The rapid pace of digitalization has transformed industries and consumer behaviour worldwide, prompting businesses to accelerate their digital transformation efforts. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of agribusiness firms in achieving digital transformation within the South-Western Zone of Tamil Nadu. Data were collected from 41 agribusiness firms and analysed using Data Envelopment analysis (DEA), a method for evaluating the efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs). The results showed that ten DMUs involved in the processing and value addition of millets and firms selling organic products, were efficient, accounting for 24% of the total agribusiness firms. The major cause of inefficiency was the decline in pure technical efficiency and the market's steadily declining returns to scale. Hence, firms must closely track their resource and scale allocations, manage their internal operations and modify their output in response to market conditions to avoid a decline in their technical efficiency. The export potential of processed foods is projected to increase by 35% during 2027-28. The export potential of processed foods is projected to increase by 35% during 2027-28. Therefore, the growth of agribusiness enterprises, especially food processing firms, provides increased value and employment opportunities. Firms should prioritize investments in recruiting a digitally skilled workforce and dedicate training hours to ensure the effective use of advanced digital technologies, thereby enhancing efficiency. Firms should prioritize investments in recruiting a digitally skilled workforce and dedicate training hours to ensure the effective use of advanced digital technologies, thereby enhancing efficiency.

This study investigates consumer awareness and preferences for finger millet (Eleusine coracana) products in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. As a nutritionally dense cereal crop, finger millet has gained attention for its potential to address malnutrition and lifestyle diseases. The research assessed awareness of its nutritional benefits, factors driving purchasing decisions and product preferences among urban consumers. A structured questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 150 respondents selected through simple random sampling. The study revealed higher awareness levels of finger millet's nutritional value among younger (21-30 years, 51.64 % highly aware) and female (39.77 % highly aware) consumers. Factor analysis identified product-related aspects, such as nutritional value and convenience, as key influencers in purchasing decisions, explaining 45.19 % of the variance. Preferred product forms included finger millet flour (23 %), noodles (20 %) and porridge (18 %). So, companies should focus on diversifying the millet flour category to attract consumers easily. Garrett's ranking positioned finger millet as the most favoured millet (score 69.5), followed by proso millet (66.0) and little millet (63.0). These findings provide valuable insights for agricultural researchers, plant breeders and food technologists to align crop improvement strategies and product development with consumer preferences. Companies should prioritize marketing to female consumers, who demonstrate higher awareness. Following this, they should focus on younger consumers (21-30 years), who also show significant interest. Marketing strategies should include creating innovative snack items designed to appeal to children, paired with vibrant and engaging marketing campaigns that capture their attention. Additionally, strategies should target health-conscious individuals and male consumers by highlighting finger millet's contribution to overall wellness and emphasizing that finger millet is a versatile food suitable for all demographics and dietary preferences.

Food packaging plays a crucial role in the modern food system by ensuring food safety and quality, balancing consumer requirements, and adhering to legal standards. However, the utilization of commercial packaging materials, particularly petroleum-based materials, causes severe environmental concern due to their non-biodegradability and long-term impact on the environment. Despite the rapid growth of technological research, food packaging is still fragmented across disciplines, suggesting the need for comprehensive and systematic synthesis of recent developments. In this study, a systematic literature review methodology was used to analyze innovative approaches for food industries aimed at enhancing sustainability and reducing the environmental impacts by using alternative packaging materials and methods. A total of 59 eligible research articles between January 2015 and July 2025, were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria from the Scopus database. The review identifies and analyses various novel packaging materials and technologies, along with current trends and barriers to adopt the innovative eco-friendly packaging alternatives, with particular emphasis on consumer perceptions and technological advancement in the packaging sector. Despite the evident benefits of innovative packaging materials and methods, challenges such as financial limitations, regulatory complexities, and gaps in consumer awareness hinder widespread adoption. This review highlights the importance of coordinating efforts among businesses, government, and consumers to enhance the shift towards sustainable packaging solutions across the global food supply chain. Finally, this review provides a unique combination of bibliometric analysis, material innovation, and consumer views and adoption challenges to present a clear and complete overview of research in sustainable food packaging applications.

Banana is an important fruit crop cultivated in India and Tamil Nadu ranks third in production in the country and the area under the banana is also increasing over the years in the state. However, high post-harvest losses were reported in banana due to improper development of marketing channels. Hence, this paper aimed to study marketing of banana and perform stakeholder analysis. Three districts namely Tiruchirappalli, Erode and Coimbatore were selected for the study based on the areaunder banana. The results of the study revealed that the growth rate of area was the highest in Vellore - Tiruvannamalai production centre with 7.75 per cent per annum and production and productivity growth were the highest in Cuddalore-Villupuram production centre with 8.39 and 7.23 per cent per annum respectively. Three banana marketing channels were identified in the study area. Pre- harvest contractor was the popular mode of sale by banana producers. The post-harvest loss of 8.5 to 14.5 kg/tonne was reported in selected banana cultivars. No packing method of banana was followed in the entire marketing channel and one third of market intermediaries did not have storage facility for banana. Hence, the marketing channels of the banana have to be improved on handling, storage and packing to reduce the losses.

To assess the efficacy and performance of an intervention or policy, impact assessment plays a crucial role. This article aims to systematically combine the existing literatures published on impact assessment methodologies using a narrative approach. Databases such as Springer, Google Scholar and Science Direct are used to identify the literature sources on different impact assessment methodologies such as Difference in Difference (DID), Propensity Score Matching, Instrumental Variable Analysis, Randomized Controlled Trial, Regression Discontinuity Design and Synthetic Control Method. Although these techniques have always been significant, their implementation varies across scientific domains due to challenges such as resource constraints and methodological complexities. To address current global issues and enhance the precision of methodologies across field, recognizing the contextual relevance of each method is essential. Each methodology offers unique characteristic uses and is characterized to solve various research issues. This helps in decision making strategies for future-oriented programs. The study emphasizes the portability and wider interdisciplinary uses of these approaches by investigating their practical application in several domains such as health, education and the environment. The limitations, challenges and intrinsic biases associated with different methodologies are analyzed and discussed. The article evaluates various approaches in assessing the impact, thereby aiding the reader to understand the appropriate methodologies for different conditions.

Cumin and chilli rank among Indias’ leading spice exports, establishing the country as a key player in the global spice trade. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Indias’ performance in international trade of these spices, utilizing the Compound Growth Rate (CGR), Instability Indexand Markov Chain analysis. The study period for chilli is (2001-2024) and cumin is (2010-2024). The study aims to assess the growth trends, volatilityand market dynamics of Indian chilli and cumin exports in order to offer crucial insights into their long-term viability and competitive position. CGR is used to calculate the annual growth rate in export volume, value and price, thereby illustrating trends in Indias’ spice trade. Changes in export performance are measured by the Cuddy-Della Valle Instability Index, which accounts for the impact of external shocks, policy changesand price volatility. The probability of a trade transition is also examined using Markov Chain Analysis to ascertain the stability of Indias’ export destinations and potential market moves over time. The results indicate a notable increase in cumin and chilli exports, but with regular fluctuations caused by changing trade laws, weather patternsand global demand. The Markov Chain model provides a framework for predicting future trade trends, identifying key export destinations and their retention potential. This report is a strategic tool that policymakers, exportersand other stakeholders can utilize to lower risks, enhance market stabilityand support Indias’ global spice trade.