Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development

Economic aspects of button mushrooms in Mid-Hills of Himachal Pradesh

2026-01-05T23:27:17-06:00

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.

Implication of educational reforms on agrarian labour: The case of free SHS on maize farms in Ghana

2026-01-29T16:46:19-06:00

This paper examined how Ghana’s Free Senior High School Policy affects labour availability on maize farms in Ghana. Using survey data from 550 maize farming households, the study employed descriptive statistics and a Tobit regression model to construct a measure of the severity of labour constraints and to classify maize farming households along a continuum from severe to low labour scarcity. The analysis further explored how household and farm characteristics influence the severity of labour shortages during critical periods of the production cycle. The research also identifies other key causes of labour severity among maize farming households. The results revealed a significant labour scarcity challenge for maize farmers, particularly during planting and harvesting periods, due to increased student enrolment under the free SHS. The Tobit regression analysis indicated that key socio-economic factors, such as household size, farm size, the number of household members enrolled in SHS, and access to extension services, significantly influence the severity of labour scarcity among maize farming households. These findings suggest that education reforms that expand secondary enrolment can unintentionally reduce the supply of family labour to smallholder agriculture. The findings underscore the potential of mechanization and labour-efficient technologies as interventions to alleviate the impact of labour scarcity on agricultural production.

Participation framework for building farm households’ capacity in Chiang Mai province agri-food system

2026-01-29T21:42:43-06:00

Farm households are critical actors in the agri-food system; however, they frequently encounter systemic challenges, affecting their livelihood security. This study investigates farm households in Chiang Mai, Thailand, aiming to identify system components, operational patterns, and value creation across diverse farming systems. Integrated approaches, including the agri-food supply chain framework, Porter’s Value Chain Model, and profit margin calculations, were employed. The findings indicate the dominance of the single-crop cultivation system, which yielded the highest profit margins. Traditional management influences farm households to purchase inputs from retailers and heavily relies on intermediaries for sales, with limited engagement in value-adding activities. Infrastructure deficits, such as inadequate cold storage, contributed to post-harvest losses. Although mixed farming offers diversification benefits, it incurs high operational costs. These findings provide critical actionable insights for farm households and inform agri-food businesses to refine collaborations, policymakers to build resilient and effective interventions, and researchers for future studies. The data collection period, coinciding with widespread animal disease outbreaks (African swine fever, Lumpy skin disease) and a flood in the province, resulted in limited representation of livestock and freshwater fishery systems. This situational constraint was mitigated by applying a weighted proportional analysis based on the actual farm household distribution.

The production cost efficiency of bioindustrial agriculture: A case study in Bengkulu province Indonesia

2026-01-29T22:02:05-06:00

Location-specific bioindustrial agriculture integrating coffee and cattle is a farming system that optimally manages and utilizes all biological resources, including biomass or agricultural waste. The issue of productivity in bioindustrial agriculture is closely related to cost efficiency. This study aims to analyze income and the determinants affecting the cost efficiency of coffee–cattle integrated bioindustrial farming. The research was conducted in Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province, Indonesia, which is a center of robusta coffee production. A total of 100 farmers were selected using purposive sampling. Data analysis employed the income function and the stochastic frontier cost function using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method. The results showed that the cost efficiency value of integrated coffee–cattle bioindustrial farming is 12.07% and is still at an inefficient level; this is due to the low adoption rate. Factors that significantly influence cost efficiency are revenue, seed price, NPK fertilizer price, calf price, compost price, and labor wages, while feed prices have no significant effect. Meanwhile, factors that significantly affect cost inefficiency include age, number of family members, coffee farming experience, cattle farming experience, and education. The study recommends collaboration between the government, agricultural extension workers, and farmers to develop extension and training programs on location-specific bioindustrial farming. Increased adoption of this system is expected to improve both income and production cost efficiency.

Greenhouse gas emissions from tractor-based rice paddy preparation in Thailand

2026-01-30T21:16:15-06:00

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural machinery are critical to advise sustainable rice cultivation. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines, GHG emissions were calculated based on observed fuel consumption rates. We used a 36-horsepower diesel tractor during soil preparation in paddy field sizes (0.04, 0.08, 0.16, 0.24, 0.32, and 0.48 hectares). The three evaluated implements were as follows: a vertical disc plough, a rotary tiller, and a harrow. The results show that the relationship between the field capacity of tractors and plot size was significantly positive. Meanwhile, technical time loss from implement lifting tended to decrease in large plots due to tractors' improved maneuverability, compared to smaller plots. The highest emission profile was the first tillage stage, followed by the second tillage stage and the harrowing stage, respectively. CO₂ amounts released from the first tillage stage, the second tillage stage, and the harrowing were 40.82, 35.80, and 17.67 CO₂e kilogram/hectare, respectively. Total GHG emissions from three tillage stages decreased with increasing plot size; the largest plot had the lowest GHG emissions (79.64 CO₂e kilogram/hectare). Larger paddy fields required lower fuel consumption rates, reduced GHG emissions, and minimized technical time losses. Land consolidation and precision leveling could substantially cut emissions from Thai rice farming.

Developing circular agriculture for climate change adaptation in Vietnam: Current status and challenges

2026-01-30T21:25:27-06:00

Climate change (CC) is impacting the sustainable development of every country worldwide. To adapt to CC, the Vietnamese government has promoted circular agricultural (CA) development. This study aims to provide an overview of the current status of CA development adapted to CC in Vietnam. It reviews and evaluates international experiences in developing CA, legal regulations, and practical implementation. Data sources include scientific articles, reports from researchers, agencies, and organizations. Based on this information, a SWOT analysis was conducted to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges for CA development. The results indicate that Vietnam's CA models are prevalent at the micro and medium levels, while macro-level models are rarely deployed. CA models have demonstrated economic and environmental benefits, aiding farmers in adapting to CC. However, several challenges remain, including limited awareness among stakeholders, incomplete policy frameworks, the absence of a market for circular products, limited waste management capacity, small-scale production, and insufficient linkage in production processes. Despite these limitations, CA models are recognized as a strategic policy by the Vietnamese government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience to climate change.

Optimizing rainwater utilization for lettuce cultivation in smart greenhouses for sustainable agriculture in tropical Indonesia

2026-01-31T07:20:57-06:00

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.

Assessing the drivers of india’s agricultural export growth: Scale, competitive and interaction effects

2026-01-31T07:46:20-06:00

India’s agricultural exports experienced significant growth between 1991 and 2020, and this study analyzes the drivers of that growth using the Constant Market Share (CMS) methodology, which decomposes export performance into scale, competitive, and second-order effects. Most existing CMS studies on India focus on short periods and broad product groups, with limited partner-wise and product-wise detail and little attention to second-order effects. This paper addresses this gap by providing a detailed long-term assessment of India’s agricultural export performance. The results show that the scale effect is the principal driver of export growth, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the total increase, largely reflecting favorable international market conditions. Competitive effects vary across product categories, with market share gains in meat, cereals, and tobacco, while sugar, beverages, and vegetable plaiting materials experienced declining competitiveness. The second-order effect, which captures interactions between structural demand shifts and competitiveness, shows a mixed pattern and offsets nearly 20–30 percent of potential gains in several cases, indicating India's limited ability to consistently exploit favorable global demand. Products such as edible fruits and beverages illustrate this mismatch, whereas exports of live animals and sugar benefited from stronger structural alignment. The findings highlight important policy implications, emphasizing product diversification, quality upgrading, improved logistics, and stronger market intelligence to enhance agricultural export competitiveness.

Brown mustard (Brassica juncea czern) processing by-products: Effects of mustard meal xenobiotics on the productive performance and antioxidant system of laying hens

2026-02-01T00:25:27-06:00

Brown mustard (Brassica juncea Czern) is a widely cultivated crop in Asia and throughout the world. Mustard meal, a by-product of mustard oil extraction, has potential as a feed ingredient for poultry. There are concerns, however, that it contains xenobiotic compounds such as mustard oils that may affect metabolism and productivity. This study evaluated the impact of including 5% mustard meal in layer diets on egg production, antioxidant status, and vitamin content, identifying effective feed additives for metabolic normalization. A total of 500 Rhode Island White laying hens (150 days old) were divided randomly into five groups. The control group received a standard diet, while experimental groups received diets containing 5% mustard meal with different supplements: vermiculite sorbent, santoquin with vitamin E, or methionine with glucose. The incorporation of mustard meal retarded egg production during the first two weeks, but performance stabilized thereafter. Oxidative stress intensity was significantly higher in hens fed mustard meal compared to the control. All tested additives enhanced the antioxidant defense system, reflected in reduced malondialdehyde concentrations in blood serum. The antioxidant santoquin proved to be the most effective protector against mustard oil-induced oxidative stress. Supplementation with santoquin and vitamin E or methionine with glucose increased yolk carotenoid and tocopherol levels without affecting retinol or vitamin B₂ concentrations. In general, inclusion of mustard meal in the diet at a level of 5% may be feasible in combination with suitable protective additives, in particular santoquin+vitamin E, to ensure both productive stability and physiological resistance in laying hens.

Determinants of adopting sustainable agricultural livelihoods among ethnic minority households in a Luoi 4, Hue City, Vietnam

2026-02-01T00:50:41-06:00

This study aims to identify the determinants influencing households’ adoption of sustainable agricultural livelihood models in A Luoi 4 commune, Hue City, Vietnam. Based on a household survey of 212 respondents and using a binary logistic regression model, the research examines the effects of 28 independent variables representing human, natural, physical, financial, and social capitals. The model identifies nine significant factors shaping the likelihood of adopting sustainable livelihood practices: ethnicity, access to local financial support, access to output markets, stability of current livelihood, participation in farmer groups or cooperatives, exposure to climate change impacts, perception of climate change, access to agricultural information, and educational attainment. These results highlight that a single factor does not drive livelihood adoption but emerges from the interaction of socio-economic conditions, institutional connections, and environmental stressors. Households with stronger cognitive awareness, better market and institutional access, or higher disaster exposure are more likely to shift toward sustainable livelihood practices. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that enhance education, strengthen local cooperatives, improve financial support schemes, and expand market linkages for ethnic minority communities. By providing empirical evidence on livelihood decision-making in upland areas, the study contributes to the design of inclusive, climate-adaptive development policies that support resilient livelihood transitions in mountainous regions.

Copra agribusiness efficiency and institutional dynamics in Buton Regency, Indonesia: A structural equation modeling approach

2026-02-01T01:23:52-06:00

Coconuts are among Indonesia’s most important plantation commodities, yet copra farmers continue to face low bargaining power, weak institutions, and limited technology adoption. This study assesses the determinants of smallholder productivity and welfare in the copra value chain by integrating supply chain dynamics, market conditions, institutional capacity, and technology adoption. Research was conducted in Lawele Village, Buton Regency, using a mixed-methods design. Primary data were collected from 70 farmers and three collectors through surveys, interviews, and field observations. Analytical methods combined descriptive cost and flow analysis with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results show that supply chain efficiency and market demand significantly influence farmer outcomes only when mediated by institutional strength and technology use. Institutions have the strongest effect on productivity and welfare, while technology adoption enhances quality and competitiveness when supported by stable demand and cooperative governance. These findings empirically support the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) perspective by demonstrating that institutional arrangements and technology adoption function as critical transmission mechanisms between market structure and farmer welfare outcomes. This study also highlights the need for integrated policy interventions that prioritize institutional strengthening, cooperative-managed technology, and transparent market systems. The study suggests that policy implications, which are manifested through empowerment of rural cooperatives, facilitation of digital market access, and expansion of farmer training programs, are essential to enhance smallholder resilience.

Women's contribution to the agricultural industry: An assessment of their work satisfaction and morale

2026-02-03T06:58:45-06:00

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.