Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 10

Financial Inclusion and Climate Risk Financing in Agribusiness: Insurance, Credit, and Investment Models

Ashutosh Kumar Singh — 2026-07-01

Climate change has emerged as a major threat to agribusiness systems, particularly in developing economies where agriculture is highly climate-sensitive. The increasing frequency of droughts, erratic rainfall and temperature variability has intensified production risks, income instability and financial vulnerability among farmers and agribusiness stakeholders. This chapter examines the role of financial inclusion in enhancing climate resilience through insurance, credit and investment models. Using a structured dataset of 100 farmers and agribusiness stakeholders, the study applies descriptive statistics, regression analysis and hypothesis testing to assess the relationship between financial inclusion and agribusiness resilience. The findings show that financial inclusion significantly improves agribusiness resilience, with insurance emerging as the most influential factor in mitigating climate risks. Credit facilitates the adoption of climate-smart technologies, while investment contributes to long-term sustainability. The results underline the importance of integrated financial systems in reducing climate-related vulnerability and promoting sustainable agribusiness development. From a policy perspective, the findings emphasise the need for governments and financial institutions to adopt inclusive financial strategies tailored to agricultural needs. In conclusion, financial inclusion is not merely a tool for economic development but a strategic enabler of climate resilience and sustainable agribusiness transformation. Future efforts should focus on improving the scalability, accessibility and effectiveness of these financial solutions to strengthen a resilient and inclusive agricultural system.

Root Exudates as Key Regulators of Plant–Microbe Interactions

P. Nagamani — 2026-07-01

Root exudates — the diverse array of organic and inorganic compounds released by plant roots into the surrounding soil — are increasingly recognised as central orchestrators of the plant–microbiome dialogue in the rhizosphere. Far from representing merely metabolic waste products, these secretions function as precise chemical signals that selectively recruit, suppress, or tolerate soil-dwelling microorganisms, thereby shaping the composition and activity of the rhizosphere microbiome with remarkable specificity. This review synthesises current knowledge on the chemical classification of root exudates, the mechanisms governing their secretion, and their roles in mediating symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia, supporting plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, driving disease suppression, and modulating plant immunity. It also examines how abiotic stresses alter exudate profiles, how microbial communities feed back to reshape root metabolism, and the methodological advances that are enabling increasingly detailed characterisation of the rhizosphere metabolome. The literature search underpinning this review was conducted across the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the USDA National Agricultural Library's Agricola database. Finally, the review considers the agricultural and biotechnological implications of harnessing root exudate chemistry, including possibilities for engineering rhizosphere microbiomes to improve nutrient use efficiency, stress tolerance, and crop productivity. Despite significant progress, substantial gaps remain in understanding the spatial dynamics of exudate gradients, the functional consequences of exudate diversity across plant genotypes, and the translation of laboratory findings to field conditions. Addressing these challenges will be essential to realise the full potential of root exudate biology in sustainable agriculture.

Water-Use Efficiency and Deficit Irrigation Technologies in Horticulture: A Comprehensive Review

Deepika Suryadevara — 2026-07-01

Global freshwater resources are increasingly constrained by population growth, climate change, and competing demands from agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors. Agriculture accounts for approximately 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals, with irrigated horticulture being particularly water-intensive due to the high value and water requirements of fruit, vegetable, and ornamental crops. This review comprehensively examines the physiological foundations, technological implementations, and agronomic outcomes of water-use efficiency enhancement strategies and deficit irrigation technologies in horticultural production systems. This review was conducted using secondary sources derived from existing academic literature, including peer-reviewed journal articles. The principal deficit irrigation methodologies discussed include regulated deficit irrigation, partial root-zone drying, and subsurface drip irrigation, alongside their physiological mechanisms centred on abscisic acid-mediated root-to-shoot signalling pathways that regulate stomatal conductance and plant water relations. The review synthesises evidence from diverse horticultural crops including grapevines, citrus, olive, apple, tomato, and various vegetable species, demonstrating that strategic water deficits of 20 to 30 per cent can enhance water productivity by 10 to 30 per cent whilst maintaining or improving fruit quality parameters. Emerging smart irrigation technologies integrating Internet of Things sensors, machine learning algorithms, and precision irrigation scheduling are evaluated for their potential to optimise deficit irrigation implementation. The review identifies critical research gaps including the need for crop-specific and cultivar-specific deficit irrigation protocols, improved understanding of long-term cumulative effects on perennial crops, and enhanced integration of physiological monitoring with automated irrigation systems. The findings provide evidence-based recommendations for sustainable horticultural water management strategies that balance productivity, quality, and resource conservation objectives under conditions of increasing water scarcity.

The Importance of Crop Wild Relatives for Resistance and Tolerance to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Plant Breeding

M. Sait Adak — 2026-07-01

Crop wild relatives are important plant genetic resources for broadening the genetic base of cultivated crops and improving their adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses. Modern crop varieties often have a narrow genetic background because of domestication and intensive selection, which may reduce their capacity to respond to emerging diseases, pests, drought, salinity, temperature extremes and other environmental constraints. This chapter reviews the role of crop wild relatives as sources of useful alleles for plant breeding, with emphasis on resistance and tolerance traits. The discussion highlights the value of wild relatives in major crop groups, including cereals, legumes, solanaceous crops, cotton and sugar beet. The examples presented show that wild germplasm has been used to improve resistance to fungal, bacterial, viral, insect and nematode stresses, as well as tolerance to drought, salinity, cold, heat and waterlogging. The chapter also emphasises that the successful use of crop wild relatives depends on crossing compatibility, cytogenetic relationships, hybrid fertility, germplasm availability, phenotyping and the application of conventional and modern breeding approaches. Although the transfer of useful traits from wild species can be technically challenging, crop wild relatives remain valuable reservoirs for developing resilient cultivars. Their collection, conservation, characterisation and systematic use are therefore essential for strengthening plant breeding programmes and supporting sustainable crop production under changing environmental conditions.

Livestock Systems and Climate Change: Sustainable Pathways for Low-Emission Animal Agriculture

Rupal Pathak — 2026-07-01

The global livestock sector is a major contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for an estimated 14.5% of total emissions, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents, with methane arising from enteric fermentation and nitrous oxide from manure management constituting the principal emission pathways. As worldwide demand for animal-source food products is projected to increase substantially over the coming decades — particularly across rapidly developing economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America — the imperative to transform livestock production systems towards low-emission, sustainable configurations has become urgent. This narrative review synthesises current scientific evidence on the climatic impacts of diverse livestock systems and critically appraises a range of technical, managerial, genetic, and policy-oriented mitigation strategies. The evidence base examined encompasses dietary and feed additive interventions, novel manure management technologies, genetic selection strategies for low-methane phenotypes, land management practices that promote soil carbon sequestration, and system-level approaches centred on improved animal productivity and sustainable intensification. The complex interplay between mitigation objectives, food security imperatives, and socioeconomic equity considerations is explored, with particular attention to pronounced regional disparities in emission intensities and the substantially different capacities of industrialised and developing nations to adopt and implement mitigation measures. Demand-side interventions — including dietary shifts towards plant-rich food patterns and the emerging potential of alternative proteins — are also considered. The weight of evidence reviewed suggests that no single strategy is sufficient to achieve the magnitude of GHG reductions required to align the livestock sector with the 1.5°C warming target established under the Paris Agreement. Rather, an integrated portfolio of complementary measures, embedded within robust and coherent policy frameworks and supported by multilateral international collaboration, will be essential if the sector is to contribute meaningfully to global climate stabilisation goals.

Integrating Agroecology and Multifunctional Landscapes in Sustainable Indonesian Coconut Farming Systems: A Conceptual Transition Framework

Ibrahim Erik Malia — 2026-07-01

Coconut-based farming systems play an important role in tropical agriculture and rural livelihoods, yet many coconut plantations in Indonesia remain dominated by low-input monoculture practices that underutilise available land resources and expose smallholders to ecological and economic risks. This chapter presents a conceptual transition framework for integrating agroecology, intercropping, multifunctional landscapes, and crop-livestock components into sustainable coconut farming systems. Based on a systematic literature review approach, the manuscript synthesises evidence on the agronomic, ecological, and socio-economic dimensions of coconut-based diversification. The review indicates that coconut plantations offer suitable structural conditions for diversified land use because their canopy arrangement, wide spacing, and understory environment can support annual food crops, horticultural crops, spices, medicinal plants, perennial beverage crops, forage species, and livestock integration. Evidence suggests that diversified systems can improve land-use efficiency, with Land Equivalent Ratio values above one and, in the reviewed range, from 1.20 to 1.85. These systems may also enhance soil organic matter, microbial activity, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, microclimatic regulation, and carbon sequestration while reducing dependence on single-commodity production. Economically, intercropping and integrated crop-livestock systems can enhance income stability, increase cash-flow opportunities, and reduce vulnerability to market- and climate-related shocks. The proposed framework positions coconut intercropping as a socio-ecological innovation that links productivity, ecological restoration, circular resource use, and livelihood resilience. It also emphasises the need for crop selection, organic nutrient recycling, soil conservation, and local market integration. The chapter concludes that the transition towards sustainable coconut farming in Indonesia will depend on integrated ecological management, farmer capacity building, market access, and supportive institutional policies that facilitate the adoption of diversified coconut-based farming systems.

Role of Phytohormones in Mitigating Aflatoxin B1-Induced Growth Inhibition in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Ganjendra Prasad — 2026-07-01

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop, and its early growth may be impaired by aflatoxin B1 through effects on seed germination, seedling development and photosynthetic pigment accumulation. The present study investigated whether the phytohormones gibberellic acid (GA3) and kinetin could mitigate aflatoxin B1-induced growth inhibition in maize seeds of var. Madhuri-01. Seeds were treated with aflatoxin B1, GA3 and kinetin, separately and in combination, at 2.0 ppm. Seed germination was recorded after five days, whereas root and shoot lengths were measured after seven days. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents were estimated using established procedures. The data were analysed using a t-test for seed germination and F-test/analysis of variance for seedling growth and pigment parameters. Treatment with aflatoxin B1 alone inhibited seed germination, root length, shoot length, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid content by 78.57%, 65.03%, 63%, 74%, 72% and 85%, respectively, compared with the control. In contrast, combined treatment with aflatoxin B1 and the tested phytohormones reduced the extent of inhibition. In the presence of aflatoxin B1, GA3 showed 10.20%, 8.79% and 19.00% inhibition for seed germination, root length and shoot length, respectively, while kinetin showed corresponding inhibition values of 19.38%, 11.55% and 21.00%. GA3 and kinetin also reduced the inhibitory effect of aflatoxin B1 on chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. These findings indicate that GA3 and kinetin can partly reverse aflatoxin B1-induced inhibition during early maize growth. Further physiological and molecular studies are required to clarify the mechanisms involved.

Interactive Effects of Bamboo Biochar and Land Elevation on Growth and Yield of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) in Coastal Agroecosystems

R. K. Das — 2026-07-01

A field experiment was conducted in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, during 2022–2024 to assess the combined effects of bamboo biochar and land elevation on the growth and yield of Moringa oleifera (var. PKM-2) under coastal agro-ecological conditions. The study used a two-factor randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, comprising four biochar doses (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha⁻¹) and five land-elevation classes (high land, medium slope, low slope, plain acidic and plain loamy), resulting in 20 treatment combinations. Biochar application significantly enhanced vegetative growth and yield attributes across 6–24 months (p < 0.05). At 24 months, plant height increased from 3.16 m in the control to 3.75 m under 15 t ha⁻¹ biochar, while pod number rose from 56.60 to 76.40 plant⁻¹ and pod length from 45.56 to 59.31 cm. Land elevation also significantly influenced performance (p < 0.05); plain loamy and low-slope positions generally produced taller plants, greater canopy development and higher pod production than high-land or plain acidic sites. Interaction effects indicated that 10–15 t ha⁻¹ biochar performed best in loamy plains and low-slope areas, with the highest pod number (85.7 plant⁻¹) and superior leaf biomass recorded under 10 t ha⁻¹ biochar in loamy plains. Overall, bamboo biochar application (10–15 t ha⁻¹) combined with favourable land positions (loamy plain or low slope) appears to be an effective strategy for improving moringa productivity and stabilising yield under coastal soil constraints.

Salt-Affected Soils: A Comprehensive Review of Global and Indian Perspectives

Aakriti — 2026-07-01

Soil salinity is a major abiotic factor that severely restricts agricultural productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Climate change, rising temperatures, sea-level rise, poor irrigation practices and intensive agricultural activities have increased the spread of salt-affected soils, posing serious threats to global food security and the environment. Salinity stress results from the excessive build-up of soluble salts, particularly sodium and chloride ions, which impair plant water relations, nutrient uptake and metabolic activities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the classification of salt-affected soils, with special emphasis on global and Indian soil salinisation scenarios, highlighting the extent, distribution and severity of salt-affected lands. Available data indicate that millions of hectares worldwide, including large areas in India, are affected by soil salinity, and the affected area is projected to increase under future climatic conditions. The review underscores the urgent need for sustainable soil management strategies, technological innovations and coordinated global efforts to mitigate salinity stress and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability. Mitigating this issue will also require addressing the broader challenges posed by climate change and strengthening international collaboration. As climatic projections indicate increasing aridification across many regions of the world, technological innovation and coordinated global efforts will become increasingly important for maintaining environmental sustainability and safeguarding global food security. Continued research advances, together with the development and adoption of innovative technologies, may help reduce the adverse impacts of salinity and support sustainable long-term agricultural productivity.

Impact of Integrated Farming on Tribal Women’s Empowerment in Odisha, India

Urmi Pattanayak — 2026-07-01

Integrated farming systems offer an important livelihood pathway for tribal women by combining crop cultivation, livestock, fisheries, horticulture, and allied activities within a diversified production system. This study examines the extent of tribal women’s participation in integrated farming systems in Koraput district of southern Odisha and identifies the socio-economic and institutional factors influencing their level of integration. Primary data were collected from 140 women farmers selected from Laxmipur, Nandapur, and Similiguda blocks using a pre-tested interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and a Composite Index were used to assess four dimensions: value-chain integration, development resources, resource-use intensity, and participation in farming activities. The findings show that 75 per cent of respondents are illiterate and 80 per cent belong to the low-income category, limiting their access to land, inputs, training, credit, and institutional support. The Composite Index indicates that 31 per cent of women fall under low integrated farming, 43 per cent under moderate integrated farming, and 26 per cent under high integrated farming. Limited market access, weak institutional linkages, restricted resource availability, and socio-cultural norms constrain women’s involvement in value-added and decision-making activities. The study highlights the need for improved resource access, gender-responsive extension, credit support, women-led producer groups, and locally appropriate integrated farming models to strengthen livelihood resilience and empowerment among tribal women.