Natarajan Kiruthika

Carbon markets are becoming an important tool for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture and they are particularly relevant for India, which is both the world’s third-largest GHG emitter and a major agricultural economy. This systematic review synthesises current evidence on the development, mechanisms and emerging trends of carbon markets in Indian agriculture, situating them within the wider global context. Following a Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA)-guided search of five databases (247 records identified, 62 studies retained), the review examines five closely connected areas: global and India-specific carbon market mechanisms; agronomic practices that enable market participation; major agricultural GHG sources and mitigation opportunities; soil health and carbon sequestration; and methodological, policy and inclusion gaps. The synthesis demonstrates that sustainable practices such as conservation agriculture, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) in rice systems, biochar application, precision nutrient management and agroforestry can reduce agricultural emissions while also improving soil fertility and carbon storage. Furthermore, emerging tools, including blockchain-based transparency systems and AI-enabled precision agriculture, can strengthen market credibility and make participation more accessible for smallholder farmers. However, agricultural carbon markets in India remain at an early stage and their growth is constrained by weak measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, inadequate smallholder inclusion, concerns around additionality and the lack of a comprehensive domestic regulatory framework. Uncertainties around carbon permanence, leakage, transaction costs and market volatility further temper these prospects and warrant cautious interpretation of reported gains. This review identifies four priority areas for future work: standardising robust MRV systems, developing integrated impact models, designing inclusive market mechanisms and aligning carbon market policies with India’s broader agricultural, climate and livelihood commitments. Addressing these gaps will be essential for realising agriculture’s mitigation potential and supporting a low-carbon, climate-resilient agricultural future in India.

Aims: To develop an acid-hydrolysed Sargassum-based biostimulant formulation and evaluate its biochemical characteristics and effectiveness in improving seed germination and early seedling growth of maize. Study Design: A laboratory seed germination experiment was conducted using a Completely Randomised Design (CRD), with four treatments and three replicates. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India, from April to July 2026. Methodology: Sargassum biomass collected from Mandapam, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, was washed, shade-dried, powdered, and subjected to partial acid hydrolysis using 5% (v/v) nitric acid at a 1:10 solid-to-liquid ratio for 24 h at 30°C. The hydrolysed extract was characterised for phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phytosterols. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were used to characterise the hydrolysed extract. Maize CO(H)M8 hybrid seeds were treated with 1, 2, and 3% acid-hydrolysed Sargassum formulation and evaluated using the roll-towel method for germination and seedling growth. Results: The acid-hydrolysed extract contained phenolics (5.92 ± 0.14 mg GAE mL⁻¹), tannins (4.15 ± 0.11 mg TAE mL⁻¹), flavonoids (3.84 ± 0.09 mg QE mL⁻¹), terpenoids (2.71 ± 0.07 mg LE mL⁻¹), and phytosterols (2.24 ± 0.05 mg CE mL⁻¹). FTIR analysis showed characteristic absorption bands at 3344, 1631, 1324, and 1041 cm⁻¹, indicating changes in functional groups following acid treatment. MALDI-TOF MS showed major peaks at m/z 2053, 4664, 7569, 9322, 11934, 13736, and 18475. The Sargassum-based treatments improved maize seed germination and seedling growth compared with the untreated control. The 3% formulation recorded the highest germination (95.2%), root length (12.6 cm), shoot length (13.4 cm), stem girth (3.8 mm), fresh weight (1.42 g seedling⁻¹), and dry weight (0.33 g seedling⁻¹). Conclusion: The acid-hydrolysed Sargassum-based formulation enhanced maize seed germination and early seedling growth, with the 3% formulation showing the best overall performance. The developed formulation has potential as a sustainable seaweed-based biostimulant for improving maize seedling establishment.

Natural colorants are increasingly preferred over synthetic alternatives due to rising health and sustainability concerns among consumers. There is limited research on how consumers perceive and respond to natural food colorants in the Indian context, particularly in everyday dairy and other food products. Accordingly, this research investigates consumer awareness, attitudes and preferences regarding natural food colorants, with a specific focus on Annatto in Amul Butter. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in the Coimbatore district with 195 adult participants selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Chi-square tests were applied to identify influencing factors and demographic associations. Results revealed three dominant factors influencing preference: Health Consciousness, Taste & Aesthetics and Brand Trust, collectively explaining 81 % of the variance. These factors are particularly relevant for food industry stakeholders as they influence consumer purchasing behaviour, product appeal and brand credibility. Females showed significantly higher preference (p = 0.040) and education positively correlated with awareness (p = 0.001), while age showed no association (p = 0.430). The study highlights the growing demand for clean-label foods and emphasizes the importance of transparent labelling and health-driven marketing strategies. These insights can help food manufacturers improve consumer acceptance of naturally coloured products. The findings are valuable for food product development and marketing, offering direction for strategies that emphasize health and sustainability. Additionally, they inform policy formulation aimed at promoting informed, health-oriented choices.

Commodity futures trading plays a vital role in today's financial markets by facilitating price discovery and price risk management. However, in India, commodity futures trading faces several challenges, including issues related to trading, price discovery, price risk management, hedging, speculation and the regulatory environment. These challenges hinder the sustainable growth of the futures markets in the country. The paper specifically aims to critically review the challenges faced by commodity futures trading and the resulting consequences for stakeholders. The review is expected to provide insights into potential policy measures that could improve the efficiency and effectiveness of commodity futures markets in India. Additionally, price discovery in Indian commodity futures is often influenced by external factors, including global price fluctuations, making it difficult for market participants to rely solely on domestic futures contracts. By analysing these issues, the study offers insights into policy interventions and regulatory frameworks that could enhance market efficiency, encourage participation and improve the overall functioning of commodity futures trading in India. This study also serves as a valuable resource for policymakers and stakeholders, supporting more informed decision-making and aiding in the development of an optimal regulatory approach. Addressing these challenges is essential for fostering a transparent and well-functioning commodity futures market that benefits the stakeholders. Strengthening regulatory mechanisms and improving market infrastructure can significantly enhance the long-term growth and sustainability of the sector.

To assess the efficacy and performance of an intervention or policy, impact assessment plays a crucial role. This article aims to systematically combine the existing literatures published on impact assessment methodologies using a narrative approach. Databases such as Springer, Google Scholar and Science Direct are used to identify the literature sources on different impact assessment methodologies such as Difference in Difference (DID), Propensity Score Matching, Instrumental Variable Analysis, Randomized Controlled Trial, Regression Discontinuity Design and Synthetic Control Method. Although these techniques have always been significant, their implementation varies across scientific domains due to challenges such as resource constraints and methodological complexities. To address current global issues and enhance the precision of methodologies across field, recognizing the contextual relevance of each method is essential. Each methodology offers unique characteristic uses and is characterized to solve various research issues. This helps in decision making strategies for future-oriented programs. The study emphasizes the portability and wider interdisciplinary uses of these approaches by investigating their practical application in several domains such as health, education and the environment. The limitations, challenges and intrinsic biases associated with different methodologies are analyzed and discussed. The article evaluates various approaches in assessing the impact, thereby aiding the reader to understand the appropriate methodologies for different conditions.

Carbon sequestration in agricultural systems presents a promising avenue for mitigating climate change, with India's vast agricultural sector offering significant potential to contribute to this global effort. This study examines the carbon sequestration potential within Indian agriculture, highlighting its relevance in the context of global greenhouse gas emissions. Through an extensive literature review, it evaluates carbon stocks and sequestration rates across major cropping systems, emphasizing the impact of soil properties, management techniques and climatic conditions. The study identifies significant practices such as integrated nutrient management, conservation agriculture, agroforestry and organic farming, which enhance carbon storage while simultaneously supporting sustainable agricultural systems. However, several challenges limit widespread adoption. These include high initial expenses, a lack of financial incentives, fragmented land ownership and water limitations. Government initiatives aimed at promoting climate-smart agriculture are explored, highlighting the necessity for improved support structures and market connections. Despite these challenges, Indian agriculture possesses substantial capacity to contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration, provided that existing barriers are addressed and sustainable practices are implemented at scale.

Climate variability and extremes adversely affect the agricultural production system, food security, livestock sector, and water resources. With the cumulative effects of climate variability, there is a need to anticipate and develop appropriate adaptation strategies to cope with changing climatic conditions. It is necessary to study the adaptation strategies that are to be followed for climate change to examine the ability of vulnerable communities and people, frequently affected by drought and other climate-related risks, to adapt to climate change impacts. Hence, the present study examined the determinants of various climate change adaptation strategies followed by farmers as a measure to face climate variability, which will be ultimately beneficial and enlightening to policymakers to gain knowledge about the measures to be taken to mitigate the impact of climate change. The study was undertaken using data collected from 105 farm households with an organized pre-tested interview schedule in the central agro-climatic zone of Afghanistan. The multivariate probit econometric model was used to analyze the factors responsible for major adaptation strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change. The key findings of the model indicated that the probability of educated farmers migrating to the non-agricultural sector for employment has increased by 1.3 percent, and those who have more land area have adopted a reduction in irrigation by 5.2 percent as an adaptive mechanism. The study also found that having access to technical guidance from extension officials increased the likelihood of farmers changing their cropping pattern by 18.6 percent and of diversifying their farms by 19.2 percent. On the other hand, expert guidance reduced the likelihood of drilling new bore wells by 20.5 percentage points and decreased the probability of selling livestock by 10.8 percentage points. The results of the study provide policy insights to improve the ability of farmers to modify their practices through improvement in extension services, irrigation infrastructure facilities, watershed development, and climate-resilient agricultural systems.

Agri-input dealers play an intermediary role between fertilizer manufacturers and farmers, serving as a crucial link in the agricultural value chain. This study investigates the perceptions of agri-input dealers regarding various fertilizer and secondary nutrient brands and develops a perceptual map to visualize their market positioning. Discriminant analysis is used as a method for categorizing entities into distinct groups. This analytical approach differentiates two or more collections of objects or individuals based on their specific characteristics. Perceptual mapping, on the other hand, is an attribute-centric strategy employed by brand managers to understand customer perceptions of their brands compared to rival brands. This study aims to explore how dealers associate various agriculture input companies with key factors influencing brand preferences, such as product quality, pricing, brand reputation, credit availability, profit margin and marketing support. By understanding dealers' perspectives, fertilizer manufacturers can gain valuable insights into their brand positioning, identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance their market share and customer satisfaction within the agri-input dealer channel. Notable distinctions were observed in this study, particularly in terms of product quality and pricing.