The book Basic Agricultural Economics is an academic resource designed for students and scholars seeking to comprehend the fundamental theories and concepts that underpin the economy. It is suitable for novice and advanced learners alike, and serves as a valuable study aid for those preparing for competitive examinations in the agricultural social sciences discipline. The book presents economic principles in a concise and accessible manner, offering readers a clear, up-to-date, and straightforward approach to learning about market-based economies.

It covers a range of topics, including basic economic principles, consumer behavior theory, indifference curves, demand and supply, elasticity, and laws of returns and capital formation, all presented in clear and straightforward language. This book is an excellent resource for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of how the economy functions, from individual consumer demand to public finance at the national level.

Uma Gowri, doing Post-Doctoral research funded by Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi, in the Department of Agricultural Economics, CARDS, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Most of the research works are pertaining to value chain management, development economics, developing state and district agricultural plans, food security of households etc. Dr Gowri has contributed to 15 articles and 3 books in the reputed national and international publishers and dedicated much of work to global public repository for reference. She is capable of handling various econometric and statistical software packages and also key resource person for capacity building in household food security management and evolving agricultural plan for the state of Tamil Nadu. Apart from all the above-mentioned activities, she has won lot of medals and awards which prove her capacity among the learned scholars along with shouldering responsibilities for being editor and member in various professional bodies.

B. Kavitha has completed B.Sc (Agriculture) during 2003-2007 in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. I did M.Sc (Ag. Economics) research work titled “An Economic Analysis of Farm Risk under Water Stress Production Environment in Namakkal District” during 2007-2010 and did Ph.D (Ag. Economics) research work titled “Assessing the Impact of Credit on Mango Production in Krishnagiri District during 2010-2014. Dr Kavitha has worked as an Assistant Professor (Agricultural Economics) in the Department of Agricultural Economics at PGP College of Agricultural Sciences, Namakkal for a period of 2 years 9 months. Dr Kavitha has taken on additional responsibilities such as Course Associate, Academic co-ordinator, and Member – Coordinator of Training and Placement cell in PGP College of Agricultural Sciences, Namakkal. She has published 18 articles including both national and international articles with NAAS rating, 1 Book, 7 Book Chapters, 3 abstracts and 8 Popular Articles. She has received four awards such as Best Researcher, Young Woman Educator and Scholar, Excellence in Teaching, Young Scientist and got Post  Doctoral Fellowship from UGC. Dr Kavitha had presented research papers and attended in 21 national and international conferences, training, Seminars, Workshops. She is an annual member of Economics & Political Weekly (EPW) and life time member of Agricultural Economics Research Association, Society of Biotechnology SAM Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad Uzhavarin Valarum Velanmai.

R. Sangeetha is a PDF scholar in the Department of Agricultural Economics. She did her Doctorate (Agricultural Economics) from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-03 with ICSSR Fellowship. Her specialisations are Agricultural Finance and Marketing. She has published 17 Articles in International Journals, 10 in National Journals and 9 in Popular magazines. She had group Studies on Export Management USA Ohio State University for six month and she conducted 3 days training programme funded by EDB, Ahmadabad. She has presented research papers in reputed forums. Her research experience has widened while working as a Research Fellow in the Department of Agricultural Economics, TNAU, Coimbatore.

S. Padma Rani Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore has 20 years of experience in Research, Teaching and Extension activities. She taught all the subjects of Agricultural Economics for Under Graduate and Post Graduate students. The research area is Agricultural Finance and Marketing. She has obtained six externally funded projects on  agricultural marketing, finance and impact assessment.  She has to her credit Five books, Ten book chapters, 8 papers in National Conference and 5 papers in International Conference, 25 papers in International Journals, 10 popular articles. She has involved in additional responsibilities such as Research Coordinator, Academic co-ordinator, and Coordinator of Training in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. She has also won numerous awards/medals in her professional career.

M. Kalpana, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computer Science, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore has 17 years of experience in handling courses in Computer Science and Statistics for Under Graduate and Post Graduate students. She obtained her B.Sc Degree (Statistics) in 2001. She is a rank holder in an undergraduate degree. She obtained her MCA degree from Bharathiar University in 2004 and M.Phil in Computer Science at Madurai Kamaraj University and her Ph.D. in Computer Science at Bharathiar University during 2014. The research area is around Artificial Intelligence, Image processing and Mobile computing. She has to her credit Six books, Ten book chapters, 8 papers in National Conference and 7 papers in International Conference, 32 papers in International Journals, 16 popular articles and edited a book in IGI Global, USA. Developed mobile based fertilizer calculator and disease diagnosis app for cotton. She has also won numerous awards/medals in her professional career. She is an editorial member in the International Journal of Data Mining and Emerging Technologies.

1. Economics: Definitions, Terms, Methods of Economic Analysis, Micro and Macro Economics, Positive and Normative Analysis, and Meaning, Scope and Subject Matter, 2.   Nature of Economic Theory, Rationality Assumption, Concept of Equilibrium, Economic Law as Generalization of Human Behaviour, 3.   Basic Concepts: Goods and Services, Desire, Want, Demand, Utility, Cost and Price, Wealth, Capital, Income and Welfare, 4.   Agricultural Economics: Meaning, Definition, Characteristics of Agriculture, Importance and its Role in Economic Development, Agricultural Planning and Development in the Country, 5.   Demand: Meaning, Law of Demand, Schedule and Demand Curve, Determinants, Utility Theory, Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility, Equi-Marginal Utility Principle, Consumer’s Equilibrium and Derivation of Demand Curve, 6.   Elasticity of Demand: Definition and Evaluation of Price Income, and Cross Elasticities, 7.   Production Process, Utility Creation, Production Factors, and Input-Output Relationship, 8.   Cost Curves Concepts, Short Run and Long Run Cost, 9.   Supply Stock vs. Supply, the Law of Supply, the Schedule, the Supply Curve, the Factors Affecting Supply, and the Elasticity of Supply, 10.   Market Meaning and Types of Markets, Basic Features of Perfectly Competitive and Imperfect Markets, Price Determination under Perfect Competition-Short Run and Long Run Equilibrium of Firm and Industry, Shut Down and Break Even Points, and More, 11.   Distribution Theory Definition, Factor Market, Factor Pricing, Concepts of Rent, Wage Interest, and Profit, 12.   National Income: Significance and Meaning, Circular Flow of National Income, Accounting Concepts, Measurement Methods, and Measurement Challenges, 13.   Population Theories of Importance, Malthusian and Optimum Populations, Natural and Socioeconomic Factors, and Population Control Policies and Programmes, 14.   Money Problems with the Barter System of Exchange, the Development of Money, Its Meaning and Purposes, Different Categories of Money, Supply, the General Price Index, Inflation, and Deflation, 15.   Banking Functions of Commercial and Central Banks, Bank Types, and Credit Creation Policies in the Modern Economy, 16.   Agricultural and Public Finance Definition, Micro vs. Macro Finance, Need for Agricultural Finance, Public Revenue and Expenditure: Agricultural and Public Finance, 17.   Tax Direct and Indirect Taxes, Agricultural Taxes, and VAT are all Types of Taxes, 18.   Economic Systems Economic Concepts and Their Functions Elements of Economic Planning and Important Characteristics of Capitalistic, Socialistic, and Mixed Economies