Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology

Empowering Communities through Dialogue and Critical Consciousness on Food Security in Odisha, India

Sabyasachi Pradhan — 2026-02-07

Nutrition literacy is the degree to which a person can obtain, process, and grasp basic dietetic information and services to make healthy food choices. This study explores a nutrition literacy initiative based on Paulo Freire's critical consciousness approach, integrated into an agricultural intervention aimed at improving nutrition outcomes in tribal communities in Odisha, through dialogic pedagogy. The action research is conducted across 1,575 households in 47 villages within Mathpada and Doraguda Panchayats, located in Boipariguda Block, Koraput district, Odisha, Eastern India. The program trained 108 adult participants, designated Community Hunger Fighters (CHFs), in two intensive residential modules totalling five days over two months. Using facilitated dialogue, the CHFs critically examined the causes of low dietary diversity within their communities, identifying interconnected social, economic, and cultural obstacles to adequate food intake amidst poverty. They collaboratively engaged in planning agricultural activities sensitive to nutritional needs. Researchers documented transformative behaviours among the CHFs using qualitative methods (observations, interviews, focus groups) and specific indicators. The dialogic approach successfully stimulated community-wide discourse on food security. CHFs distilled key messages from their discussions and disseminated them creatively to fellow villagers. This process of critical analysis enabled participants to recognise gender inequalities, pinpoint constraints in local food production, adopt lifestyle changes to improve dietary intake, and express demand for agricultural technical training. Outcomes included 38 CHFs establishing nutri-gardens and many assuming leadership roles on broader community issues beyond food security. This experience demonstrates that employing dialogue as a core educational strategy within agricultural nutrition programs can effectively catalyse critical reflection on the socio-cultural and economic barriers hindering both food production and consumption. This reflection, in turn, can empower communities and drive transformative actions towards improved food security and nutrition.

Farm to Market: Understanding the Marketing Behaviour of Onion Growers in Chitradurga District, India

Jagadish. H.M — 2026-02-07

Onion (Allium cepa L.), popularly known as the “queen of the kitchen,” is both a staple vegetable and a vital commercial crop in India. Beyond its culinary importance, it plays a pivotal role in generating farm income, creating employment opportunities, and contributing to exports. Karnataka is the country’s leading onion-producing states; however, productivity frequently lags behind potential levels, resulting in notable yield gaps. Against this backdrop, the current study was conducted in the Chitradurga district in 2023 to examine the marketing behaviour of onion growers because there is limited research on how yield gaps and marketing behaviour interact at the district level. A sample of 120 farmers, comprising 60 small and 60 big growers was randomly selected from Challakere and Hiriyur taluks. An ex post facto research design was adopted, and data were gathered through a pre-tested structured interview schedule. The results showed that the persistence of yield gaps was primarily linked to limited adoption of scientific practices and constraints in resource management. With respect to price information, most farmers (60.84%) depended on relatives, neighbours, and middlemen, while only a smaller proportion relied on mobile phones (12.50%), newspapers (7.50%), or government agencies (5.00%). APMC markets were the dominant sales outlet, attracting 81.66% of growers, compared with local markets (11.67%) and retailers (6.67%). More than three-fourths of the onion growers (76.67%) sold their produce right after harvest because of financial limitations, while only 23.33% could afford to store their crop for better prices. Transport of produce was largely undertaken through goods vehicles (47.50%) and trucks (35.84%), and nearly all respondents (96.66%) graded their onions by size and shape to secure higher returns. The study concludes that farmers’ marketing choices are strongly shaped by socio-economic conditions, immediate cash needs, and infrastructural limitations. Strengthening storage facilities, improving access to timely and reliable market information, and encouraging collective marketing strategies can help decreases yield gaps and enhance profitability for onion growers in Chitradurga district and the main policy implication is to establish farmer-centric storage, market information and collective marketing systems to reduce distress sales and improve farmers’ income.

Role of Rural Non-Farm Employment in Enhancing Food Security and Livelihoods of Rural Households in Karur District, Tamil Nadu, India

Harshavardhini G — 2026-02-07

Rural livelihoods in India are undergoing a significant transformation, with non-farm activities emerging as a key source of employment and income beyond agriculture. The Rural Non-Farm Sector (RNFS) has become central to livelihood diversification and economic resilience in rural areas. The present study was conducted in Karur district of Tamil Nadu, a region with predominant non-farm activities, to examine the impact of Rural Non-Farm Sector participation on employment, and food security of rural households. However, district-level empirical evidence linking rural non-farm employment, occupational choice, and household food security in Tamil Nadu remains limited. Primary data were collected from 120 rural households. The results indicated that manufacturing accounted for the largest share of non-farm employment (34.62 per cent), followed by construction (17.95 per cent) and transport services (14.10 per cent). Econometric analysis revealed that household size, proportion of working members, organizational membership, distance to workplace, and household income significantly influenced participation in Rural Non-Farm Sector, while age and landholding size had a negative effect. The occupational choice analysis showed that households with higher levels of education and income were more likely to engage in self-employed or regular non-farm activities. The mean food security index was highest for non-farm households (1.11), compared to farm (1.05) and off-farm households (1.01). Food-secure non-farm households exceeded calorie requirements by 10 per cent, while food-insecure households experienced calorie shortfalls ranging from 17 to 25 per cent. Probit results showed that education and non-farm income positively influenced food security, whereas age, household size, and distance to markets had a negative effect. The study highlights the Rural Non-Farm Sector as an important livelihood safety net and emphasizes strengthening farm–non-farm linkages through productivity enhancement and rural infrastructure development to reduce distress migration.

Unlocking Market Potential for Madurai Malli Through Value Chain Analysis

L.T. Thirumarudhan — 2026-02-09

Geographical Indications (GI) serve as intellectual property rights that protect products uniquely tied to specific regions, where distinctive attributes are derived from local natural, cultural, or traditional factors. This study analyses the marketing structure, price spread, and efficiency of GI-certified Madurai Malli in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district, aiming to identify optimal marketing channels that maximize farmer income and minimize intermediary costs. The research was conducted in Thiruparangundram and Kallikudi blocks of Madurai, involving 60 farmers and 10 intermediaries. The study employed Acharya’s and Shepherd’s approaches to evaluate marketing efficiency, in addition to price spread and producer share analyses. The identified four Marketing Channels (MC) were: MC I (Farmer → Trader → Wholesaler → Retailer → Consumer), MC II (Farmer → Trader → Exporter → Importer → Consumer), MC III (Farmer → Trader → Retailer → Consumer) and MC IV (Farmer → Trader → Processor → Perfumery Exporter → Importer → Consumer). Among these, MC I was the most prevalent (60%), while MC III and MC II accounted for 20% and 10% respectively. MC IV, though promising for value addition, lacked sufficient data for efficiency evaluation. The price spread analysis revealed that MC III delivered the highest net price to farmers (72.97%) and the lowest price spread (27.03%), making it the most efficient channel. MC III as the most efficient channel, with values of 2.45 (Acharya) and 3.36 (Shepherd). The study concludes that shorter value chains offer better economic returns to producers. Enhancing direct linkages between farmers and retailers and promoting collective marketing strategies can further improve sustainability. There is also potential to develop MC IV for value-added products like perfumes, provided adequate infrastructure and data are in place.

Study on Awareness of Farmers towards Climate Change of Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh, India

Pawan Kumar Gupta — 2026-02-10

Farming communities in India have still not been able to align with mainstream development process and therefore, the threat of climate change vulnerability looms larger on them. But planned adaptation, right kind of technologies and policies for farming areas and communities, is highly essential to increase the resilience of agricultural production to climate change. The study was conducted in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. This study was adopted both purposive and random sampling methods. Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh comprises seven districts viz; Banda, Chitrakoot, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Hamirpur and Mahoba, so all districts were selected and one block from each district was selected at random. Total 14 villages were selected randomly and 375 respondents were selected for study in household basis. The majority of the respondents (63.47%) are in middle age group, (23.43%) were found to have graduation and above education. The Majority (52.80%) of the respondents had a medium family size, belonged to a nuclear family. The majority (57.03%) of respondents possessed medium farming experience, with 33.89 per cent having possessed marginal land holding (below 1 ha.), while 33.33 per cent of respondents were engaged in farming as sole profession and highest ownership is reported for cows (local/cross breed). A majority (61.86%) of the respondents had a medium level of extension contact and a medium level of mass media exposure. An analysis of the socio-economic status will help in improving the effectiveness of transfer of technology activities, further resulting in accelerated adoption of new agricultural technologies.

Farmers’ Attitudes toward Fertilizer Application in Boro Rice Cultivation in Sunamganj District of Bangladesh

Nafisa Tabassum — 2026-02-13

The study was carried out to assess farmers’ attitudes regarding fertilizer application in Boro rice cultivation and to identify the factors associated with it in the haor region of Bangladesh. Appropriate application of fertilizer leads to higher economic growth through 40-60% increase in crop output and inefficient fertilization causes lowers productivity. Hence, it is quite logical to understand farmers’ favourable attitudes toward fertilizer application in rice and to determine the factors in applying fertilizer in rice of Bangladesh. The study findings might be assisted policymakers in designing more effective policies to increase the fertilizer application at an optimal level by farmers in rice. Moreover, the findings can be helpful for the academicians and extension experts to improve their studies and extension activities. Data were collected from 60 farmers who were randomly selected through a structured interview schedule that was pre-tested beforehand. Correlation tests were performed to explore the relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and their favourable attitudes concerning fertilizer application. The results revealed that education and agricultural training experience were found to have a positively significant relationship with farmers’ attitudes towards fertilizer application. However, annual household income exhibited a negative non-significant relationship, whereas age, family size, farm size, extension media contact, cosmopoliteness, and organisational participation showed no association with attitude. The findings suggest that improving education and providing effective agricultural training can enhance farmers’ understanding of proper fertilizer use. Strengthening agricultural extension services and implementing targeted capacity-building programs could therefore contribute to improved Boro rice productivity and sustainable agricultural development in Bangladesh.

Constraints of Organic Farming Practices Adoption in Southern Rajasthan, India

Deepak Kumar Jain — 2026-02-17

The study was conducted during Rabi season in year 2022 in Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The present study was undertaken for comparative economics of organic and inorganic wheat farming in Rajasthan. Udaipur district of Rajasthan was selected based on researcher conveniences and acquaintance with the study area. The major constraints faced by the farmers in adoption of organic farming that 94 per cent farmers of the study area faced the problem about low production under organic farming. About 78 per cent farmers faced by high certification cost, followed by 62 per cent farmers told organic farming was labour intensive, nearly 44 per cent farmers faced lack of marketing facility problems of organic produced, while 42 per cent farmers told about high cost of organic inputs 36 per cent farmers faced problem about availability of organic inputs.

Probabilistic Break-even Analysis of Field Crops in Madhya Pradesh, India

Gourav Kumar Vani — 2026-02-19

A study was conducted to assess farmers’ profitability for major field crops in Madhya Pradesh. Cross-sectional data for the year 2019–20 on plot and state level cost of cultivation were obtained from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of India. Break-even yield was estimated and the probability of farmers failing to achieve this threshold was calculated. The study adopted an integrated analytical framework combining break-even analysis with probabilistic risk assessment. Yield distributions were first tested for normality and, where normality was not satisfied, probability estimates were obtained using numerical integration techniques. The findings revealed that the probability of not breaking even was highest for cotton, followed by pigeon pea and maize, indicating significant production and income risk in these crops. The negative break-even yield values observed for soybean and black gram suggest that, under prevailing cost and revenue conditions, farmers may not be able to cover even their variable costs, reflecting a situation of severe economic stress rather than short-term losses. The results further indicate considerable variation in profitability risk across crops. However, since the analysis is based on pooled cost data, differences in farm-level cost structures and management practices may not be fully captured. The study demonstrates that probabilistic break-even analysis can serve as a useful decision-support tool for designing crop-specific and risk-sensitive policy interventions, especially for vulnerable crops such as cotton, pigeon pea and maize.

Globalization in Silk Production: A Comprehensive Review

Siraj Monir — 2026-02-03

Different civilizations of the world culture although use silk despite the availability of many other natural and synthetic yarns yet the production has not yet attained total globalization and mostly concentrated in different countries of Asia, followed by Europe and Africa. Names of silk producing countries of different continents is available. Globalization is the multidimensional process and activity and in case of silk, except Japan it spreads rapidly across Eurasia. Till now sericulture is practiced in approx. 60 countries of the World while the major producers are from Asia under tropical and sub- tropical climatic conditions. Major silk-producing countries worldwide include China, India, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the DPR Korea, and Iran. In addition, several other countries produce cocoons and raw silk in relatively small quantities, such as Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Nepal, Bulgaria, Turkey, Uganda, Malaysia, Romania, and Bolivia.