Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are revolutionizing agricultural practices by enhancing precision and efficiency in crop management. This study examines the impact of drone technology on agriculture in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, focusing on farmers' perceptions and the extent of drone adoption. Covering a sample size of 120 farmers, the research explores various aspects of drone usage, including its benefits and challenges. Key advantages include reduced chemical usage, improved crop monitoring, precise irrigation, increased yields and water conservation. Government initiatives like the Kisan Drone program support the adoption of agricultural drones through subsidies and financial aid. However, high initial costs, technical complexity and regulatory barriers limit widespread adoption, particularly among small and marginal farmers. Custom hiring centres and enhanced government support are identified as potential solutions. Statistical methods such as binary logistic regression, propensity score matching and factor analysis are used to analyze adoption patterns and barriers. Findings reveal that drone spraying is the most common application, with higher awareness and adoption rates among educated farmers. The study concludes with recommendations to improve accessibility, reduce costs and expand training programs to benefit farmers across all socioeconomic segments.

The concept of cloud kitchens, or ghost kitchens, has emerged as a transformative trend in the food service industry, offering an economical and efficient model that eliminates the need for physical dining spaces and focuses solely on delivery and takeout. This approach provides several advantages, including reduced overhead costs, operational efficiency, scalability and expanded market reach through virtual platforms. However, market saturation, building brand visibility and maintaining food quality remain significant hurdles. Future trends may involve multi-brand operations within a single kitchen, advanced technology integration, eco-friendly practices and suburban and rural areas expansion. By addressing these challenges, ghost kitchens can capitalise on their innovative potential to reshape the food service landscape.

Agritourism is emerging as a key driver of rural livelihood sustainability, seamlessly blending agriculture with tourism to create economic, environmental and social benefits. This systematic literature review, conducted using the PRISMA framework, analyzes 1330 articles from the Scopus database, identifying 220 relevant studies. The review examines key aspects, including author keywords, co-authorship networks and international collaborations. The findings underscore the significant connection between agritourism and sustainable development, highlighting its crucial role in job creation, income diversification, environmental conservation and the preservation of cultural heritage. However, the development of sustainable agritourism, particularly in developing countries, faces substantial problems, including inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints and legal barriers. Overcoming these obstacles necessitates a collaborative approach involving governments, private investors and local communities. Strategic initiatives such as enhanced infrastructure, supportive regulations and financial incentives are capable of helping the sector expand. Furthermore, integrating technology, digital marketing and new business models may broaden agritourism's reach and effectiveness. Future studies should focus on ways to maximize the sector's potential, such as community-based initiatives, sustainable tourism models and cross-sectoral collaborations. With the right laws and joint efforts, agritourism has the potential to be a transformative force, promoting economic resilience, environmental preservation and long-term sustainability in rural communities worldwide.

This paper is an attempt to assess the major tree species that are being traded in the state and a comparison of domestic and import prices of the most preferred species has been done. India is one of the top producers of tropical logs in the world; on the other hand it is also among the largest consumer of wood products. It is also among the top importing countries of tropical woods since it cannot match its own demand for wood products with domestic supplies (ITTO, 2015). Tamil Nadu has more than 500 small scale timber industries, with majority of them being unorganized. The price had also been fluctuating between domestic and imported wood based on their requirement, quality, size and other parameters. Forty sample respondents were selected through snow ball sampling technique and initial references were drawn from Consortium of Industrial Agroforestry (CIAF) operating at Forest College and Research Institute (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University), Mettupalayam. The price variability between domestic and imported teak was evaluated using bivariate correlation analysis. It could be found that there was significant positive correlation between the price of country teak and Ecuador teak, country teak and African teak which implied that if there is increase in price of country teak, there will be increase in price of either Ecuador or African teak and vice-versa.

This study examines insecticide usage patterns among vegetable farmers in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, reflecting the growing importance of insecticides in safeguarding crop health amidst increasing pest pressures. The global insecticide market is expanding rapidly, with India being the fourth-largest producer of agrochemicals and a significant exporter. Insecticides are essential for controlling pests such as thrips, whiteflies and various caterpillars, which can cause substantial yield losses. Using a stratified simple random sampling method, data were collected from 300 farmers across 25 villages in Hosur tehsil between May 2024 and June 2024. The research assessed socio-economic profiles, insecticide usage patterns and the sources of information for purchase decisions. Findings reveal that local agricultural dealers are the primary source of information, with a notable preference among farmers for brands such as BASF and IIL. Most farmers reported using insecticides primarily during the Kharif season, suggesting seasonal dependency. The study also highlights a tendency among farmers to favour specific brands over extended periods, reflecting brand loyalty and trust in local suppliers. Overall, the results provide valuable insights into the practices and challenges faced by vegetable farmers, which can help inform agricultural policies and marketing strategies for insecticide producers in the region.