Sikkim possesses rich floral diversity, yet its potential remains underutilised due to a lack of awareness of its value-addition.The value-addition to flowers in Sikkim has significant potential to empower rural women by enabling them to use their leisure time productively. This study explores the impact of training on the value addition of low-cost flowers as a source of income enhancement for women in Sikkim. Findings revealed significant income gains, with Rhododendron wine and Traditional garlands showing the highest Benefit-Cost Ratios (3.51 and 3.71, respectively). Rhododendron wine also showed the strongest effect size on income (Cohen’s d = 0.67). Regression analysis highlighted input availability, credit access and training as key factors influencing income generated through value addition. Despite constraints such as seasonal availability of raw material and restricted market, the intervention enabled many previously non-earning women to become contributors to household income, demonstrating the economic potential of floriculture value addition in Sikkim.

The study examined the determinants of income diversification among farming households in Punjab, with a focus on urban proximity. Using a multi-stage sampling method, data were collected from 90 households across six villages near Ludhiana. The Simpson Diversification Index was used to quantify income diversification, and exploratory and stepwise regression analyses were used to identify key determinants. The research findings indicated that proximity to urban centres significantly enhanced income diversification opportunities, particularly for lower-income households, by providing access to non-farm employment and markets. Factors such as proximity to the urban centre, education level, and farm size played an important role in determining income diversification. The study emphasised the need for targeted policies to promote non-farm employment and support small farmers.

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Indian exports to its five major export partners, Bangladesh, China, Singapore, the USA, and the UAE, using quarterly data from 2019 to 2021 by employing Constant Market Share (CMS) analysis. The findings revealed a sharp decline in Indian exports in the first half of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a notable revival was observed in Bangladesh and the USA markets during the second half of 2020. The analysis further indicated that India had strong competitiveness in technologically intensive exports, particularly machinery and electrical equipment, across all selected export destinations (except the USA) during the third and fourth quarters of 2021.

In the present investigation, an attempt was made to study the price convergence of cotton in selected markets before and after the integration of markets through e-NAM. The study period was divided into two phases: the Before-e-NAM phase, which spanned from January 2012 to December 2016, and the After-e-NAM phase, which extended from January 2017 to December 2021. Johansen integration, Granger causality and VECM were the tools used for analysis purposes. The results revealed that the prominence of the Adoni market declined after the e-NAM period, compared with before it. This decline may be due to farmers' preference for selling cotton to processing industries or village traders. The Government should take steps to reduce the costs borne by cotton farmers in the market, thereby helping them to achieve better price realisation. Keywords: Agricultural markets, agricultural policy, causality, market integration, price dynamics. JEL Codes: C32, Q13, Q18.

Henna is a commercially important crop in Rajasthan, supporting livelihoods in arid regions, yet farmers often receive limited returns due to complex marketing chains and intermediary involvement. This study analysed marketing patterns in Pali district using data from 60 farmers and 20 intermediaries collected through structured interviews in 2022–23. Marketing costs, margins, and price spreads were evaluated across three channels: Farmer ? Processor ? Retailer ? Consumer; Farmer ? Mandi ? Processor ? Wholesaler ? Retailer ? Consumer; and Farmer ? Village Trader ? Mandi ? Processor ? Retailer ? Consumer. Results showed that processors bore the highest costs, retailers earned the largest margins, and farmers’ share of the consumer price ranged from 44.95–51.68 per cent, highlighting the influence of intermediaries on profitability. Integrating Sojat Krishi Upaj Mandi with e-NAM could enable farmers to access buyers directly, potentially improving price realization and reducing intermediary-related costs.

India holds a 23 per cent share of global milk production, making it the leading country in the dairy sector worldwide. The present study was conducted in Andhra Pradesh, India, to estimate the consumption patterns and expenditures on milk and milk products across different households. Milk consumption per capita per day was highest among urban consumers (0.659 litres per capita per day), followed by rural consumers (0.415 litres per capita per day) and NPISH consumers (0.379 litres per capita per day). Expenditure on liquid milk was about 43.06 per cent, followed by curd (16.51 per cent), ghee (16.48 per cent), paneer (11.86 per cent), khoa (6.80 per cent), and other milk products (5.29 per cent). Overall, milk used for liquid consumption accounted for approximately 59.24 per cent, while milk used for processing accounted for 40.76 per cent. The quantity of liquid milk consumed per year was highest in the rural population (3.05 million tonnes), followed by the urban population (1.66 million tonnes) and the NPISH population (0.14 million tonnes) in the state. Expenditure on liquid milk was about 43.06 per cent, followed by curd (16.51 per cent), ghee (16.48 per cent), paneer (11.86 per cent), khoa (6.80 per cent), and other milk products (5.29 per cent). The education level, family size, and annual income of the households were found to have a positive and significant impact on milk consumption. The consumption of processed milk products is increasing, and there is a need to address this aspect by expanding the dairy industry to meet this demand.

In Gujarat, small and marginal farmers' economic well-being relies on agriculture and crop diversification, offering a promising path to economic upthrust. This strategy mitigates farming risks and has potential benefits for nutrition and the environment among global challenges. This study examined the growth, trends and determinants of crop diversification in Gujarat by analysing 24 years (2000-01 to 2023-24) of time series data on area, production and productivity of major crops. The study findings revealed that substantial increases in the area under cereals and pulses, especially wheat and gram, indicated a shift toward foodgrain cultivation. While the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for cereal area remained stable (0.25 per cent), production and productivity exhibited significant growth (3.46 and 3.24 per cent, respectively). Instability analysis showed low to moderate variability across crops, with productivity being the major contributor to production volatility. The cubic trend model effectively captured the non-linear patterns in crop dynamics, with significant change points detected in 2005–06, 2010–11, and 2020–21, likely driven by policy, technological or climatic shifts. A comparative analysis of diversification indices revealed improvements in crop diversification over time, particularly in the most recent triennium. Regression analysis showed rainfall positively influenced diversification, whereas increased agricultural credit by scheduled banks had a negative effect. The policy focus should be on improving on-farm water security, providing market and value chain support like enhanced MSP coverage, storage and processing facilities for non-traditional crops to sustain diversification.

The notable shifts in dairy consumption patterns emerged as a result of the pandemic-induced restrictions and evolving consumer behaviours. These shifts were marked by observable trends in Per Capita Consumption (PCC) and Per Capita Expenditure (PCE), including a decline in unpackaged milk (PCC: 5 to 27 per cent, PCE: 2 to 33 per cent) consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic periods and a concurrent surge in the consumption of toned milk (PCC: 4 to 7 per cent, PCE: 2 to 15 per cent) and ghee (PCC: 44 to 59 per cent, PCE: 28 to 68 per cent). The research findings also highlighted that high-income consumers demonstrated greater stability in maintaining consistent milk and milk product consumption during both the lockdown and post-lockdown phases compared to their low-income counterparts. The findings shed light on the resilient adaptability of particular consumer segments and emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies to address evolving consumption patterns and promote food security in the face of global crises.

This study aimed to assess the multiplier effects of blue economy sectors in Indonesia. The results showed that certain sectors had high dispersion and sensitivity, so they had the potential to become the leading sectors of economic growth. These were sub-sectors that were characterized by significant dispersion and sensitivity, often termed as leading sectors. While the sub-sector with the largest output multiplier effect was the electricity sub-sector, For the income multiplier, it was clear that education services had the largest income multiplier effect. The study emphasized the need to encourage public and private investment in leading sectors to promote sustainable economic development.

There has been unprecedented growth in urbanization worldwide in recent times because of high population growth and concomitant economic development. India has recently become the most populated nation in the world, surpassing China. Furthermore, it is the second-largest urban system in the world, with almost 11 per cent of the global urban population. Urban expansion inevitably leads to changed land use both within cities and on the urban fringes. It has serious implications for the agriculture sector and land markets around towns and cities. This review article seeks to examine the issues related to urban sprawl and its associated implications for the agriculture sector. The review revealed that the extent of urbanization, especially in the developing world, was largely unacknowledged and unaddressed. Moreover, the changes in land use were not being effectively captured and documented. Urban sprawl had both positive and negative aspects concerning food security and livelihood generation. Research focusing on these aspects within the context of rural-urban interactions, especially in hilly regions, was generally lacking and thus required greater location-specific attention. Additionally, land regulation frameworks were poorly defined and often abused. This situation calls for strict land use policy regulations and their enforcement in both rural and urban areas.