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This study investigates the convergence hypothesis in productivity of foodgrains in terms of output per unit of cropped area during the period 2000-01 to 2012-13 across the major 18 foodgrains producing states of India using the two standard measures of convergence viz., sigma convergence and beta convergence. This has been done by applying the advanced panel data methodology, namely, panel unit root tests on demeaned series, static panel regression and dynamic panel regression apart from conventional measures based on standard deviation and coefficient of variation. A cross section regression shows irrigated cropped area to be the only significant explanatory variable for explaining productivity variation across the states. All the tests show evidence in favour of sigma and both conditional and unconditional beta convergences. This study with foodgrains productivity shows convergence or divergence in outcome(s) only. But convergence in means ( i.e., sources) is also an important issue in this context. In this paper, we have also examined this in terms of input cost for two principal crops viz., paddy and wheat in the major foodgrains producing states. This has been studied by sigma convergence technique only. Results show convergence in average cost of production of wheat only, and not of paddy. This finding is important in explaining the role of technological spillover on input cost reduction across the states, and its effect in achieving convergence in foodgrains productivity.

Restoration of soil has been identified as the option; to ensure crop sustainability. However, as per Trophobiosis Theory of French Scientist F. Chaboussou, focus on development of healthy plants is necessary to abate pest and disease invasion so as to ensure sustained crop performance, even under unfavorable environmental conditions. The present study, in randomized block design with green gram as test crop; was undertaken in Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Howrah, West Bengal) to evaluate the effectiveness of Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology towards crop yield and soil quality development under different sustainable models viz. organic cultivation, integrated soil with organic crop management and non- chemical crop management; as compared to conventional farming practice. Highest yield was recorded under organic (933 kg ha-1) followed by integrated (921 kg ha-1) and non- chemical plant management (902 kg ha-1). The results were well corroborated with the plant development index obtained under these treatments. Favorable trend of soil quality under sustainable models especially in terms of microbial properties indicated the role of quality compost towards speedy rejuvenation of soil dynamics. The study indicated that reduction of synthetic fertilizers and qualitative management of soil is essential to restrict yield decline. However, plant management shall be prerequisite for ensuring crop sustainability without any time lag and under the changing climatic patterns. In this respect the potential of IRF Technology has been well accounted.

Based on one observation X from a N(θ, θ) distribution where θ(> 0) is an unknown parameter, this article provides an exact expression of the minimum variance unbiased estimator of θ based on the complete and sufficient statistic ∣X∣. Even though N(θ, θ) belongs to a one-parameter exponential family, I discuss some small surprises and intricacies that are worth noting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the convergence hypothesis in crop yield of three major kinds of cereal in the world in terms of output production and cereal grain consumption namely rice, wheat and maize during the period 1961 to 2016 across the countries using the conventional analysis of convergence based on modern time series analysis. This has been done first by applying the conventional indicator namely standard deviation. This conventional sigma convergence indicator shows an absence of convergence for all the three crops showing a upward or no trend, thus the paper finds that rice and wheat yield gaps remain on average constant during years, and the maize yield gaps tend to increase. The paper also analyzes the anatomy of those patterns obtained in terms of the evolution of crop yield distribution and club convergence using Markov transition dynamics.

As rice is the most important staple diet in Asia because of its high concentration of production and consumption in the region it is key to global food security. In this backdrop, understanding the stable growth of rice production through structural break analysis is quite important. This study attempts to investigate the presence of structural change in annual rice production for the major ten Asian rice producing countries for the period 1961 to 2016 following the Bai-Perron multiple breakpoint test and found significant changes after Asian Green revolution in level values but no break in growth. This study also found a sharp rise in intercept following intervention analysis and mixed results using linear trend analysis. Countries like China and India exhibited positive impact following structural change but the countries like Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam experienced negative effect which might be associated with major institutional and/or technological changes of these countries involved including the rice crisis of 2008.