Are traditional marketing channels of kinnow really bad?

846-860Kinnow is being widely cultivated in North-Western part of India comprising the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The analysis of 180 kinnow farmers of three districts of North Western India namely Fazilka and Bathinda districts of Punjab and Sirsa district of Haryana revealed the existence of several marketing channels for marketing of kinnow having varied efficiency levels. Contrary to the believe, the traditional marketing channels (TMC) offered 15 to 19% higher net benefit under the situation of price and yield risk associated with the farms. The efficiency of farms associated with strong value chain finance (TMC) is higher as compared to farms associated with the weak value chain finance comprising the emerging marketing channels (EMC). These facts explain the continued faith of farms in the TMC as revealed by the proportion of farms supplying their produce through different market channels. The study advocates the need for evolution of newer forms of marketing channels and also co-existence of all as each has its own merits and demerits. The study offers suggestions for strengthening of kinnow value chain so that all the stakeholders are benefited. The collectivization of farmers in the form of farmer producer organization, availability of technology from various governmental and non-governmental institutions, the effective implementation of e-marketing app, evolution of crop insurance scheme and price stabilization fund for risk reduction are strategies to improve the kinnow value chain

Are traditional marketing channels of kinnow really bad?

Kinnow is being widely cultivated in North-Western part of India comprising the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The analysis of 180 kinnow farmers of three districts of North Western India namely Fazilka and Bathinda districts of Punjab and Sirsa district of Haryana revealed the existence of several marketing channels for marketing of kinnow having varied efficiency levels. Contrary to the believe, the traditional marketing channels (TMC) offered 15 to 19% higher net benefit under the situation of price and yield risk associated with the farms. The efficiency of farms associated with strong value chain finance (TMC) is higher as compared to farms associated with the weak value chain finance comprising the emerging marketing channels (EMC). These facts explain the continued faith of farms in the TMC as revealed by the proportion of farms supplying their produce through different market channels. The study advocates the need for evolution of newer forms of marketing channels and also co-existence of all as each has its own merits and demerits. The study offers suggestions for strengthening of kinnow value chain so that all the stakeholders are benefited. The collectivization of farmers in the form of farmer producer organization, availability of technology from various governmental and non-governmental institutions, the effective implementation of e-marketing app, evolution of crop insurance scheme and price stabilization fund for risk reduction are strategies to improve the kinnow value chain

How and When Socially Entrepreneurial Nonprofit Organizations Benefit From Adopting Social Alliance Management Routines to Manage Social Alliances?

Social alliance is defined as the collaboration between for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Building on the insights derived from the resource-based theory, we develop a conceptual framework to explain how socially entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations (SENPOs) can improve their social alliance performance by adopting strategic alliance management routines. We test our framework using the data collected from 203 UK-based SENPOs in the context of cause-related marketing campaign-derived social alliances. Our results confirm a positive relationship between social alliance management routines and social alliance performance. We also find that relational mechanisms, such as mutual trust, relational embeddedness, and relational commitment, mediate the relationship between social alliance management routines and social alliance performance. Moreover, our findings suggest that different types of social alliance motivation can influence the impact of social alliance management routines on different types of the relational mechanisms. In general, we demonstrate that SENPOs can benefit from adopting social alliance management routines and, in addition, highlight how and when the social alliance management routines–social alliance performance relationship might be shaped. Our study offers important academic and managerial implications, and points out future research directions

Prostate cancer tumour features on template prostate-mapping biopsies: implications for focal therapy.

Focal therapy is being offered as a viable alternative for men with localised prostate cancer (PCa), but it is unclear which men may be suitable

Prostate cancer tumour features on template prostate-mapping biopsies: implications for focal therapy.

Focal therapy is being offered as a viable alternative for men with localised prostate cancer (PCa), but it is unclear which men may be suitable

Effective practices of international volunteering for health : perspectives from partner organizations

Abstract: The demand for international volunteer experiences to promote global health and nutrition is increasing and numerous studies have documented the experiences of the international volunteers who travel abroad; however, little is known about effective practices from the perspective of partner organizations. This study aims to understand how variables such as the skill-level of volunteers, the duration of service, cultural and language training, and other key variables affect partner organizations’ perceptions of volunteer effectiveness at promoting healthcare and nutrition..

Pilot case-control investigation of risk factors for hip fractures in the urban Indian population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the reported high prevalence of osteoporosis in India, there have been no previous studies examining the risk factors for hip fracture in the Indian population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out a case control investigation comprising 100 case subjects (57 women and 43 men) admitted with a first hip fracture into one of three hospitals across New Delhi. The 100 controls were age and sex matched subjects who were either healthy visitors not related to the case patients or hospital staff. Information from all subjects was obtained through a questionnaire based interview.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was a significant increase in the number of cases of hip fracture with increasing age. There were significantly more women (57%) than men (43%). Univariate analysis identified protective effects for increased activity, exercise, calcium and vitamin supplements, almonds, fish, paneer (cottage cheese), curd (plain yogurt), and milk. However, tea and other caffeinated beverages were significant risk factors. In women, hormone/estrogen therapy appeared to have a marginal protective effect. For all cases, decreased agility, visual impairment, long term medications, chronic illnesses increased the risk of hip fracture. The multivariate analysis confirmed a protective effect of increased activity and also showed a decrease in hip fracture risk with increasing body mass index (odds ratio (OR) 0.024, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.006-0.10 & OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.97 respectively). Individuals who take calcium supplements have a decreased risk of hip fracture (OR 0.076; CI 0.017-0.340), as do individuals who eat fish (OR 0.094; CI 0.020-0.431), and those who eat paneer (OR 0.152; 0.031-0.741). Tea drinkers have a higher risk of hip fracture (OR 22.8; 95% CI 3.73-139.43). Difficulty in getting up from a chair also appears to be an important risk factor for hip fractures (OR 14.53; 95% CI 3.86-54.23).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the urban Indian population, dietary calcium, vitamin D, increased body mass index, and higher activity levels have a significant protective effect on hip fracture. On the other hand, caffeine intake and decreased agility increase the risk of hip fracture. Future studies should be done in order to direct primary preventive programs for hip fracture in India.</p