Agrotourism, which integrates agriculture with tourism, holds substantial promise for fostering rural development in regions such as Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. This study seeks to pinpoint and examine the main challenges faced by agrotourism entrepreneurs using Rank Based Quotient (RBQ) analysis. Data were gathered from 10 agrotourism entrepreneurs through structured questionnaires, emphasizing financial, marketing, infrastructural, and regulatory difficulties. The RBQ analysis indicates that securing funding for infrastructure and operations, acquiring permits and licenses, and managing heightened competition are among the most significant challenges. By highlighting these issues, this research offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to craft targeted interventions, thereby enhancing the sustainability and growth of agrotourism in the area. The results can guide policy decisions and support strategies aimed at overcoming obstacles in agrotourism development.

Flooding exacerbated by cyclones and heavy monsoons has become a significant challenge for agriculture in Tamil Nadu especially in its coastal regions. This study explores the technological mitigation strategies that can help to reduce the adverse impacts of flooding on agriculture. By focusing on flood-induced crop losses, soil erosion and waterlogging, the research emphasizes the need for innovative agricultural technologies to build resilience in farming practices. The study identifies eight TNAU recommended technological solutions to mitigate flooding stress at field level, including bio stimulants, submergence-tolerant rice varieties, salt-tolerant crops, raised bed systems, polyhouse farming and foliar sprays for crop recovery. Through a survey of farmers and extension officials, the study evaluates awareness, acceptance and adoption of these technologies. Findings indicate that while farmers exhibit high awareness and acceptance of traditional mitigation methods, newer technologies face adoption barriers due to financial and knowledge constraints. The study suggests targeted policy interventions, such as financial incentives, extension services and subsidies, to increase adoption rates. Furthermore, it calls for enhanced collaboration between research institutions, government agencies and farmers to foster a more resilient agricultural system capable of coping with flood-related challenges. This research offers actionable insights to help Tamil Nadu’s agricultural sector adapt to increasingly frequent and intense flooding events.

Vegetable production is constantly affected by both biotic and abiotic factors. Protected cultivation technology enables farmers to grow vegetables year-round in controlled environments. High initial investment, technical skills, and huge maintenance costs, as well as environmental impacts, are some of the limitations of protected cultivation. A study was conducted to gain further insights into the cost of vegetable cultivation in protected cultivation and to understand the current status, practices, challenges, and needs of farmers who use or intend to use this technique. Information was collected from a Tomato farmer involved in the protected cultivation of tomatoes. An open-ended interview method was used in this study. This study was conducted in the Thondamuthur Block of Coimbatore District. The study noted that budgetary constraints, inadequate logistics, and storage facilities for accessing far-off markets decreased farmers' incomes. The results of the study can be used to promote the protected cultivation of vegetables and inform policy interventions.

Rice is a cornerstone of global food security, livelihoods and rural economies, yet its production and consumption are increasingly challenged by climate change, resource constraints and sustainability trade-offs. While research on rice sustainability has expanded rapidly in recent years, the literature remains fragmented across disciplines, analytical scales and food system components. This study presents a systematic literature review that maps and analyses the global research landscape on rice-based sustainable food systems using bibliometric methods and content co-occurrence analysis techniques. A total of 227 publications indexed in the Scopus database (2013-2025) were analysed following PRISMA guidelines. Bibliometric analysis was conducted to examine publication trends, country and institutional contributions, source distribution and keyword co-occurrence patterns. Scientific output increased sharply after 2021, with nearly 89 % of publications produced between 2021 and 2025, indicating rapid consolidation of the field. Country-wise analysis shows a strong concentration of research in Asia, particularly India (136 publications), China (121) and Indonesia (96). Subsequently, content co-occurrence analysis identified four thematic clusters: (i) consumer behaviour, dietary choices and environmental implications; (ii) crop management, resource constraints and economic trade-offs; (iii) food security, resilience and supply chain dynamics; and (iv) adoption and transition towards sustainable rice systems. The results reveal a strong concentration of research in Asia, growing interdisciplinary engagement and a recent surge in system-oriented sustainability studies. However, persistent gaps were identified, including limited methodological integration, weak linkage between production and consumption research and underrepresentation of transition dynamics and emerging regions. By synthesising key interventions, practices and technologies across clusters, this review provides an integrated perspective on pathways toward rice-based sustainable food systems and outlines priority directions for future research and policy development.

The growing requirement for energy and vulnerability of the traditional source of energy in the poultry industry make sustainable and dependable energy sources an inevitable alternative with solar energy being a key player in modern poultry industries. The poultry industry requires energy for various activities such as brooding, incubation, ventilation, lighting, feeding, and monitoring of the farm which require energy because failure to have a reliable energy source could result in loss of productivity and even death of the birds leading to losses for poultry farmers. Solar energy provides an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional sources of energy that is suitable for use in rural areas or off-grid poultry farms. In this review, the global use of solar energy in poultry production will be discussed, ranging from solar powered brooders and heaters, solar driven ventilation and lighting, solar incubators, and incorporation of solar energy in Internet of Things (IoT)-based environmental controls and disease surveillance systems. Solar energy has been found to be effective in minimizing operational costs, increasing hatching rates, improving feed conversion efficiency, and guaranteeing environmental control. Solar energy also plays an important role in climate change prevention due to its reduced carbon footprint and reduction in the consumption of non-renewable sources. Therefore, the incorporation of solar technologies in poultry farming is a viable solution for enhancing the performance of poultry farms.

Natural farming, introduced by Masanobu Fukuoka, provides a sustainable alternative to traditional farming by tackling issues like soil damage, chemi- cal use, and environmental harm. This study looks at global research on natural farming from 2018 to 2024, focusing on research trends, themes, and factors influencing its adoption. A review of 210 publications was con- ducted using Scopus, following PRISMA guidelines, with analysis done using R Studio and VOS viewer. India is the leader in natural farming research, with 135 publications, driven by government policies that support sustaina- bility. Other key contributors include China, Italy, and the United States. The analysis identified three main themes: environmental sustainability, eco- nomic benefits, and adoption strategies. The citation analysis highlighted important researchers like Bharucha and Venkateshmurthy. The main rea- sons farmers adopt natural farming include better soil health, less chemical use, lower costs, and greater climate resilience. Techniques like Zero- Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), which includes practices like Jeevamritha and organic mulching, are vital for improving soil fertility and cutting down on input costs. This study shows that natural farming can help balance the environment, improve farmer incomes, and encourage more sustainable practices. Future research should explore the role of digital technologies and cooperation between countries to expand natural farming worldwide.