Determinants of Women's Participation in Self-Help Group (SHG)-Led Microfinance Programme in Tamil Nadu

Factors determining participation of women in microfinance programme in Tamil Nadu have been identified following the multi-stage purposive and random sampling technique and selecting Coimbatore and Ramanathapuram districts for the study. It has been observed that socially backward, landless and marginal farm households participate more in this programme. Possession of livestock and consumer goods by the member households has been found to deter the joining of group. However, the number of households having informal borrowings, especially from moneylenders has been recorded to be higher among the members before joining the group. Analysis of determinants of women’s participation in microfinance programme using probit model has revealed that the age of women and value of productive assets other than land have a significant negative influence on their participation. However, social backwardness, indebtedness and presence of other microcredit programmes in the same or nearby villages have a significant positive influence on women’s participation in this programme.Agricultural Finance,

An Economic Analysis of Agricultural Credit-led Agricultural Growth in India

Among all sectors, the agriculture sector will be the pillar stone for sustainable economic growth. Agriculture credit shows the pivotal role for efficient agricultural transactions. The study investigates the role of agriculture credit in India’s agricultural credit through various economic analyses. The data was collected from various government websites such as RBI, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of India, Economic Survey of India. The results observed that institutional credit has a positive correlation with fertilizers consumed whereas consumption had a negative correlation with agricultural produces. The results further stated the co-integration and the Johansen-Juselius maximum likelihood tests the long-run positive association between India’s agricultural GDP and agricultural credit and increased Agricultural GDP drives agricultural credit. Finally, the policy implication on two perspectives as to encourage institutional credit arrangement to reach farmers with easy operational facilities across the nation and non-institutional credit need to marginalize the informal sources

A study on Economic Analysis of Organic Coconut Cultivation in Coimbatore District

The study analyses the economics of coconut production under organic farming in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) was studied in accordance to how farmers get their organic farming certification under PKVY scheme in Tamil Nadu. The estimated variable cost was Rs. 43,025/ha. The total cost of cultivation was Rs.82,216/ha. The net income over operational cost was Rs.2,95,888/ha and net income over total cost was Rs.2,56,697/ha. Total yield was increasingly responsive with higher application of farm yard manure and bio- fertilizers. Results of scale efficiency shows majority of the farms were operating in optimum return to scale. Inadequate supply of labour and inadequate market for organic products poses as major constraints to organic coconut farming in the area of study. Aim: The purpose of the study was to find out the profitability level and responsiveness of yield with input application of organic farming through Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) and how farmers actively involved in organic farming to conserve natural resources. Design of Study and Methodology: The study was conducted in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu (2020) with 60 sample respondents. Purposive sampling was adopted for the study and two blocks were selected based on the leading operator of PGS scheme. The data were collected through well-structured interview schedule which was prepared through pre-tested survey. The analytical methods followed in the study included cost and returns estimation, resource use efficiency and data envelopment analysis to reveal the exact scenario of organic farming practices. Findings of the study: The study showed about Organic coconut is found to be one of the most important and sustainable crop options. Estimates of Resource Use Efficiency show that coconut yield was relatively higher with use of farm yard manure and bio- fertilizers, compared to all other organic inputs Nearly, 32.5 per cent of the farms considered under study were found to be operating in constant returns to scale. The major marketing constraint faced by the sample farmers through organic farming was inadequate supply of labour and price fluctuations of coconut

A Comparative Study on the Performance of Various Agricultural Crop Insurance Schemes of India with Special Reference to Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

This study examined the performance of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) crop insurance scheme in India. To evaluate the performance of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in comparison with previous crop insurance schemes of India, data on area insured, gross premium paid, number of farmers benefitted and number of claims paid during 2016-2021 were collected. The study employs descriptive statistics and compound annual growth rates to compare the performances of various crop insurance schemes. The determinants of the number of farmers insured under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana were estimated through a multiple regression analysis. In comparison, PMFBY had covered a higher number of farmers thereby protecting an enormous amount of land from unforeseen risks compared to other crop insurance schemes of India. Results of the multiple regression model show that the amount of premium charged from farmers had a significant effect on the number of farmers insured over the time period. The paper also attempts to provide an overall knowledge about various crop insurance schemes of India since the implementation of crop insurance as a tool for mitigating agricultural risk

Effect of Potassium Iodide on the Tensile Bond Strength of Glass Ionomer Cement and Resin Modified Glass Ionomer Cement on Silver Diamine Fluoride treated Dentine: A Comparative in Vitro study

AIM OF THE STUDY: Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) promotes remineralization, inhibits demineralization, increases dentin hardness and outperforms in bactericidal effect. A significant disadvantage of SDF is the unaesthetic permanent black staining of teeth caused by silver oxide. The black staining caused by SDF can be overcome by the use of Potassium iodide (KI). However, the influence of potassium iodide on the bond strength of SDF to restorative materials has no enough documentation. Hence this study was designed to estimate the effect of SDF/KI on the tensile bond strengths of restorative materials - glass ionomer cement (GIC) and resin- modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC). METHODS: A total of 120 samples were used in the study. The occlusal surfaces were ground and polished using 600 grit silicon carbide abrasive paper under running water and embedded in self cure acrylic blocks. A hollow polyvinyl mould is placed on treated surface. Specimens were randomly divided into two groups (A, B) with 60 samples each. This in turn sub grouped to three subgroups each (A1, A2, A3 and B1, B2, B3) with twenty samples each. Subgroup A1 was conditioned with10% Polyacrylic acid (GC Dentin conditioner, GC Corp, Japan), rinsed, treated with 38% SDF (Fagamin) for ten seconds, rinsed, and then filled with GIC(GC IX, GC Corp, Tokyo, Japan). A 26 gauge ligature wire was twisted to form a loop at one end and placed inside the setting cement. Subgroup A2 was conditioned with10% Polyacrylic acid, rinsed, treated with 38% SDF for ten seconds, followed by potassium iodide (KI). On obtaining a creamy white precipitate it’s washed off and filled with GIC with the looped ligature wire. Subgroup A3 was conditioned with 10% Polyacrylic acid, rinsed and restored with GIC with the wire. Same procedure was followed for all subgroups in group B except that the restorative material here was RMGIC (GC II LC, GC Corp, Japan) and light cured at 400 nm/20 seconds. After complete setting the moulds were removed. All samples were tested for tensile bond strength by mounting onto the Universal Testing Machine running at a crosshead speed of 5mm/minute. RESULTS: The tensile bond strength of glass ionomer cement to dentin compared with the tensile bond strength of SDF followed by glass ionomer cement to dentin the P value was non significant (0.77). The comparison of tensile bond strength of resin- modified glass ionomer cement to dentin, to SDF followed by resin-modified glass ionomer cement to dentin was not statistically significant. (P-0.35). The P value for comparison of SDF treated glass ionomer cement was not significant to SDF/KI followed by GIC (P value - 0.23). Similarly the comparison of SDF treated resin modified glass ionomer cement was not significant to SDF/KI followed by RMGIC (P value - 0.46). On comparing the tensile bond strength of glass ionomer cement to dentin to tensile bond strength of resin-modified glass ionomer cement to dentin the mean difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Silver diamine fluoride does not affect the tensile bond strength of glass ionomer cement and resin-modified glass ionomer cement to dentin. Potassium iodide does not influence the tensile bond strength of glass ionomer cement and resin-modified glass ionomer cement on silver diamine fluoride treated dentin. Resin modified glass ionomer cement has higher tensile bond strength than glass ionomer cement and the choice of restorative material relies on the clinician’s choice based on individualized patient’s treatment needs

Growth Analysis of Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) in India - With Special Reference to Tamil Nadu

Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) has been a noteworthy developmental mechanism in microfinance group-lending model advancing towards uplifting materialistic collateral-less and unbanked poor society in the direction of self-sustainability through easing access to formal financial services with a proposal for self-employment which remained to be pursued as their dream for so long. The present study seeks to document expansionary trend in JLGs and to identify major benefits, constraints and suggestions of JLG member-beneficiaries with purview of supporting further development towards promoting and financing more JLGs in India. Aim: The present study attempts to document the trend in growth of JLGs supported by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in India and to identify major benefits, constraints and suggestions in functioning of JLGs through Bank-Business Corporate (BC) linkage model among its member-beneficiaries which would serve researchers and policy makers to arrive at appropriate measures to expedite advancement in expansion and magnification of trend of JLGs in India. Design of Study: The study employed secondary data from annual publication of NABARD “Status of Micro Finance in India†for 2011-12 to 2019-20 for JLG trend analysis. Following purposive sampling, 3 blocks of Namakkal district were studied during August 2021, purposively selecting Bank-Business Corporate (BC) linkage model and randomly selecting well-experienced 30 member-beneficiary groups. Methodology: The study adopted Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for JLG trend analysis and Garrett’s ranking procedure to prioritize major benefits, constraints and suggestions of JLG members. Findings: Overall growth rate of India stands at 44.86% in terms of number of JLGs promoted and 60.73% in terms of quantum of JLG loan disbursed. Northern region excels growing at the rate of 62.53% in the former category while Western region exhibits expeditious rate of growth (75.19%) in the latter. Tamil Nadu leads the lane in terms of cumulative quantum of credit disbursed ranking second to Bihar in terms of cumulative number of JLGs promoted in India. Orissa manifests rapid growth among leading five states in both categories cumulatively. With women empowerment socially and economically, easy access to formal credit and better repayment as major benefits of JLG participation, hiking initial loan amount, aiding in identification of microenterprise, training and capacity building in related fields, introducing technological innovation on demand-side and linkage to product marketing and brand promotion on supply side were suggested areas of concern towards encouraging massive promotion of JLGs.

MORIN PREVENTS ULTRAVIOLET-B RADIATION-INDUCED PHOTOCARCINOGENESIS THROUGH ACTIVATING THROMBOSPONDIN-1 IN THE MOUSE SKIN

 Objective: In this study, we investigated whether morin, a natural flavonoid, could able to inhibit ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced carcinogenesis in the skin of Swiss albino mice.Methods: The mice were exposed to UVB radiation (180 mJ/cm2) on weekly thrice for 30 weeks, and morin was administered intraperitoneal and topical application 1 h before UVB exposure. UVB radiation induces the overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and Bcl-2 genes.Results: Morin significantly prevented UVB-induced activation of COX-2, iNOS, VEGF, TGF-β, and Bcl-2 expression in mouse skin. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP), a novel endogenous factor, inhibits angiogenesis and inflammation.Conclusion: The present study illustrates that the protective effect of morin against UVB-induced carcinogenesis may be modulated through activation of TSP-1 in UVB-exposed Swiss albino mice

Arachis hypogaea derived activated carbon/Pt catalyst: reduction of organic dyes

Activated carbon from agro waste groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) shell was prepared by chemical activation and used as support for dispersion of 5% platinum nanoparticles. The Pt nanoparticles were obtained by the reduction in hydrogen gas medium. The synthesized groundnut activated carbon/platinum catalyst was characterized by various techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction, electron microscopies and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalytic behaviour of the synthesized catalyst was investigated by exploring it as catalyst for the reduction of various classes of dyes; namely, triphenylmethane dyes such as Malachite green, phenol red and bromophenol blue, xanthene dyes: rose bengal, rhodamine 6G, rhodamine B, thiazine dye: methyelene blue, azo dye: congo red and 4-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride in aqueous medium. Under suitable reaction conditions, for all tested dyes, cationic dyes were reduced at a faster rate than anionic dyes. The rate of reduction on the structure of dye and nature of catalyst was employed

Rural Households’ Participation in MGNREGA Programme of Puducherry

Aims: The study aimed to identify the factors determining the participation of rural households in the MGNREGA programme of the Puducherry. Study Design: The study has utilised both purposive and random sampling methods to identify sample districts, sample blocks, sample revenue villages, and sample respondents for interview. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Puducherry and Karaikal districts of Puducherry in the month of July 2022, the data collected pertains to agricultural year 2021-2022. Methodology: Primary data was used in the study. The main methodology used in identifying the factors determining the participation in MGNREGA programme was Logit Regression. A well- structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the sample respondents. A sample of 120 beneficiaries and 120 non- beneficiaries of the MGNREGA programme were chosen at random and relevant data were collected. Results: The estimates of the logit regression shows that education, family size, primary occupation, women headed family and possession of livestock are found to be the major determinants of participation. The family size and women headed family positively influence the probability of participation of rural households in MGNREGA programme and are significant at 1% and 5%, respectively. The variables such as education and possession of livestock were found to be significant at 5% level and negatively influencing the probability of participation of rural households in MGNREGA programme. Likewise, the variable primary occupation was found significant at 1% level and negatively influencing the probability of participation of rural households in MGNREGA programme. Conclusion: The participation of rural households in MGNREGA programme is determined by the factors such as education, family size, primary occupation, women headed families and possession of livestock. Thus, the rural households with low education level, large family size, non- farm worker, women headed family and less possession of livestock are the major characteristics of the rural households which makes them to demand for MGNREGA job

Economic Valuation of Provisioning Ecosystem Services from Groundnut Organic Farming

Provisioning ecosystem services from organic farming requires a holistic strategy that recognizes the interconnected relationships among ecological processes, agricultural productivity and the human well-being. Provisioning ecosystem services includes the cultivation of crops, fisheries and timber production, etc. The present study analysed the input use pattern of groundnut organic farmers and valuated the provisioning ecosystem services i.e., food and raw materials from groundnut organic farming in Tamil Nadu. Market price method was used to valuate the provisioning ecosystem services. The results suggested that Panchakavya was widely used by majority of the organic farmers (69.70%) demonstrating its effectiveness in promoting sustainable farming practices. Additionally, the incorporation of green manure (63.64%) and farmyard manure (54.55%) highlights farmer’s commitment to increasing soil organic matter, maintaining fertility, and optimizing crop yield. The valuation of provisioning services revealed that the economic value of the provisioning services from organic groundnut farming was estimated to be Rs. 2,75,017. These findings provide strong support for the adoption and promotion of sustainable organic farming