilli in the district.Guntur chilli market yard is considered as heart of chilli marketing in Andhra Pradesh.Also, there are many private players involved in marketing of chilli in the district.They include corporate companies, processing companies and e-commerce platforms.The study examined how an e-commerce platform impacted the price received by chilli farmer and income of the farmer using a propensity score matching method.The estimated results provided evidence that the farmers adopting digital e-commerce platform for marketing received 4.98 to 7.41 per cent more price and 10.28 to 14.13 per cent more income than the farmers practicing traditional marketing practices.However, the results showed that, e-commerce platform has differential impact depending on age, experience, training programs attended and android mobile usage etc.The study found that promoting digital marketing can boost income and prices in rural areas.

One of the key issues that leads to the decline in soil health is unscientific chemical nutrient management.This micro-level study explores the patterns of chemical fertiliser use, expenditure levels, and the factors influencing farmers' decisions on soil nutrient management in paddy cultivation in the Kole lands of Kerala.Farmers frequently deviate from recommended nutrient application practices, often exceeding the suggested levels for major nutrients while neglecting secondary nutrients and micronutrients.The timing of nutrient application also significantly diverges from scientific recommendations.Socioeconomic factors such as farmers' age and education level lead to higher chances of increasing expenditures, while household income and the maximum education level within the family members tend to reduce the chances of higher expenditure.The study highlights the crucial role of socio-economic variables in shaping expenditure decisions related to chemical fertiliser use.It also underscores the influence of educated family members on scientific decision-making, suggesting a need to redesign extension policies to incorporate them as agents of change.As a forward-looking recommendation, the study proposes the integration of modern technologies to address the challenge of poor soil nutrient management.Sensors capable of measuring soil pH, moisture, temperature, and select nutrient parameters can provide site-specific real-time data, which can be transmitted via Internet of Things (IoT) platforms to centralised databases.Coupled with remote sensing technologies such as satellites and drones, it becomes possible to generate high-resolution imagery that captures spatiotemporal variations in soil and crop conditions.Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms can analyse this multilayered data to detect patterns, assess nutrient deficiencies, and predict soil health trends.AI-driven decision support systems can then generate personalised recommendations for farmers.These insights can be disseminated via region-specific SMS alerts to farmers, their families, extension personnel, and input service providers.To enable effective adoption of these digital innovations, the study emphasises the need for targeted training programs that include not only farmers but also their educated family members, thereby fostering a holistic approach to sustainable soil health management in the Kole ecosystem.

The Integrated Farming System (IFS) approach has emerged as a holistic solution for achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) and fostering inclusive growth.This paper reviews the region-specific suitability and successful implementation of IFS models across India.It specifically presents an economic evaluation of the IFS model (1 ha-Irrigated) developed by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, focusing on the empirical feasibility of implementing this innovative system.A financial feasibility analysis was conducted using three indices: Net Present Worth (NPW), Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), based on a primary survey of nine distinct enterprises within the IFS model.Additionally, scenario analysis assessed three different project durations.India's diverse agroclimatic regions have led to various IFS models, each tailored to specific regional needs.The IFS model by ICAR-IARI, developed for small and marginal farmers, has been found financially feasible, assuming a discount rate of 10 percent and a project life of 15 years.This model also provides significant year-round employment opportunities.As the project life extends, overall performance and outcomes for individual components improve.Despite challenges, the IFS model shows substantial potential for future exploration, offering a promising solution for sustainable growth in Indian agriculture and contributing to sustainable rural livelihoods.