<div style="text-align: justify;">Mushroom cultivation is often promoted as profitable and income generating agri-business activity, while there is a very high rate of attrition in mushroom entrepreneurship. Performance of mushroom enterprise as a physical attribute and the entrepreneurial behaviour of mushroom growing farmers as a psychological attribute plays an important role in the success of the mushroom entrepreneurship. Both these variables are in turn influenced by several dimensions rendering it difficult to comprehend the nature of variability observed in them. Therefore, the principal component analysis (PCA) of these two variables was done for variable reduction and to understand their influence on mushroom entrepreneurship. The results of PCA ascertain the relative importance of different dimensions on the variables through Eigen weightages. Based on the findings, suitable strategies and necessary policy interventions are identified to make the mushroom entrepreneurship as a potential agri-business to augment farmers&rsquo; income.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Critical dimensions of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial behaviour among mushroom growers: Investigation through Principal Component Analysis</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">A society&rsquo;s prosperity critically depends upon the level of success, prosperity and growth opportunities available to its people. Entrepreneurs serve as the catalyst in the economy&rsquo;s engine, triggering and stimulating all economic activity. The present study is based on primary and secondary data collected from various sources and primary data collected from Dahanu district of the Indian state of Maharashtra India during 2017-18. Qualitative data collected from different stakeholders including rural entrepreneurs concluded that agriculture is predominant occupation in Dahanu district of Maharashtra. Seasonal migration is common due to seasonal nature of rice farming, leading to high rate of school dropouts. Entrepreneurial ventures available in Dahanu categorized into two categories viz. Agriculture based and non-agriculture based ventures. Prospective entrepreneurial ventures in the study area are warli painting, poultry farm, clothes, handicrafts and handlooms, floriculture and perfumery, rice processing unit, ice factory, Sapota processing unit, Bidi making which can operate on commercial basis. There is scope to scale up existing ventures as well. Entrepreneurship helped certain individuals to reduce migration and to continue the education of their children. Hence, rural entrepreneurship can help in mitigating the complex challenges caused by migration.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Impact of rural entrepreneurship on migration- A case study of Dahanu (Maharashtra), India</div>

Background: The present study was designed to assess career preferences, entrepreneurial orientation and constraints in pursuing a career in entrepreneurship among final year female undergraduate students of agriculture. 
 
Methods: The descriptive research survey was used to collect all the required information from the students required for the present study. The statistical measures such as Percentages, Weighted Mean Scores, Correlation coefficients, Means, Standard Errors and procedures such as Mann-Whitney U test and Multiple Linear Regression analysis were employed to analyse the data collected. The Entrepreneurial Behavioural Index (EBI) was constructed based on self-confidence and risk-taking ability of students. The constraints were analysed through Garett&rsquo;s ranking technique. 
 
Result: The present study revealed that most of the final year female agricultural students were from urban background (58%), nuclear families (87%) with below 5 members (89%), education score in the range of 2-4 and with annual family income in the range of 2-4 lakh rupees. Majority of the students were inclined to pursue post-graduate education. The students from urban background had significantly higher family education score and income. It was found that the Food Safety Officer followed by the Agricultural Officer were the most preferred careers. The job security followed by intrinsic interest in work and job satisfaction were the most deciding factors for career preferences. The present study showed that the students were high in self-confidence (0.80&plusmn;0.01) and medium in terms of risk-taking ability (0.69&plusmn;0.01) and Entrepreneurial Behavioural Index (0.73&plusmn;0.01). The self-confidence, risk-taking ability and EBI improve with increase in number of family members and they decrease with increase in family education score. The intrinsic constraints such as fear of loan followed by insecure income, excessively irregular working hours and lack of suitable attitude for entrepreneurship were the four major constraints perceived by the students in opting for a career in entrepreneurship.

Career Preferences and Entrepreneurial Orientation among Undergraduate Female Agricultural Students&nbsp;

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present study for comparison of aromatic crop tulsi (Ocimum basilicum) and cereal crop paddy (Orzya sativa) cultivation has been carried out at farmers&rsquo; field of Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. The tulsi is an essential oil bearing plant. Oil of this plant is highly valuable and is used in flavour, cosmetic and pharmaceuticals industry. Paddy has been cultivated in our country as a major food grain crop since long time. During the study period 50 farmers under cultivating tulsi and paddy has been selected from Sitapur District of Uttar Pradesh. The primary data were collected from the selected farmer&rsquo;s field on profitability comparison between tulsi and paddy cultivation. Simple statistical tools and technique has been used for data analysis of the socio-economic profile, cost of cultivation, profitability. It has been observed during the study that tulsi gives higher returns over paddy. However, the input cost of paddy is higher than tulsi crop but the net return of tulsi was more profitable than paddy. The benefit cost ratio has been observed 2.70 and 1.34 of tulsi and paddy respectively. It is suggested from the study that maximum profit is generated through tulsi cultivation followed by paddy crop. This study can set an example of profitability model for entrepreneurship development in other part of country.</div>

Comparative economic study of tulsi and paddy cultivation in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh

<div>Background: Punjab being a productive state in agriculture and livestock farming, various institutions are actively involved in Self Help Group formation for socio- economic development of low-income group. Rural women are engaged in small-scale entrepreneurship programme with the help of Self Help Groups. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of livestock based Self Help Groups on knowledge level regarding the scientific livestock farming practices among the beneficiaries of Self Help Groups and non-beneficiaries.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was undertaken in Ludhiana district of Punjab. A multistage random sampling procedure was applied to draw the sample for the study. For meeting the objective; 120 beneficiaries and 60 non-beneficiaries were subjected to structured interview schedule.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study revealed that majority of the beneficiaries (50.00%) and non-beneficiaries (55.00%) had medium level of knowledge regarding overall scientific livestock farming practices. Knowledge Index was higher in case of beneficiaries (61.46) than that of non-beneficiaries (56.68). Self Help Groups had made a significant positive impact on knowledge level of the beneficiaries and thus helped in improving overall socio-economic conditions of the rural women.</div>

Comparative Analysis of Beneficiaries and Non-beneficiaries about Scientific Livestock Farming Practices

<div>Background: Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (AC and ABCs) is a scheme implemented by the Government of India in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to provide assistance for the development of entrepreneurship in agriculture, creating employment opportunities for the unemployed agricultural graduates and also providing extension services to the farmers in rural areas. The present study is a modest attempt to evaluate the progress and performance of the Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres scheme in India from its inception to the present day by looking at state-by-state, training institute-by-training institute and project-by-project results.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study is based on the contemporary analysis of secondary data gathered from books, magazines, newspapers, reports, Publications, Research Articles and official websites from 1st April 2002 to 31st December 2021. Furthermore, the researcher acquired knowledge from both published and unpublished thesis in order to make the study interesting and beneficial.&nbsp; 
 
Result: It is found from the analysis that Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are the leading states in implementing the scheme successfully as compared to the Hilly States. A little attention is focused on hilly states in terms of training and establishing agriventures. Hence, the government should pay special attention to the hilly states and take suitable policy measures to meet the requirements of the farmers residing in Hilly areas and also on fulfilling the goals of the scheme.</div>

Progress and Performance of Agri-clinics and Agri-business Centres Scheme in India

Background: Maharashtra state in India ranks sixth in area under turmeric cultivation and Sangli, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Chandrapur are the major turmeric growing districts of Maharashtra. Recently since last few years the area under turmeric crop of Washim district in Vidarbha region is increasing day by day. In Washim district of Maharashtra state, the area and production of turmeric is 1150 ha. and 23000 tones, with productivity 20 tones per hectare. There is great potential to increase production of this crop in future, if growers are oriented towards entrepreneurship and adoption of modern technology. Hence the present study was undertaken to study the adoption level of turmeric growers about recommended turmeric cultivation practices. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in Washim district of Maharashtra state with the objective to study the adoption of the recommended turmeric cultivation practices by the turmeric growers. Exploratory research design of social research was used. In all, 120 respondents from 12 villages of Malegaon and Risod tehsils from Washim district were selected by random sampling method. The 
data were collected by person interview method. 
 
Result: Findings of the study revealed that, majority of respondents of turmeric growers (63.33%) having medium level of adoption about turmeric cultivation practices followed by 27.5 per cent of the respondents were found low level of adoption and only 9.16 per cent of the respondents were found in high level of adoption category. The selected characteristics of turmeric growers i.e. Land holding, area under turmeric crop, annual income, scientific orientation and knowledge had positive and significant relationship at 0.01 per cent level of probability with adoption. Whereas, farming experience found negative significant relationship at 0.01, per cent level of probability with adoption of turmeric growers. Age, education, source of irrigation had positive and non-significant relationship with adoption level. While only extension contact had positive and significant relation at 0.05 per cent level of probability with their adoption.

Adoption of Turmeric Cultivation Practices by Turmeric Growers

<div>The ACABC (Agri Clinics and Agri Business Centres) scheme is being implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare, Government of India, with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) (&ldquo;NABARD-National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development&rdquo; n.d.) acting as subsidy channelizing agency and National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) will be responsible for providing training to eligible candidates, through Nodal Training Institutes (NTIs) and motivating them for setting up of Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres. Whereas the Nodal Training Institute (NTI) is desirous of undertaking to implement the training and handholding component of the said Scheme with MANAGE (&ldquo;MoU-ACABC&rdquo; n.d.). JNKVV, Jabalpur is a Nodal Training Institute (NTI) of MANAGE, Hyderabad for providing training on Agripreneurship under the Agri-Clinic and Agri. Business Centre scheme 2010 (www.agriclinics.net) of Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. (&ldquo;Revised Guideline ACABC-2010&rdquo; 2011). The present study was conducted in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh state during 2014 to 2020 and based on the primary data collected through field survey by personal interaction, telephonic interaction, pre-tested questionnaires from 60 sample agri-graduates of NTI. Used statistical methods such as frequency, score and percentage to find this out the problems of agripreneurs in establishing and operating agriventures after successful completion of training programme. In the results, it was found that lack of own fund to start venture, status of confusion between job or entrepreneurship, lack of proper handholding support from NTIs, lack of family support, lack of business and field experience (Managerial and technical), high rate of interest on loan and a difficulty bank documentation process in getting bank loans were the major problems in establishing agriventure, while heavy competition from existing market players, marketing and infrastructural problems, perishability and seasonability of products, fluctuation in demand and prices of products, illiteracy and lack of knowledge of the farmers and insufficient working capital to run the business were the major problems faced by agripreneurs in operating agriventure (Lal et al. 2015). Thus, the present study mainly focused on the major problems faced by agripreneurs in starting and operation of agriventures under the agriclinic and agribusiness centre (ACABCs) scheme.</div>

Barriers Faced by Agripreneurs in Starting and Operating Agriventures under ACABC Scheme: An Analysis

<div>Background: Dairy farming is one of the oldest and well established subsidiary occupation and most widely adopted by all over farming community of Punjab state. Every farmer, if wish to start any entrepreneurship along with agriculture-First Think upon Dairy Farming. The latest training, new techniques and research work help in making this business work better. There is a need for substantial increase in the current yield of green fodder to provide complete and good quality feed to the animals. The current study aimed to study the effect of fly ash and phosphorous on the growth and fodder and grain yields of dual purpose oats.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Field experiments were conducted at Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda to study the effect of different levels of fly ash and phosphorous on growth and productivity of oats during rabi seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The trial was laid out in split plot design with three levels of fly ash (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1) in main plot and four phosphorous levels (0, 10, 20 and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1) in sub plot, replicated thrice. 
 
Result: Fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 recorded highest plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, number of effective tillers/m row length, number of seeds/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and biological yield than control and 5 t ha-1. The per cent increase of grain yield in fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 was 8.69 and 18.11 over 5 t fly ash ha-1 and control, respectively. Phosphorous @ 40 kg P2O5 ha-1&nbsp;resulted in higher growth characters, yield attributing characters and productivity of oats. Phosphorous @ 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 (21.35 q ha-1) and 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 (20.87 q ha-1) treatments produced statistically similar grain yield of oats. Phosphorous @ 20 and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 recorded 20.29 and 23.05% higher grain yield than 0 kg P2O5 ha-1, respectively. Application of P2O5 @ 40 kg ha-1 along with application of fly ash @ 5 and 10 t ha-1 produced statistically similar fodder yield of oats. The highest grain yield (22.97 q ha-1) was recorded in plots treated with the application of P2O5 @ 40 kg ha-1 along with the application of fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 and it was statistically at par with 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and application of fly ash @ 10 t ha-1. The highest grain yield (22.97 q ha-1) was recorded in plots applied with P2O5 @ 40 kg ha-1 along with fly ash @ 10 t ha-1 and it was statistically at par with 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and fly ash @ 10 t ha-1.</div>