This study aimed to examine the costs and benefits and scrutinize the factors determining the profitability of organic rice farming in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand, to address the financial challenges faced by producers. The study employed a cross-sectional design and a multistage sampling method to select 300 organic rice farmers as respondents. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Cost-benefit analysis, net profit margin assessment, and binary logistic regression modeling were employed for data analysis. Results revealed that the organic rice farming business is profitable, generating an average net profit of $2,029.81 per crop/ha, with a net profit margin of 37.39%. These findings indicate that organic rice production in the study area is highly profitable for small-scale farmers. Statistical analysis identified that farmers’ training, off-farm income, organic rice farming size, and expenditure on organic pest control products are significantly associated with profitability (p < 0.01). The study concludes that although organic rice farming can be profitable, policy interventions should prioritize enhancing the effectiveness of training programs through practical applications, encouraging larger-scale operations to improve efficiency, and supporting optimal pest management.

This study explores the potential of superworm (Zophobas morio) farming within a rural community in Thailand through the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) framework. Farm data were integrated with findings from in-depth interviews and production method evaluations. The results show that farmers lack knowledge of the BCG concept. The use of superworm frass as an organic fertilizer for tomatoes demonstrates reduced reliance on chemical fertilizers while enhancing soil conditions. The practice of using biological by-products multiple times shows the farm has developed production methods for achieving zero waste. The limited scientific understanding of superworm breeding methods hinders both production and business growth. The implementation remains limited due to insufficient institutional backing, technical assistance, and market distribution. To address this, farmers, researchers, and policymakers need to work effectively to deliver training programs, knowledge exchange, and supportive systems. Strengthening farmer capacity through technical guidance and training programs, alongside improved market structures and certification systems, is essential for advancing sustainable BCG-oriented superworm farming policies. The farming community demonstrates excellent potential to serve as a sustainable insect-based agricultural model following the BCG framework. Superworm farming will create rural employment through specific support programs and unified policy initiatives while also enhancing agricultural sustainability and helping Thailand achieve its BCG development objectives.

The alternative plant-based foods (APBFs), such as plant-based meats and milks, are increasingly popular among conscious consumers. APBFs are designed to mimic the flavor and texture of animal-based products. This study explores why consumers choose plant-based foods and examines consumer behavior within the context of agricultural economics. A semi-structured interview was conducted in Bangkok from July to December 2024 with 31 experienced consumers. Using Schwartz’s human value theory, the means-end chain framework guided the interviews. Content analysis and a hierarchical value map (HVM) were used to analyze the results. The HVM revealed associations among product attributes (A), consequences (C), and personal values (V). Key product attributes identified include ingredients, price, packaging, and taste. Prominent consequences were health, worthiness, and pleasant flavor. Four primary personal values emerged: security, hedonism, universalism, and benevolence. The findings highlight the importance of Thailand’s agricultural supply chains and rural economy. As demand for plant-based foods increases, the need for agricultural ingredients such as beans, soy, peas, and rice becomes critical. The agricultural sector and Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model are heavily dependent on consumer demand. This study provides insights from theoretical, practical, and societal perspectives, emphasizing the role of consumer preferences in shaping agricultural and economic policies.

This paper aims to scientifically evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural policy implementation in An Giang and Vinh Long provinces in Vietnam, two localities with different production characteristics but playing an important role in the agrarian structure of the Mekong Delta region. The research objective is not only to measure the effectiveness of policies but also to identify the factors determining the differences in government policy implementation. The research design combines a quantitative survey of 400 farmer households with qualitative analysis from expert interviews to ensure the multidimensionality of the data. The Sustainable Equation Modeling was used to examine the structural relationships between variables and assess the suitability of the scale and model. The analysis results showed four groups of factors significantly impacting implementation effectiveness: the governance capacity of local authorities; the adequacy of resources and supporting infrastructure; farmer participation; and monitoring and feedback mechanisms. In this context, local governance is a strong factor, reflecting the role of the implementation apparatus in transforming policy objectives into concrete results. The practical implications of the study suggest that strengthening management capacity, consolidating production infrastructure, establishing a two-way feedback mechanism, and expanding citizen participation are necessary to improve the effectiveness of agricultural policy implementation in the future.

The study examines the relationship between social capital, measured through cooperative, social media, and social club memberships, and agricultural productivity in North-Central Nigeria. It also evaluates the moderating effect of youth empowerment. Data was collected via a structured questionnaire from 447 smallholders. Multiple linear regression analysis with interaction terms was employed to interpret the data. The model explains 47.4% of the variation in agricultural productivity, with youth empowerment emerging as the most significant predictor (b = 0.405, p < 0.001), followed by social media membership (b = 0.226, p < 0.001). Participation in cooperative membership also showed a substantial effect (b = 0.128, p = 0.010), while social club membership had a marginal influence (b = 0.089, p = 0.079). The interaction effects reveal that youth empowerment significantly moderates the relationship between social club membership and productivity (B = 0.049, p < 0.001), and has a smaller but notable moderating role in the association between social media membership and productivity (B = 0.025, p = 0.055). However, it does not significantly influence the relationship between cooperative membership and productivity. The interaction model accounts for 48.9% of the variance in productivity. These findings underscore the importance of empowering youth through skills development, leadership training, digital literacy, and access to finance and technology to enhance social networks and increase farm income. The study recommends integrating empowerment programs with digital inclusion and cooperative initiatives to maximize their impact on agricultural productivity.

This study investigates the nature, causes, and behavioral effects of agricultural credit limits among rural households in Kyrgyzstan using nationally representative data from the 2019 Life in Kyrgyzstan (LiK) Survey. Despite recent growth in the domestic financial sector, formal credit remains difficult to obtain, especially for smallholder farmers. The analysis employs a direct elicitation methodology that categorizes families into four groups: unconstrained, quantity-rationed, price-rationed, and risk-rationed, to better capture both supply-side and demand-side restrictions. To identify the key variables associated with each type of constraint, a multinomial logit model is utilized. The findings reveal that risk rationing is the most prevalent form of credit exclusion, affecting approximately one-third of rural households. This indicates that borrowing decisions are more influenced by households' perceptions of risks, such as concerns about repayment, the threat of losing collateral, and limited trust in financial institutions, rather than merely the availability of credit. Additionally, the location of households significantly impacts the likelihood of quantity rationing. Exposure to adverse shocks notably increases the probability of credit limits among rural households, highlighting the importance of external factors in credit access issues.

This study evaluates the job satisfaction and morale of women actively involved in agriculture by examining their participation in agricultural production, decision-making processes, and overall engagement in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Data were gathered from 90 women farmers using a survey questionnaire supplemented by unstructured interviews to gain deeper insights into their experiences. The mixed-methods approach enabled a comprehensive assessment of both quantitative participation patterns and qualitative barriers affecting women's agricultural roles. Results reveal that women play vital roles across the agricultural value chain, with 78.3% participating in planting crops, 43.2% in tending crops, 38.89% in caring for farm animals, and 25.56% in marketing harvested products. Most respondents are long-term married tenants (81.11%), with 58.89% being tenants and 65.56% possessing over ten years of farming experience. Despite their significant contributions, structural barriers, including limited land ownership, low educational attainment, and restricted access to credit, substantially hinder their decision-making power and economic opportunities. Additionally, women's job satisfaction and morale face compounding challenges from agricultural automation, pest infestations, financial constraints, and debts resulting from natural disasters. The findings underscore the pressing need for targeted gender empowerment programs and policy interventions that enhance women's access to land, education, and financial resources. Recognizing and supporting women's vital roles in agriculture through institutional reforms can significantly enhance their morale, productivity, and overall well-being while contributing to sustainable rural development and food security.

This study examines the integration of a rainwater harvesting system with a smart greenhouse for hydroponic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivation to improve water-use efficiency and support sustainable precision agriculture. The system incorporates IoT-based environmental monitoring and automated irrigation using real-time data on temperature, humidity, light intensity, water quality, and nutrient conditions. A 30-day comparative experiment was conducted using two irrigation sources: filtered harvested rainwater and groundwater. Measurements included environmental parameters, water use, and plant traits such as leaf number, leaf size, biomass, root length, and chlorophyll content (SPAD). Independent Sample T-Test results showed that groundwater significantly enhanced vegetative growth, increasing fresh weight by up to 62.5% and root length by 44.45% compared to rainwater treatment. In contrast, rainwater-grown plants exhibited 16.67% higher SPAD values, suggesting greater chlorophyll concentration and physiological quality. Laboratory analysis indicated that filtration improved rainwater pH and TDS but increased turbidity and total hardness, while groundwater demonstrated more stable quality across all parameters. These findings highlight the potential of integrating smart irrigation and alternative water sources to support climate-resilient agriculture. Future work should optimize filtration processes and investigate nutrient uptake and physiological responses under varying water qualities in hydroponic systems.

Button mushroom cultivation in Himachal Pradesh is economically significant, providing a profitable venture for farmers, contributing to rural income generation, and offering a valuable source of protein and other nutrients. The present study was designed with the primary objective of examining the economics of button mushroom cultivation in the study area. Primary data were collected from 60 mushroom growers residing in 7 randomly selected blocks of the purposively chosen Kangra district. The respondents were categorized into two groups, small and large, based on the number of compost bags they maintained, using the cumulative square-root frequency method. The results indicated that the fixed cost of production per 100 bags varied from 32.80% on small farms to 22.97% on large farms, while variable costs ranged from 67.20% on small farms to 72.21% on large farms. The gross return per 100 bags of button mushroom ranged from Rs. 40,587 to Rs. 47,109, whereas the net return over total cost per kilogram varied from Rs. 34.08 to Rs. 63.73 on small and large farms, respectively. The break-even output, where growers neither made a profit nor incurred a loss, was 100 kg overall, with 150 kg for small farms and 69 kg for large farms. Factors influencing mushroom production included the number of compost bags, human labor, expenditure on plant protection materials, and the management index, which are significant variables affecting production on the sampled farms.

Japan has numerous golf courses, covering up to 0.37% of the country's total land area. These golf courses require intensively managed turf, and the soil environment in turfgrass fields differs significantly from that in agricultural environments. To understand the characteristics of turfgrass fields in Japan, a study was conducted that constructed and analyzed a database of 178 soil samples from golf courses across the country using the soil fertility index (SOFIX) technique. The turfgrass field database was statistically compared with agricultural field databases, including upland, paddy, and orchard fields, using the Mann-Whitney U test. The results indicated that the average bacterial biomass in turfgrass fields was 6.1 × 108 cells per gram of soil, which is comparable to that in orchard and upland fields (p > 0.01). The average values for total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) were 9,960 mg/kg, 540 mg/kg, 390 mg/kg, and 1,560 mg/kg, respectively, with these values distributed within narrow ranges. Although the levels of TC, TN, TP, and TK in turfgrass fields were lower than those in agricultural fields (p < 0.01), the bacterial biomass remained relatively high. These findings suggest that turfgrass fields in Japanese golf courses are likely managed with similar practices, characterized by intensive application of chemical fertilizers. The high bacterial biomass is attributed to carbon sources from clipping activities and reduced fumigation practices on golf courses. Further research on the application of organic fertilizers is recommended to promote sustainable land use and improve turfgrass management practices in golf courses across Japan.