Archives of Current Research International

Performance Evaluation of MPKV Hydraulic Check Basin Former under Different Operating Conditions in Chhattisgarh, India

R. K. Naik — 2026-10-28

Background: Mechanised check basin formation offers a means of preparing earthen bunds for in situ rainwater conservation, but the operating performance of the MPKV hydraulic check basin former requires evaluation under local field conditions.

Aims: To evaluate the field performance of the MPKV hydraulic check basin former under different operating conditions.

Study Design: A split-split plot design with three replications was used, with three levels each of forward speed (2, 3 and 4 km/h), soil moisture content (12, 15 and 20% dry basis) and basin distance (4, 5 and 6 m).

Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was conducted during the academic year 2025–26 at the instructional farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

Methodology: Machine performance was assessed in clay soil (Vertisol) in terms of bund height, effective working width, theoretical field capacity, effective field capacity, field efficiency, wheel slip and fuel consumption.

Results: Bund height ranged from 167.17 to 180.67 mm, with the maximum at 3 km/h, 15% soil moisture and 6 m basin distance. Mean effective working width at 2, 3 and 4 km/h was 1.970, 2.076 and 1.929 m, respectively. Theoretical field capacity ranged from 0.40 to 0.80 ha/h and effective field capacity from 0.30 to 0.77 ha/h; the highest mean effective field capacity was 0.681 ha/h at 4 km/h. Field efficiency ranged from 76.60 to 97.30%, wheel slip from 3.41 to 5.41%, and average fuel consumption was 3.11 l/h (6.10 l/ha).

Conclusion: The MPKV hydraulic check basin former performed satisfactorily under the evaluated field conditions, although operating settings should be selected according to the desired bund geometry and field capacity.

Attitude of Teachers and Students towards Artificial Intelligence in Higher School Education

Gita Doley — 2026-10-29

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing the teaching-learning process by providing innovative tools for learning, assessment, lesson planning, and academic support. The present study aimed to assess the attitudes of higher-secondary students and teachers towards AI in education and examine their perceptions of its usefulness and challenges. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, involving 100 higher-secondary students and 50 teachers from government and private schools in Assam, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected online using self-structured questionnaires comprising Likert-type attitude statements. The findings revealed that 71% of students were aware of AI tools, while 63% used them for learning or homework. Additionally, 91% supported teacher guidance on the ethical use of AI, and 86% expressed privacy concerns. Among teachers, 74% showed willingness to use AI, while 82% identified inadequate training as a barrier to its effective utilisation. Teachers also recognised the potential of AI to reduce workload and support lesson planning. However, concerns regarding privacy, ethical use, overdependence, independent thinking, and the effectiveness of AI-generated information were evident. The study highlights the need for teacher training, AI literacy, ethical guidelines, and data protection measures. Responsible AI integration, supported by equitable digital access, can enhance educational experiences while preserving meaningful teacher–student interaction and independent learning.

Growth, Regional Shifts and Policy Breaks in Indian Pulses Production, 1970-2025

Gina Naiding — 2026-10-29

Background: Indian pulses output has increased over several decades, but changes in regional concentration and responses to major policy phases remain incompletely characterised.

Aims: To assess growth, instability, regional concentration and policy-related structural breaks in Indian pulses production from 1970-71 to 2024-25.

Study Design: A secondary time-series and state-level panel analysis.

Place and Duration of Study: India and 13 major pulse-producing states; the analysis was conducted at the Institute of Agri Business Management, SKRAU, Bikaner, in 2026.

Methodology: Data from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics and ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research were analysed using compound growth rates, the Cuddy-Della Valle index, output decomposition, Herfindahl and Gini indices, sigma and beta convergence, bootstrapped sup-F and Bai-Perron break tests, and a policy dummy model with robust errors.

Results: Production grew at 1.56% per annum (P < .001), with yield increases accounting for 61.3% of the gain, and instability declined. The combined share of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra in output rose from 41.3% to 57.5%. State yields converged in the long run (β = −1.51, P = .004) but diverged after 2016-17 (P = .01). The 2016-17 policy push raised area by 18.9% and production by 24.8% in one step (P ≤ .002) without a yield gain, while the National Food Security Mission raised area growth by 0.81 percentage points (P = .02). Results were unchanged when 2025-26 advance estimates were added.

Conclusion: Recent gains came mainly from price-led area expansion in rainfed central and western states. Self-sufficiency in pulses now depends on yield-led growth and support for lagging states.

Indigenous Technical Knowledge of Biotic Weather Indicators among the Moran Community of Assam, India

Kaberi Gogoi — 2026-10-29

Indigenous technical knowledge includes locally developed observations and practices transmitted through social experience. This descriptive study documented weather-related invertebrate and bird indicators reported by Moran community members in Tinsukia district, Assam, India, and summarized the characteristics and knowledge classifications of 138 purposively selected respondents. Structured interviews, focus-group discussions, and key-informant accounts informed an inventory of 12 invertebrate-related descriptions and 11 bird-related observations. Respondents aged 41–59 years comprised 50.72% of the sample; 54.35% were women, and farming was the main household occupation for 51.45%. Regular contact with an Agricultural Development Officer was reported by 78.26%. Insect-associated knowledge was classified as low for 16 respondents (11.59%), medium for 81 (58.70%), and high for 41 (29.71%). Bird-related knowledge was classified as low for 26 (18.84%), medium for 89 (64.49%), and high for 23 (16.67%). The inventories describe community-reported associations; the classification thresholds and independent predictive performance of the indicators were not established. Prospective observations linked to meteorological records and fuller documentation of measurement procedures are needed to assess their utility.

A Study on Factors Influencing Consumer Buying Behaviour towards Clothing Purchases

U. Divya Sri — 2026-10-30

Consumer buying behaviour in the clothing sector reflects product attributes, shopping environments, marketing communication and sustainability preferences. This study examined the factors that 30 respondents reported as relevant to their clothing purchases. A descriptive research design was used, with primary data collected through a structured questionnaire and participants selected by convenience sampling. Responses were summarised using descriptive statistics. Women accounted for 90% of the sample, and 60% were aged 18–25 years. Price was considered important by 56.7% of respondents, while 50% agreed that they preferred high-quality clothing even when it was expensive. Agreement with a preference for unique and trendy designs was reported by 40%, with a further 23.3% strongly agreeing. Respondents also reported considering fit, ease of maintenance, customer service, clothing variety and store ambience. Social media, advertisements and recommendations from friends and family were among the reported sources of purchasing influence. Furthermore, 83.3% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they were willing to pay extra for sustainable clothing, while 63.3% reported shopping during discounts and sales. These findings describe multiple considerations within a small, predominantly young and female sample. They suggest that apparel retailers may benefit from attending to product quality, affordability, customer experience and sustainability preferences, although the descriptive design does not establish causal relationships or population-wide patterns.

Framework for Minimizing Design Flaws in Order to Improve Construction Performance and the Maintainability of Building Infrastructure in Delta State

C. J. Ikedionu — 2026-10-30

Design flaws in building projects may generate rework, construction delays, additional costs and maintenance difficulties. This study developed a proposed framework for minimising design flaws and improving construction performance and the maintainability of building infrastructure in Delta State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods research design, informed by a pragmatist philosophy and a concurrent triangulation strategy, was adopted. The study population comprised 389 registered architects, builders, quantity surveyors and structural engineers. Total enumeration was adopted for the questionnaire component, and 15 experienced professionals were purposively selected for semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire data were analysed descriptively using mean scores, while interview responses were examined thematically. Design review and quality assurance processes ranked highest, with a reported group mean of 3.42, followed by regulatory frameworks and code compliance (3.41) and Building Information Modelling and digital coordination (3.38). Capacity building and professional development (3.35), post-occupancy evaluation and feedback systems (3.32), and client education and briefing practices (3.29) were also identified as relevant strategies. The findings informed a proposed framework combining design checking, regulatory oversight, digital coordination, professional development, client involvement, implementation support and continuous feedback. The proposed framework provides a structured basis for coordinating preventive measures across project stages. However, the findings reflect professional assessments rather than demonstrated improvements in project outcomes. Empirical application and evaluation are therefore required to determine the framework's feasibility and effectiveness in the study context.

Assessing Production Costs and Profitability Dynamics of Small Tea Growers: Evidence from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts of Assam, India

Mrinmoyee Sharma — 2026-10-31

Background: Small tea growers have become an important component of Assam's tea sector, but production costs and farm-level returns may vary with holding size.

Aim: This study examined the cost structure, production performance and profitability of small tea growers in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam.

Methods: A multistage sampling approach was used to select 197 growers, including 92 respondents from Tinsukia and 105 from Dibrugarh. Primary data were obtained through personal interviews and supplemented with secondary information. Growers were grouped into marginal-small, small-scale and medium-small categories. Establishment and annual maintenance costs were analysed using Costs A, B and C, alongside yield, gross returns, net returns and benefit–cost ratios.

Results: The average establishment cost was ₹2,21,849.98 per hectare. Cost C was ₹2,12,714.63, ₹2,30,271.71 and ₹2,40,059.89 per hectare for marginal-small, small-scale and medium-small growers, respectively. Hired labour accounted for approximately 60% of Cost A across categories. Yields increased from 14,400 to 16,650 kg per hectare across the categories, while farm-gate prices were ₹27/kg for marginal-small growers and ₹28/kg for the other groups. Net returns at Cost C ranged from ₹1,76,085.38 to ₹2,26,140.11 per hectare, with corresponding benefit–cost ratios of 1.82–1.94.

Conclusion: All three categories recorded positive net returns, although marginal-small growers had lower yields, prices and profitability indicators than the other groups.

Influence of Wax Coating and Packaging Materials on Postharvest Quality and Storage Life of Aonla [Phyllanthus emblica L.]

Hajari Ram — 2026-10-31

This study evaluated the influence of a 4% carnauba wax coating, selected packaging materials and their combinations on the postharvest quality of aonla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) during storage. The experiment followed a completely randomised design comprising ten treatments and three replications. Treatments included an untreated control, wax coating alone, gunny bags, cardboard boxes, polyethylene bags and perforated plastic crates, together with combinations of wax coating and the packaging materials. Physiological loss in weight, fruit spoilage, total soluble solids and titratable acidity were assessed at 0, 30 and 60 days of storage. Across treatments, physiological loss in weight and spoilage increased as storage progressed, while total soluble solids increased and titratable acidity declined. The combination of 4% carnauba wax and polyethylene bags (T8) recorded the lowest physiological loss in weight (3.00% at 30 days and 9.02% at 60 days) and spoilage (3.01% and 8.01%, respectively). At 60 days, the untreated control recorded physiological loss in weight of 18.51% and spoilage of 28.78%. Treatment T8 also recorded total soluble solids of 10.9 and 11.5 °Brix and titratable acidity of 0.20% and 0.18% at 30 and 60 days, respectively. Under the conditions of this experiment, combining wax coating with polyethylene packaging was associated with lower storage losses and comparatively favourable retention of the measured physicochemical attributes of aonla fruits.

Screening of Tuberose, Agave amica (Medik.) Thiede & Govaerts Cultivars for Resistance against Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Pranjal Pratim Neog — 2026-10-31

This study aimed to identify sources of resistance to the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita among different tuberose cultivars. The experiment was conducted in the nursery of the Plantation Crop Garden, Biswanath College of Agriculture, AAU, Biswanath Chariali, Assam during the summer season of 2024. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomised design with five replications for each cultivar. For each of the six tuberose cultivars, a single bulb approximately 3 cm in diameter was planted per pot, and the plants were inoculated with freshly hatched second-stage juveniles of M. incognita at 1 J2/cc of soil 15 days after planting. Observations made 45 days after inoculation showed that the average number of galls per root system in different cultivars ranged from 8.4 to 54.0 and the root-knot index ranged from 2.0 to 4.0. Based on the root-knot index, the cultivar Shringar was categorised as resistant and all other cultivars, namely Mpaut, Shyadri Baman, BR-17, BR-19 and Phule Rajani were categorised as susceptible. The findings indicated that only one cultivar was resistant to the root-knot nematode and could be considered alongside other management options for root-knot nematodes in tuberose cultivation.

Effect of Poppy Seed incorporation on the Nutritional, Textural and Sensory Quality of Kadaknath Meat Cookies

Reena Dhakad — 2026-10-31

The present study aimed to develop functional Kadaknath meat cookies using poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum) as a fat replacer. Poppy seeds were incorporated at three levels, 2.0% (T1), 4.0% (T2) and 6.0% (T3), with a reduction in added fat. The developed products were evaluated for physicochemical properties, texture profile and sensory attributes. The pH, moisture, total dietary fibre, ash content, moisture–protein ratio and moisture retention differed significantly (P < 0.05) among cookies containing different levels of poppy seeds. Functional Kadaknath meat cookies containing poppy seeds had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower fat content than the control. Fat retention was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cookies containing poppy seeds than in the control. Textural attributes, including hardness, gumminess and chewiness, differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the treatments. Sensory evaluation showed that cookies containing 2% poppy seeds received scores that were higher than or comparable to those of the control. Therefore, the incorporation of 2% poppy seeds was considered suitable for developing functional Kadaknath meat cookies, as it reduced fat content without adversely affecting the product's physicochemical, textural or sensory quality.

Comparative Assessment of Biomedical Waste Management Practices in Government and Private Healthcare Facilities of Nadaun Block, Himachal Pradesh, India

Anjali Devi — 2026-10-31

Biomedical waste management is an essential element of occupational safety and environmental protection in healthcare settings. This study compared practices in one government and one private healthcare facility in Nadaun Block, Hamirpur District, Himachal Pradesh. A cross-sectional, facility-level assessment was conducted over three months using structured questionnaires, interviews with healthcare and sanitation personnel, direct observations and a review of available records. Assessment domains included waste generation, segregation, temporary storage, internal transportation, personal protective equipment, staff training, documentation, monitoring, incident response and arrangements for external treatment and disposal. A 17-item checklist was used to derive descriptive compliance percentages for each facility. Both facilities segregated biomedical waste at the point of generation using colour-coded containers, maintained designated temporary storage areas and transferred waste to a common biomedical waste treatment facility. The government facility met 14 of the 17 checklist criteria (82.35%), compared with 12 criteria (70.59%) in the private facility. Differences were primarily associated with the formalisation of documentation, refresher-training schedules, monitoring and incident-response procedures, rather than basic waste segregation or disposal arrangements. Since only one purposively selected facility represented each sector, these findings describe the assessed institutions and cannot be generalised to government or private healthcare facilities more widely. The findings identify opportunities to strengthen routine documentation, staff training, facility-level monitoring and occupational-safety procedures within existing biomedical waste management arrangements.

Five-year Production and Economic Performance of Composite Carp Polyculture under Smallholder Management in Manipur, Northeast India: Implications for Aquaculture Extension

Ningthoukhongjam Soranganba — 2026-11-02

Smallholder aquaculture in Northeast India remains substantially below national productivity levels despite abundant freshwater resources, presenting a key opportunity for sustainable intensification aligned with SDGs 1, 2, and 14. This study documents the transition from subsistence monoculture to commercial aquaculture using a composite polyculture system (Indian major carps and grass carp) in Churachandpur district, Manipur. This study documents production metrics, economic returns, and management practices of a composite carp polyculture system (Indian major carps and grass carp) managed by 23 smallholder farmers in Churachandpur district, Manipur, across five consecutive production cycles (2018–2023). Performance was assessed using descriptive statistics, benefit-cost ratio (BCR), ROI, and independent samples t-tests (α = 0.05) against published monoculture baselines (n = 12 reference systems). The polyculture system achieved a mean production of 3,522 kg per cycle, with an average survival rate of 96.5% and a feed conversion ratio of 1.42. Economically, the system generated mean annual net returns of ₹458,160 per hectare with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.82. When compared against published monoculture reference data from South Asian systems, the polyculture demonstrated an estimated 119% higher productivity and approximately 387% greater net return per hectare per cycle (t(15) = 3.62, p = 0.003); these figures reflect comparisons against external literature baselines, not concurrent experimental controls. The significant progressive improvement in economic efficiency across the five years highlights strong learning-by-doing effects. These findings suggest that, with adequate extension support, composite carp polyculture offers considerable potential for sustainable intensification, contributing meaningfully to household livelihood security and rural aquaculture development in the region.

A Strategic Framework for Mitigating Ergonomic Hazards on Construction Sites in South East Nigeria

N. J. Onyili — 2026-11-03

Construction activities in South East Nigeria involve substantial manual handling and physically demanding tasks, creating ergonomic concerns for site workers. This study aimed to develop a strategic framework for managing ergonomic hazards on building construction sites in Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States. A pragmatist mixed-methods approach was used. The target population comprised 114,330 construction stakeholders, and multistage sampling yielded a sample size of 692 participants, including 308 management professionals and 384 operational workers. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and Relative Importance Index rankings, while interview material was examined thematically. Across the strategies reported in Table 1, respondents expressed strong support for ergonomic improvements. Training, Education and Awareness Programmes had the highest reported group mean (4.48), followed by Engineering and Ergonomic Design Interventions (4.45). Proposed measures included mechanical lifting devices, ergonomically designed tools, structured manual handling training, improved work scheduling and supervisory involvement. Drawing on socio-technical systems thinking and Human–Task–Environment Fit, the proposed Construction Ergonomics Framework connects hazard identification, intervention selection, implementation responsibilities, monitoring and continuous improvement. The framework provides a context-specific approach for organising ergonomic prevention on building sites. Its effectiveness in reducing injuries or improving project outcomes requires further implementation and evaluation.

Sustainable Flood Management Framework for Effective Flood Management in Delta State

N. E. Uviemu — 2026-11-05

Flooding poses persistent risks to human settlements, infrastructure and livelihoods in Delta State, Nigeria, necessitating an integrated approach to flood prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. This study developed a proposed Sustainable Flood Management Framework for Effective Flood Management in Delta State. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, combining questionnaire surveys, semi-structured interviews and a review of relevant policies, official reports and published studies. A total of 617 questionnaires were distributed to building professionals, flood management officials and residents, and 580 valid responses were retrieved, representing a response rate of 94.0%. The respondents comprised 181 building professionals, 37 flood management officials and 362 residents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were examined thematically. The findings indicated strong support for the proposed measures, with mean ratings above 4.00 across all 11 items. Sustainable funding and resource allocation received the highest grand mean (4.57), followed by the integration of structural and non-structural measures and the use of research and modern technology, each with a mean of 4.50. Early-warning systems and disaster preparedness recorded a mean of 4.43, while community participation and intergovernmental coordination each recorded 4.40. Effective enforcement of environmental laws and land-use regulations received the lowest mean (4.20), although it remained highly rated. Based on the findings, the proposed framework integrates flood-risk identification and assessment, structural and non-structural interventions, institutional coordination, community preparedness, sustainable financing, and post-flood recovery. The study provides a context-specific basis for coordinating flood-management interventions in Delta State. However, the framework remains unvalidated and requires further stakeholder assessment and empirical testing before its effectiveness can be established.

Iron and Zinc Biofortification Strategies for Improving Rice Seedling Vigour and Grain Quality

S. S. T Aarthi — 2026-11-05

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple crop in Southeast Asia, grown with heavy applications of primary nutrients, which leads to deficiencies in essential micronutrients such as iron and zinc. Micronutrient biofortification through nutripriming, soil application and foliar application offers a promising approach to enhance their concentration and seedling vigour in rice. An experiment was conducted using Telangana Sona (RNR-15048) to evaluate the effects of iron and zinc nutrition on seedling growth and micronutrient status under dry direct-seeded rice conditions. In the laboratory study, nutripriming with FeSO₄ + ZnSO₄ significantly improved germination percentage, shoot length, root length and seedling vigour index at 7 and 14 days after incubation compared with the control. In the field experiment, combined application of iron and zinc through seed priming, soil application or foliar application significantly increased iron and zinc content in rice foliage and grains. Higher iron and zinc concentrations in grain were recorded with foliar application of FeSO₄ + ZnSO₄ at the panicle initiation stage. The study indicated that integration of iron and zinc application effectively improved seedling vigour, micronutrient accumulation and grain nutritional quality in dry direct-seeded rice.

Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis of Grain Yield and its Contributing Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes

Anusha Galimudi — 2026-11-05

Aim: The present study was undertaken to assess the magnitude and nature of the associations between grain yield and its contributing traits in maize genotypes and to identify the key traits influencing grain yield through correlation and path coefficient analysis.

Methodology: A total of 48 maize genotypes, comprising 36 hybrids and 12 parental lines, were evaluated using a randomised block design with three replications. Data were recorded for 11 quantitative traits.

Results: Genotypic correlation coefficients were generally higher than their corresponding phenotypic coefficients, indicating that the observed associations were partly influenced by environmental effects. The number of kernels per row exhibited the strongest statistically significant positive correlation with grain yield (kg/ha) at both the genotypic (0.8057) and phenotypic (0.8734) levels, followed by ear length (0.8626 and 0.7670), ear height (0.7627 and 0.6862), plant height (0.7624 and 0.6744), 100-seed weight (0.6893 and 0.5981), ear girth (0.6891 and 0.5976), and number of kernel rows per ear (0.4414 and 0.3142), respectively. In contrast, days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking, and days to maturity exhibited negative associations with grain yield at both genotypic (−0.5893, −0.5871, and −0.6148, respectively) and phenotypic (−0.7889, −0.7949, and −0.8018, respectively) levels. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of kernels per row exhibited the highest positive direct effect on grain yield at both genotypic (0.9399) and phenotypic (0.3928) levels followed by number of kernel rows per ear (0.4552 and 0.1767) and 100-seed weight (0.3922 and 0.1820), respectively.

Conclusion: The strong positive associations of number of kernels per row, ear length, plant height, ear height, ear girth, and 100-seed weight with grain yield, together with the favourable direct effects of number of kernels per row, number of kernel rows per ear, and 100-seed weight, suggest that these traits could serve as useful selection criteria for improving grain yield in maize.

The integration of these traits into selection programmes could improve the effectiveness of identifying superior, high-yielding maize genotypes.

Influence of Foliar Spray of Organic Formulations on Growth and Yield of Black Gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)

Ankit Gami — 2026-11-06

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif 2025 season at the experimental-cum-demonstration field of SVIAG, SVVV, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, to compare foliar applications of four liquid formulations at two nominal concentrations in black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) supplied with the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF). Ten treatments, comprising an absolute control, RDF alone, and RDF with cow urine, Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, or vermiwash at 5% or 10%, were arranged in a randomised block design with three replications. The highest reported mean plant height (55.59 cm), number of branches (10.93 plant−1), dry matter accumulation (11.96 g plant−1), number of pods (31.11 plant−1), and seed yield (8.56 q ha−1) occurred with RDF + Panchagavya at 10% (T6). The corresponding field seed yields were 5.01 q ha−1 with RDF alone and 3.17 q ha−1 under the absolute control. The difference of 3.55 q ha−1 between T6 and RDF alone exceeded the reported 5% critical difference (1.06 q ha−1), whereas the 0.84 q ha−1 difference between T6 and RDF + cow urine at 10% (T4; 7.72 q ha−1) did not. Test weight and harvest index were not statistically significant. The treatment means therefore identify T6 as numerically highest under the conditions evaluated but do not establish its superiority over T4. Interpretation remains limited by incomplete application protocols and the absence of plot-level verification records.

Variation in Host Suitability and Development of Lasioderma serricorne (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) on Tobacco Seed

B. Sailaja Jayasekharan — 2026-11-06

The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius), is an important pest of stored tobacco, but differences in its development on seeds of individual tobacco varieties remain insufficiently documented. This study evaluated host suitability and seed damage among 25 tobacco varieties using a no-choice assay arranged in a completely randomised design with three replications. For each variety, adult beetles were introduced into seed samples, and fecundity, adult emergence, mean developmental period, growth index and percentage seed-weight loss were recorded. Seed biochemical and biophysical characteristics were also evaluated, with analysis of variance, correlations and principal component analysis used to assess varietal differences and associations. Mean fecundity was 210.24 eggs and did not differ significantly among varieties (P = .118). Adult emergence, developmental period, growth index and seed-weight loss varied significantly. Overall adult emergence averaged 72.10%, the mean developmental period was 77.34 days, and mean seed-weight loss was 10.06%. Izmir exhibited the highest seed-weight loss (14.57%), followed by CTRI Sulakshana and DCT-4 (14.53% each). CTRI Sulakshana recorded the shortest mean developmental period (62.91 days), while Podali, Dharla and Banket A1 showed comparatively lower seed-weight losses. Correlation and principal component analyses indicated associations among infestation measures, but no single measured seed trait fully accounted for host suitability. These findings support variety-specific monitoring priorities under the tested storage conditions.

Examining the Effects of Building Material Cost for Sustainable Public Housing Development in Nigeria

M. I. Okongwu — 2026-11-06

The provision of affordable public housing in Nigeria has been increasingly challenged by the rising cost of building materials. This study examined the effects of building material costs on public housing development in key urban areas of Anambra State, including Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi. A descriptive survey design was employed, targeting construction professionals such as builders, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, and safety officers. A total of 272 respondents were selected from a population of 860 using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with responses measured on a five-point Likert scale and analysed using SPSS version 26 using descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including a one-sample t-test. The findings revealed that the high cost of building materials significantly affected public housing delivery. Among the effects, the risk of project abandonment was the most critical (mean = 4.35), followed by fluctuations in construction costs (mean = 4.25) and reduced construction output (mean = 4.03). Other notable impacts included increased final project costs (mean = 4.13) and reduced quality of workmanship (mean = 3.83). The positive mean difference (0.79) indicated that respondents perceived the cost of building materials as a major constraint, rating its impact above the neutral level. The study concluded that escalating material costs substantially constrained project completion, affordability, quality, and innovation in public housing delivery. It recommends policy and institutional interventions to stabilise material costs, strengthen local production, and promote alternative building materials to improve housing accessibility. Addressing these cost challenges is critical to ensuring sustainable public housing development in Nigeria.

Residual Refractive Errors Following Cataract Surgery in Northern Tanzania: Prevalence, Patterns, and Associated Factors: A Prospective Cohort Study

Hamisi Ngaleni — 2026-11-09

Background: Cataract is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The most common type of cataract is age-related. Surgery is the principal treatment for cataracts in eye departments. Although surgical extraction remains the best intervention for blinding cataracts, residual refractive errors are common complications after surgery. Refractive error correction after cataract surgery is often necessary, as high magnitudes of residual refractive errors are a major obstacle to successful surgical outcomes especially in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the patterns of residual refractive errors and associated factors among patients following cataract surgery at KCMC Hospital from September 2022 to May 2023.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted, and clinical profile data were gathered using a data collection form from patients who underwent cataract surgery. One day after surgery, patients were thoroughly examined in the ward and postoperative findings including UCVA and any complications were recorded. At six weeks after cataract surgery, UCVA, refraction, keratometry readings and BCVA were recorded.

Results: A total of 223 patients were analysed. The proportion with residual refractive error was 66.8%.The most common refractive error was astigmatism in 78 patients (35.0%), including against-the-rule astigmatism in 63 (28.3%). Myopia was found in 58 (26.1%), followed by hyperopia in 13 (5.8%), which was the least common. There were 74 emmetropic patients (33.2%).At six weeks postoperatively, 92.8% had good BCVA.Surgeon rank, type of surgery, surgical wound suturing and intraoperative complications were examined as factors associated with residual refractive errors following cataract surgery.

Conclusion: This study highlights the need for interventions to address the high prevalence of refractive errors, particularly astigmatism, which was frequently observed after ECCE and SICS. However, the magnitudes of spherical and astigmatic refractive errors were within the moderate range, and best-corrected visual acuity was within the recommended range.

Type of surgery, surgeon rank and complications appeared to be associated with residual refractive error following cataract surgery.

Marketing Efficiency and Determinants of e-NAM Adoption in Tomato Marketing: Evidence from Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, India

G. Ramanathan — 2026-11-10

Tomato is an important commercial vegetable crop in India, but its perishable nature and frequent price fluctuations make efficient marketing essential for improving farmers’ income. The Electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) aims to strengthen agricultural marketing through digital trading, wider market access and transparent price discovery. This study analysed tomato marketing channels, price spread and marketing efficiency, and examined the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of e-NAM in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Primary data were collected from 120 tomato growers, comprising 60 e-NAM users and 60 non-users, along with 25 market intermediaries. Price spread analysis, producer’s share in the consumer’s rupee, Acharya’s modified marketing efficiency measure and a binary logit model were employed. The results showed that the e-NAM channel recorded the highest producer’s share (80.47 per cent) and marketing efficiency (4.33), compared with conventional channels. Awareness of e-NAM, literacy and trust in government policies had a positive and significant influence on adoption, while distance to the regulated market had a negative and significant influence. The findings indicate that e-NAM has the potential to improve price realisation and marketing efficiency for tomato farmers. Strengthening awareness, digital literacy and market infrastructure could further encourage farmers’ participation in the platform.

Smart Contracts in Agribusiness: Transforming Transactions, Procurement and Value-Chain Governance

Sanjiv Kumar — 2026-11-04

Smart contracts, understood as computer programs that execute pre-agreed terms when specified conditions are recorded on a shared ledger, are frequently presented as a means of reducing delay, opportunism and intermediation costs in agribusiness. The claim is attractive because agricultural exchange is shaped by seasonal production, perishable and heterogeneous products, weather risk, delayed payment and weak contract enforcement, particularly where smallholders supply larger buyers. This critical narrative review examines how far the available evidence supports the use of smart contracts in three areas of agribusiness: transactions, including payment, settlement, finance and insurance; procurement, including contract farming, public food procurement and certification-linked sourcing; and value-chain governance. Peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2026 was identified through multidisciplinary and discipline-specific scholarly databases, citation chasing and authoritative institutional sources, and was appraised for design, evidential strength and relevance to agricultural contracting. The synthesis indicates that the evidence base is large but shallow. Most studies are design prototypes, test-network deployments, simulation or game-theoretic models and expert-ranking exercises, whereas independent field evaluations, cost data and outcome measures for farmers are scarce. Smart contracts appear most defensible where contractual contingencies are digitally observable, low in ambiguity and settled in digital money, as in automated payment against verified delivery events or index-triggered insurance. They are weakest where value depends on contestable quality judgements, physical delivery, renegotiation after shocks or relational trust, conditions that dominate much of agribusiness. The oracle problem, uncertain legal status, code rigidity, interoperability limits, digital exclusion and the concentration of design authority among lead firms constrain transformative claims. Smart contracts therefore complement, rather than replace, contractual and relational governance, and their distributional effects depend on who writes, controls and audits the code. Priority research needs include field trials with credible comparison groups, transaction-cost accounting, studies of dispute resolution and renegotiation, inclusion-sensitive designs for smallholders and comparative legal analysis. A measured conclusion is that smart contracts can automate well-specified fragments of agribusiness exchange, but the transformation of procurement and value-chain governance remains a hypothesis rather than an established outcome.

Food Price Inflation and Agricultural Commodity Volatility: Drivers, Transmission, Distributional Effects and Policy Responses

Harkesh Kumar Balai — 2026-11-05

Food price inflation and agricultural commodity volatility are related but distinct phenomena. Changes in globally traded grain, oilseed and other commodity quotations reach consumers through exchange rates, domestic market structures, processing and distribution costs, taxes, inventories and policy interventions. This critical narrative review integrates research on the structural and episodic drivers of price instability, the conditions governing spatial and vertical price transmission, heterogeneous household welfare consequences and the performance of policy responses. The evidence suggests that harvest shocks and energy-related input costs are important supply-side mechanisms, while stock scarcity, cross-market linkages and anticipatory trade-policy announcements can amplify price movements. International-to-domestic pass-through is highly context dependent and cannot be inferred directly from global commodity indexes. The consequences of higher food prices are also conditional: net food buyers and wage-dependent households face immediate purchasing-power losses, whereas some producers and agricultural labourers can benefit after adjustments in production and earnings. Consequently, claims that price rises necessarily increase or decrease poverty are too broad. Export bans may offer uncertain local consumer relief while shifting risk to importing economies; narrowly targeted transfers, credible information, diversified sourcing and carefully governed reserves offer more defensible responses, although each has implementation and fiscal constraints. Empirical evidence remains limited by inconsistent price measures, endogenous policies, incomplete subnational coverage and weak identification of causal mechanisms. A coherent policy framework should distinguish temporary shocks from persistent inflation, monitor food affordability alongside market prices, and match interventions to local trade dependence, household exposure and institutional capacity. Further research requires linked price, wage, stock and nutrition data, stronger quasi-experimental evaluation and explicit treatment of compound climate, energy and geopolitical shocks.

The Economics of Agri-Food Supply Chain Resilience: Pandemics, Climate Shocks and Global Disruptions

Harkesh Kumar Balai — 2026-11-09

Agri-food supply chain resilience has become a central economic concern as disease outbreaks, climatic extremes, trade restrictions and geopolitical disruptions expose interdependencies between production, processing, logistics, markets and household food access. Yet operational continuity alone is an incomplete measure of resilience: firms may recover output while consumers face unaffordable diets, workers lose earnings and costly buffers transfer risks between regions or supply-chain tiers. This critical narrative review examines how shocks propagate through agri-food systems, why decentralised incentives may diverge from social welfare, and which private and public responses are supported by credible evidence. Peer-reviewed empirical studies, theoretical analyses, simulations and substantive reviews published from 2004 to 4 September 2026 were assessed through targeted scholarly discovery, bibliographic verification and thematic appraisal, with earlier conceptual antecedents considered where necessary. The synthesis distinguishes covariate from localised shocks, physical scarcity from purchasing-power failures, and short-term recovery from economically and environmentally sustainable adaptation. Pandemic evidence indicates heterogeneous disruptions: substantial losses for particular workers, farmers and perishable-product channels coexisted with adaptive capacity in other markets. Climate research supports material agricultural supply risks, although uncertainty remains about cross-sector transmission and simultaneous harvest failures. Trade and conflict studies indicate that diversification can buffer geographically specific losses but may propagate correlated shortages and policy-induced price instability. Crucially, recent economic modelling shows that private investment in risk reduction need not always fall below the social optimum; market power and the interdependence of protective investments can also produce overinvestment. The review proposes a welfare-centred appraisal of resilience that incorporates consumer access, distributional incidence, risk covariance, fiscal costs and long-run adaptation rather than equating resilience with inventory, localisation or digitisation. Evidence gaps concern comparable causal estimates, systemic risk spillovers, low-income consumers, and prospective evaluations of combined interventions. Context-specific portfolios of risk reduction, trade openness, social protection and adaptive infrastructure appear more defensible than universal prescriptions.