<div>Background: Dairy farming has emerged as an important profitable enterprise in India as it is a source of income, especially for small and marginal farmers;the study aims to understand the reasons for increased profit of dairy farmers of South Indian states. 
 
Methods: The present study was undertaken in Southern Indian states during 2020-21 to estimate the profit efficiency of milk producers across different herd-size categories. 
 
Result: Maximum likelihood estimates (MLE) of specified profit function revealed that overall, prices of green fodder (0.1873), prices of concentrate (0.1072), veterinary service rate (0.0569) and herd size (0.7545), had a positive and significant impact on normalized profits, whereas prices of dry fodder (-0.0277) and labour wages (-0.1652) had a negative and significant impact on normalized profits, respectively. Overall, the mean profit efficiency of dairy farmers was found to be 58.65 per cent indicating 41.35 per cent of profit efficiency was lost due to technical and allocative inefficiencies in milk production. Results from the profit inefficiency model revealed that overall, education, herd size, herd composition and experience in dairy farming had a negative and significant impact on profit inefficiency.&nbsp;</div>

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Profit Efficiency among Dairy Farmers in Southern India: An Application of Stochastic Frontier Profit Function

<div style="text-align: justify;">In the present scenario of food production system, one of the most important challenges the Indian agriculture facing today is how to sustain farm profitability and food security. In order to feed an increasing the population 2% per year and meet the food demand (341 million tonnes by 2025), the agricultural productivity and growth need to be sustained and further improved. Food security is multidimensional crisis, which directly hits the poorest and neediest and in turn decreases their already low quality of life. The agriculture sector is the starting point for finding sustainable solution to overcome the food crisis. This situation is nodding towards rethinking about the profitable agriculture. For this concern holistic approaches have to be continued with certain aspects so that the 60&ndash;70% population associated with agriculture remains in the profession. Else wise, everyone wants to have alternate entrepreneur rather than agriculture since it is less profit oriented with high risk and needs more hard work as compared to other entrepreneurs. Diversified agriculture is an integration of several crops and livestock&rsquo;s, in production system for a higher food production and farm profitability.&nbsp;</div>

Diversified agriculture for higher productivity and profitability&ndash;A review&nbsp;

<div>Background: A suitable cropping system seem to be the possible solution to meet the continuous increase in demand for food, stability of income and diverse requirement of food grains. Selection of suitable cropping system for conservation of resources has prime importance now a day. The cropping systems selected in study have higher potential of production along with incorporable residues during winter. The residues of cotton, castor and mustard crops (Crops in selected cropping systems) have more potential to feed nutrients to soil as compared to burning. So incorporation of such crop residues in to soil helps to recycle the nutrients to correct their deficiencies. Farmyard manure is being used as major source of organic manure in field crops. Thus to maintain the soil health, integrated nutrient management approaches involving FYM and mineral source need to be standardized. So there is need to find out agronomically efficient and economically viable cropping system which can perform better for increasing productivity and profitability with association of conservation of natural resources. 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Sixteen treatment combinations comprising of four cropping system treatments viz, C1 : Cotton- Summer Pearlmillet, C2 : Greengram + Kharif &nbsp;Castor (Relay), C3 : Greengram - Mustard - Summer Pearlmillet and C4 : Greengram - Rabi Castor and two residue incorporation treatments viz, R0 : No residue incorporation and R1 : Residue incorporation as well as two fertilizer doses viz, F1 : 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer and F2 : 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizer + 25% RDN through FYM were evaluated in the study. 
 
Result: Cotton - summer pearlmillet cropping system found significantly superior by recording higher pearlmillet equivalent yield, system productivity and system profitability while, total weed count/m2 and total weed dry weight were found the lowest under greengram- kharif castor (relay) cropping system. Residue incorporation secured top position by recording significantly the highest pearlmillet equivalent yield, system productivity and system profitability as well as lowest total weed count/m2 and total weed dry weight. Application of 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizer + 25% RDN through FYM recorded significantly highest pearlmillet equivalent yield, system productivity and system profitability. In case of weed count and weed dry weight, 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer found significantly superior by recording lowest total weed count/m2 and total weed dry weight. &nbsp;</div>

<div>Impact of Cropping Systems and Resource Conservation Techniques on Productivity and Profitability of Systems</div>

<div>Background: Economic analysis in 20 specialized cattle and buffalo dairy farms of Gujarat was comparatively studied. The required information from selected farms was collected through personal interview.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: It was studied by working annual fixed and variable cost. Gross total income was obtained by sum of all the income generated in dairy farm by selling milk, dung and animals. The collected and derived data were subject to nonparametric test in SPSS software.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Total fixed cost was consisted of 19.06% of total cost and it was nonsignificant between cattle and buffalo farms. Total variable cost was higher in buffalo farms. The proportion of variable cost was major (80.94%) among total cost. Among total cost, feed and fodder cost was highest i.e. 63.69% followed by labour cost i.e. 15.72%. Buffalo farms were spending significantly higher amount toward dry fodder and labours. Average total income from sale of milk was Rs. 48.44 lakh (86.59%). Sale of ghee (9.81%), dung (2.72%) and animals (0.90%) was also having some contribution in return. The average net profit was Rs. 16.06 lakh per farm which was nonsignificant. Similarly, yearly overall net return per adult unit (AU) and per man day was 0.16 and 2.35 lakh, respectively. The net profit per liter of milk was Rs. 17.36 and 8.84 lakhs in buffalo farms and cattle farms, respectively. The overall benefit cost ratio was 1:1.35. Thus, it can be concluded that specialized dairy farm of crossbred cattle or buffaloes with herd strength 80-180 were profitable and viable enterprise in Gujarat.</div>

Comparative Profitability Analysis of Specialized Cattle and Buffalo Farms

<div>Background: Soils of North-Western Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) are deficient in zinc content which may lead to lower forage yield of cowpea. Henceforth, the adequate supply of zinc either through soil or foliar spray and selection of suitable cultivar of cowpea could enhance the fodder productivity. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design during Kharif season, 2019 to assess the effect of different zinc management practices (control; 10 kg ZnSO4; 20 kg ZnSO4; 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray at 20 DAS; 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray at 20 and 40 DAS) on productivity and profitability of cowpea cultivars (C-152; MFC-08-14; MFC-09-1) and post-harvest fertility status of soil. 
 
Result: Cowpea cv. C-152 showed the highest growth attributes, green fodder yield, nutrient content as well as uptake and net returns. Among different zinc management practices, the application of 20 kg ZnSO4 as basal application or 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray at 20 and 40 DAS recorded significantly highest growth, green fodder yield, nutrient content as well as uptake and net returns. Significantly highest soil OC, available N, K and Zn were also noted under these treatments. It is inferred that cowpea cv. C-152 and application of either 20 kg ZnSO4 as basal or 0.5% ZnSO4 as foliar spray at 20 and 40 DAS were found the most productive and profitable approach and sustained the soil fertility status.</div>

<div>Productivity and Profitability of Fodder Cowpea Cultivars under Various Zinc Management Practices in IGP of India</div>

Background: Cropping system is an essential component of a farming system. Farmers use a variety of cropping systems based on their expertise, scientific validation is essential before recommending a certain cropping system for a specific area. The purpose of the study was to determine the yield and profitability of a diversified intensive cropping system with nutrient management strategies that are more productive and profitable than existing ones for Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s North Western Zone.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: With four replications, the experiment was set up in a strip plot style. Five treatments were used, one of which included intensive diversified cropping systems viz., C1: Groundnut-chillies-greengram, C2: Groundnut + redgram (6:1)-sorghum-blackgram, C3: Maize + fodder cowpea (1:1) - sunflower-greengram, C4: Bhendi + coriander (1:1) - tomato-blackgram, C5: Brinjal + onion (1:2) - cowpea-sunnhemp were taken in main-plots and five nutrient management practices treatments were imposed in sub-plots, including farm yard manure at 12.5 t/ha and vermicompost at 2.5, 5 and 7.5 t/ha, as well as fertilisers at variable levels of 100, 75 and 50 per cent were imposed in sub-plots.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Higher total system groundnut equivalent yield was recorded in Bhendi + coriander (1:1) - tomato - blackgram cropping system with respect to nutrient management it was recorded higher in farmyard manure @ 12.5 t/ha along with application of 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer. Higher B:C ratio and net return was recorded in Bhendi + coriander (1:1) - tomato - blackgram cropping system in terms of nutrient management it was recorded higher in farmyard manure @ 12.5 t/ha along with application of 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer.

Production and Profitability of Diversified Intensive Cropping System Suitable for North Western Zone of Tamil Nadu

Background: The basic challenge every farmer in India faces is to increase profitability level and minimize the cost. For this, it is essential to know how the cost of cultivation and profitability is changing of crops over a period of time. The present study attempted to estimate the cost of cultivation, cost of production and returns of major pulse crops in the Rajasthan state. For workout the economics of pulses crop, secondary data was collected from 2000-01 to 2021-22 which is compiled from various sources and publications for profitability analysis of pulse crop. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in Rajasthan state and analysis done for 22 years used the &ldquo;Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops in Rajasthan&rdquo; by DES, New Delhi uses different cost concepts for estimating costs and returns. In the present study, the cost C2 was considered for computing profitability. Cost C2 in CCPC data covers all the variables and fixed costs. 
 
Result:&nbsp; The actual cost of production of gram crop increased from Rs. 1772.32 per quintal in TE 2003 to Rs. 3650.5 per quintal in TE 2021. Return per rupee invested increased from 2.52 to 3.01 during TE 2003 to TE 2021. Cost of production of urad crop had increased from Rs. 2520.63 per quintal in TE 2003 to Rs. 7385.45 per quintal in TE 2021. The return per rupee invested in cost A2 had reduced from 2.14 in TE 2003 to 1.99 in TE 2021. Moong crop also showed increasing trend for cost of production from Rs. 2696.08 per quintal in TE 2003 to Rs. 7385.45 per quintal in TE 2021. Return for each rupee invested a increased from 2.10 in TE 2003 to 2.14 in TE 2021. Return per rupee invested was not profitable for the farmers for urad. Therefore, proper processing and procurement policy for these crops grown by the farmers should be implemented. Urad crop need more efficiently technological breakthrough to reduce cost of production and proper price incentive to pace with other pulses crops in the state.

Cost of Cultivation is Rising or Profitability Rising for Major Pulse Crop? A Case from Rajasthan, India

<div>Background: Adequate tillage checks and delays the emergence of weeds and provides a more favourable environment for early crop establishment. Slow growth of crop plant provides favourable environment for emergence of weeds. Cultural as well as mechanical practices such as hand weeding and intercultural are effective but unavailability of labour and continuous rainfall in rainy season does not permit for timely management of weeds Chemical weed control is effective weed management option which provides effective control of weeds. It is well known that weeds are ubiquitous but their presence in cropped area particularly in rainy season crops like clusterbean act as major limiting factor in achieving high potential yield. The current study aimed to study the impact of crop establishment methods and weed control practices on productivity and profitability of clusterbean.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was carried out to find out suitable method of crop establishment methods and weed management practices in clusterbean during kharif seasons of 2018, 2019 and 2020. The experiment was conducted in spilt plot design with three replications. The treatments were four crop establishment methods viz., conventional sowing, zero tillage sowing, broad bed sowing, zero tillage sowing with mulch as main plots and four weed control practices viz., weedy check, pendimethalin+imazethapyr 1000 g ha-1, T3- Imazethapyr 40 g ha-1, T4-Imazethapyr+imazamox 40 g ha-1 as sub plot treatments . 
 
Result: The broad bed sowing of clusterbean along with pre-emergence application of&nbsp; pendimethalin+ imazethapyr 1000 g ha-1 was found effective to achieve higher productivity and farm profitability.</div>

Effect of Crop Establishment Methods and Weed Management Practices on Productivity and Profitability of Clusterbean under Semi-arid Region of Rajasthan

Background: Millets and pulses are the most important dryland crops grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons in the semi-arid regions of the country for food, feed and animal fodder. These crops also show considerable resilience to changing climate (drought, heat and nutrient stresses). For diversification of Pearl millet-Chickpea rotation, adoption of small millets (finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, little millet, brown top millet, barnyard millet and kodo millet) in addition to pearl millet may be viable option.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was carried out at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India during 2022-23 in randomized block design in Kharif and Rabi season, replicated thrice with eight treatments (foxtail millet, little millet, brown top millet, proso millet, kodo millet, barnyard millet, finger millet and pearl millet) in Kharif season and eight crop rotations (foxtail millet-chickpea, little millet- chickpea, brown top millet- chickpea, proso millet- chickpea, kodo millet-chickpea, barnyard millet- chickpea, finger millet- chickpea and pearl millet- chickpea) in Rabi season to evaluate economic profitability of&nbsp; eight millet based crop rotations with chickpea. 
 
Result: During Kharif season among all millets (foxtail millet, little millet, brown top millet, proso millet, kodo millet, barnyard millet, finger millet and pearl millet) tested, Pearl millet was found most suitable, which produced significantly higher grain yield (2462 kg/ha), biological yield (10066 kg/ha), net energy returns (121552 MJ/ha), energy intensiveness (14.0 MJ/USD), human energy profitability (133.3 MJ/ha) compared to all other millets. In Rabi season chickpea sown after Foxtail millet recorded significantly higher seed yield (2080 kg/ha), biological yield (8923 kg/ha), net returns (Rs. 66713/ha), B:C (2.44), net energy returns (120497 MJ/ha), energy ratio (19.27), energy productivity (0.31 kg/MJ), energy profitability (18.27 MJ/ha) and human energy profitability (134.2 MJ/ha).

Relative Economic Profitability of Millet based Crop Rotations with Chickpea in Hisar District of Haryana

<div>Background: Cotton is one of the important commercial crops cultivated in India for fibre and oil. The average cotton productivity of India is lower compared to other countries. Among the improved agronomic practices, important yield contributing agro techniques are crop geometry and fertilizer application. Drip irrigation and use of water soluble fertilizers (WSF) by drip system is a recommended practice to increase both water and nutrient use efficiency. Taking this aspect, a field investigation was carried out to find the resource use efficiency, productivity and profitability of inter specific Bt cotton hybrid with different levels crop geometry and drip fertigation. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at TNAU, Coimbatore during 2013 and 2014 for two consecutive years. The experiment was laid out in a strip plot design with three replications. The treatments in main plot consisted of four crop geometry levels (120 x 60 cm, 120 x 90 cm, 150 x 60 cm and 150 x 90 cm) and sub plots consisted of four nutrient levels viz., 75 %, 100 %, 125 % of recommended dose as water soluble fertilizer (WSF) through drip system and as conventional practice. Resource use efficiency (water, nutrient), seed cotton yield and profitability of the system were recorded. 
 
Result: The experiment revealed that the fertilizer use efficiency and the efficiency of individual nutrient (partial factor productivity) for the crop geometry of 120 x 90 cm and 75% RDF were higher in both the years. &nbsp;The crop geometry of 120 x 90 cm in combination with 125% RDF effectively utilized the water as indicated by its water use efficiency and comparable results was also obtained with 100% RDF. &nbsp;The mean (2012-13 and 2013-14) seed cotton yield of 2,713 kg ha-1 in 120 x 90 cm kg ha-1 for 125% RDF was 41.5 per cent higher compared to their lower counterpart. Their interaction was significant, consequently the treatment M2S3 (120 x 90 cm and 125% RDF) recorded higher mean (both years) seed cotton of 3,176 kg ha-1 which was nearly 93.7 per cent increase over conventional irrigation and fertilizer application (M4S4). Here M1S2 could be considered as alternate option as it maintained similarity with the best treatment. The gross and net return was estimated to be higher with spacing of 120 x 90 cm with 125 % RDF and however the benefit cost ratio was higher with 120 x 90 cm with 100 % RDF followed by 120 x 60 cm with 100 % RDF.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Resource Use Efficiency, Productivity and Profitability of Bt Cotton (interspecific) as Influenced by Crop Geometry and Drip Fertigation</div>