Changing Dynamics of Cropping Pattern and Constraints Perceived by the Vegetable Growers in Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh has various agro-climatic conditions suitable for producing a wide range of vegetable crops around the year. Sixty vegetable growers were selected from the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh using a three-stage random sampling method. In the past 30 years, there was a massive reduction in cereals, pulses and oilseeds; it would be due to the introduction of vegetable crops. On average, the total area put under vegetable crops was 0.2974 and 0.3158 hectares during the summer and winter seasons, respectively, on the overall farm situation. The incidence of insect pests & diseases was the significant constraint related to production. Getting a loan from the bank was time-consuming, and lack of extension facilities were the most critical financial and institutional constraints, respectively. Training should be provided to the farmers to be aware of the latest technologies of KVKs and SAUs to overcome production constraints. For financial and institutional constraints, training camps should be held to provide knowledge about new schemes of state and centre government.

The inflow of Foreign Remittances in Rural Punjab: The Determinants

In this paper, an attempt was made to analyze two issues relating to the inflow of remittances in the migrant households of rural Punjab. Firstly, the distribution pattern of remittances receiving migrant households as the volume of per household remittances. Secondly, causes of receiving different volumes of remittances by households. The results showed that in short to medium periods, remittances remained a stable and significant source of migrant’s household income. In the long term, as more migrants get legal status in the destination country, or their families join them, build their own houses, or start their businesses, they may revise their portfolio choice. The study also found that the high per capita domestic income of the migrant households back at home and the increased stay of the migrants in the destination countries negatively impact the inflow of households remittances. However, there was a positive relationship between the inflow of per household remittances and the number of family migrants abroad. Similarly, illegal migrants send more remittances than legal migrants. The migrants in developed countries send more remittances than migrants of developing countries. The study also found that altruism predominates as more remittances were received from children and spouses than other relatives. Keywords: Emigrants, illegal migrants, legal migrants, migrant households, remittances. JEL Codes: C32, F24, P16, R23

Impacts of the Blue Economy on Economic Growth in Vietnam

This study evaluated how factors of the blue economy affect economic growth employing the quantitative method to run a panel regression model, based on data collected from sources from the General Statistics of Vietnam (GSO), the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam Statistical Yearbook....with a sample of 280 observations from 28 coastal provinces and cities in Vietnam from 2010 to 2019. The contributing factors that measure the blue economy growth are total fishery production, aquaculture production, shipping and port, travel and tourism, labour, capital and export. The results revealed that the blue economy factors played a significant role in Vietnam's economic growth. In addition, the study proposed that it was necessary to build stable politics, clear orientations, reasonable control over investment sources, and national cultural spirit to improve and develop a sustainable blue economy. Keywords: Aquaculturem fishing, blue economy, economic growth, fishing production. JEL Codes: C13, O10, O11.

Financial Performance of Micro-Finance Institutions in India

Micro-finance institutions (MFIs) in most developing countries, including India, are seen as essential tools to eradicate poverty and raise the standard of living of rural poor. Therefore, the sound functioning of MFIs has a huge long-run impact on the outreach of the rural poor. However, the performance of MFIs is often measured in terms of their social impact on the rural poor, while the financial indicators are ignored. In this context, the study analysed the major determinants of the financial performance of the 20 MFIs in India using panel regression. The results of the study revealed that financial indicators such as operating self-sufficiency, return on assets, and size (assets of the MFIs) had a positive impact on increasing the performance of MFIs. Further, the active borrowers increase efficiency, while passive borrowers had a negative impact on the performance of the MFIs. Similarly, a low level of debt to equity ratio, operating expenses to assets ratio, and low percentage of women borrowers could lead to the sound financial performance of MFIs. Keywords: Active borrowers, financial performance, micro-finance, women borrowers. JEL Codes: G21, I 22

Poverty Incidence and Income Inequality in the Tribal and Non-tribal Area of Central Gujarat

The present investigation undertook to study the poverty incidence and income distribution among poor and non-poor in the tribal and non-tribal areas applying headcount index and the Gini index, and Lorenz curve. The headcount index shows the proportion of poor households. It shows that poverty was higher in the tribal area than in non-tribal regions. Incidence of poverty was higher in marginal farm households, followed by landless agricultural labour and small farm households. Income inequalities are depicted by the Gini coefficient and presented in graphical form by the Lorenz curve. It showed that total income was distributed more equally among poor and non-poor people in the tribal area than in non-tribal regions. It also observed that in the tribal district, poor and non-poor households had the same proportion of inequality. It was suggested to focus on creating employment opportunities through programmes like MGNREGA to eliminate poverty in particular tribal areas. Keywords: Gini coefficient, headcount index, income inequality, Lorenz curve, poverty incidence. JEL Codes: D63, I32, I38, O15

Production and Marketing Efficiency of Ghritkumari Cultivation in Rajasthan

The present study was conducted in the Churu district of Rajasthan. Total eighty farmers were selected randomly from two tehsil and four villages from each tehsil. The cost of cultivation per hectare increased during the first year and decreased in the second year and onwards. Net return was lower during the first year and increased during the second year onwards of Ghritkumari cultivation. It is found that the marketing efficiency of Channel-I was (2.66), followed by Channel-II (1.01) and Channel-III (0.60). The study suggested establishing a regulated market and emphasizing the marketing of Ghritkumari crops through the direct channel (Producer ? Processing unit) in the Churu district of Rajasthan. Keywords: Cost, and price, marketing channel efficiency, marketing channel, medicinal plant. JEL Codes: Q13, Q16, Q18.

Silk Cocoon Production in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu: A Profitability Analysis

Sericulture is a financially viable production and has enormous potential for employment opportunities. The present study attempted to investigate the profitability of the sericulture business in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. A proportionate random sampling approach was used to select 80 sample sericulture farmers. The results revealed that the total cost of producing silk cocoons was ?98,805.1 , with a net profit of ? 1,17,194.84. The benefit-cost ratio and break-even output estimated 6 were 2.19:1 and 140.72 kg of the silk cocoon. It depicted that the farmers were operating in the profit zone, as the average yield of sample farmers was substantially higher. Labour scarcity, pest and disease incidence, and income loss owing to COVID 19 pandemic were major constraints faced by sericulture farmers. Sericulture enterprise provided immense opportunity by means of profitable income and more employment opportunities. The young unemployed rural entrepreneurs and women SHGs of this region if appropriately trained and provided financial support to initiate this enterprise would lead to the development of the silk cluster and indeed top position in the Indian silk industry.

Regional Industrial Development under Liberal Economic Regime in Punjab

The objective of this study was two-fold, firstly, it analysed industrial development trends and deceleration across major Indian states since 1980-81 and, investigated industrial development in Punjab, a mineral resources deprived and a land-locked state. It was important as the policy changed at the national level in 1991 and removed various benefits for industrial development in mineralresources deprived regions and economically backward regions. To analyse the objective, both primary as well as secondary information was used. Findings of the study highlighted that industrial restructuring took place across major states in India during 1980-81 to 2017-18. In general, economically poor states and mineral resources deprived states witnessed the deceleration of the industrial sector. The position of the industrial sector in Punjab declined as compared to other states and compared to its past. The discussions with various stakeholders, including sampled industrial units, representatives of industrial associations, etc., highlighted various economic and non-economic factors behind the ongoing industrial deceleration in Punjab.

Impact of Minor Irrigation on Agricultural Production: An Inter-Crop Analysis in Odisha

The study examined the impact of minor irrigation on agricultural production and evaluated the gap between IPC and IPU in the Keonjhar district of Odisha. For this rationale, data were collected from 210 farm households through the primary survey. In support of the analysis, the Cobb Douglas model and factor analysis were used. The results revealed that the input use efficiency had a positive and significant impact on paddy production the most in all the MIPs regions compared to the other crops. However, the study indicated that insufficient water availability was the major cause behind the gap between irrigation potential created and utilised. Thus, minor irrigation played a crucial role in enhancing agricultural production in hilly regions. With the enthusiastic participation of planners, effective working of Pani Panchayats, canals, and upstream control, NGOs' involvement can achieve selfsufficiency in agricultural production by encouraging minor irrigation projects in the hilly province.

Level and Pattern of Consumption Expenditure of Rural Households among Different Regions of Punjab

The present study, dealing with the inequality in consumption of the rural households across the different regions, is based upon the primary data of the Punjab state. The analysis showed that Malwa excelled other two regions in the per capita consumption. The highest average propensity to consume was observed for Doaba, and it was the lowest for Malwa. All the rural households except large farm of all the three regions and medium farm households of Malwa and Majha were in deficit. Considering all households together, the inequality of household consumption expenditure was relatively high in all three regions, with the same being highest in Majha, followed by Malwa and Doaba. The concentration of consumption expenditure among the land-owning households was greater than the landless households.