Dr. Banarsi Lal
In recent years food security,environmental protection,livelihood security and the preservation of natural resources have all become global concerns.As per estimation ,over 410 million farms are less than 1 hectare and more than 475 millionfarms are smaller than 2 hectares contituting 72 per cent and 84 per cent of the total farms globally.In India ,about 60 per cent of total population depends on agriculture for the livelihoodsmaking the economy rural and agrarian in nature.AIntegrated Farming System(IFS) comprises of many agricultural components reveal the potential to boost production,maximize profitability ,promote sustainability and develop resilience to address multifacted issues including food security and climate change.An Integrated Farming System (IFS) approach mixes two or more components judiciously using cardinal principles of minimum competition and maximum complementarity with advanced agronomic management tools aiming for sustainable and environment friendly improvement of farm income, family nutrition and ecosystem services. In Integrated Farming System preservation of bio-diversity, diversification of cropping system and maximum recycling of farm produce are taken due care. Integrated Farming System (IFS) keeps the soil alive and it provides the sustainable support to farm and family through effective management of natural resources.
The average size of holding in India has been declining and over 80 out of 105 millions operational holdings are now below the size of 1.00 ha. With the increasing pressure of burgeoning human population, only the vertical expansion is possible by integrating appropriate farming components requiring lesser space and time and ensuring periodic income to the farmer. The integrated farming system therefore, assumes greater importance for the sound management of farm resources to enhance the farm productivity, improve the quality of resource poor farmers and to maintain sustainability. Integrated Farming System is considered as one of the best option towards intensification of small holder farm income to ensure sustainable livelihood.There is dire need to improve the income of these farmers by introducing the new interventions and by the adoption of scientific dairy farming, vegetables growing, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, fisheries etc. In Integrated Farming System, soil health is maintained by the application of need based use of chemicals, use of organic and biological fertilizers, use of crop residues as mulch, by the crop rotation, multiple cropping, by avoiding excessive tilling and keeping soil covered with green cover or biological mulch. Temperature of soil is maintained by the soil covers, plant trees, orchards and bushes/plants on the bunds of fields. In an IFS model, soil and water conservation are taken extra care by creating percolation tanks, ponds, contour bunds etc. Under IFS different cropping systems are adopted with plantations. Mostly own seeds are developed and compost, vermicompost, vermiwash, liquid manures and botanical extracts are made by the farmers themselves. Diversity is maintained in an IFS and minimum uses of chemicals are permitted. Animals are the important component of an IFS .Animals provide not only the animals’ products but also dung and urine to be used in the soil. It helps to increase the fertility of the soil. Biogas, solar energy and other eco-friendly machines can also be used in an Integrated Farming System (IFS). Farm wastes are recycled effectively. An IFS mitigates the basic needs of the family such as food, fuel, fiber, fodder etc. throughout the year and creates market surplus. Beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, dairy farming, on farm processing and value addition etc. can provide income to the family throughout the year. An intentional integrated farming system aims to increase the production, reduces the cost of cultivation, increases profit, increases family nutrition, develops sustainability, ensures ecological security and creates employment.
Small farms can be expanded by integrating appropriate farming system components requiring less space and time. It can ensure diversified options of food and nutrition in the rural areas besides providing protection against the market price fluctuations, weather vagaries, reducing dependency on market for inputs, ensuring periodic income and employment to the farmers. Integrated Farming System (IFS) helps to increase the yield and economics/unit time/unit area by virtue of intensification of crops and allied enterprises. Many successful cases of IFS have been observed in India with the excellent results. The results have shown that that integration of crops with poultry and cattle resulted in higher productivity than cropping alone. The animal component yields manure, milk and poultry birds gives eggs which are additional contributors for the farm income. If fish farming is integrated in the system that will provide income and protein supplement to the family thus helps to improve the health status of the family members. In order to upscale the Integrated Farming System (IFS) focus should be given on market-oriented diversification and livelihood improvements. Demonstration of model IFS can help to upscale the technology and many new farmers can come forward to adopt it. There is need to focus on plant, livestock and human health rather focusing only on soil health. There is need of capacity building on Integrated Farming System (IFS) of farmers and extension functionaries. Location specific livestock components need to be introduced. Monthly income should be ensured/improved by the Integrated Farming System. Less land requiring components such as mushroom and beekeeping should be stressed under Integrated Farming System.
InIntegrated farming system we can make use of recyclable waste material of one component as input for other thus reducing the cost of cultivation. Recycling of farm wastes also reduces the market dependency for inputs. In 0.2 ha of farm, one cow and one buffalo, 150 poultry birds, a fisheries pond and one vermicompost unit can be kept. It will give a good income and security to the farmer because if one component fails due to any reason, he can get the income from another component. An IFS unit gives employment to the family members throughout the year without much lean. Beekeeping, mushroom, floriculture and agro processing units can be established in an Integrated Farming System unit. The crops grown such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, dairy, fisheries, vegetables and fruits give economic and nutritional security to the family members and also their dependency on market for these products will certainly be reduced. The fodder and feed produced from the farm will also help to keep the animals healthy. All this will save the money of the farmer and help him to increase his income. In an IFS unit nitrogen, phospohorus, potassium and micro-nutrients can be generated at the farm by recycling the farm residue. It helps to keep the farm soil healthy without expenses.IFS model also helps to reduce the risks involved in farming especially due to market price fluctuations as well as natural calamities. In an Integrated Farming System, the price crash of one or two crop produce may not affect the economy of the household.IFS approach can empower the small and marginal farmers by generating livelihoods.Properly managed IFS models can yield numerous advantages including the improvement in the socio-economic status of and enviromental balance.Comibination of various components also facilitates the fulfilment of household requirements for balanced nutrition which ultimately ensures the food and livelihood security.Inclusion of small ruminants ,protien rich crops,fruits and vegetables should be prioritized within the IFS model.This particular farming system necessitates scientific and systematic approach with a substantial commitment and expertise in agriculture and animal husbandry.
(The writer is Chief Scientist & Head of KVK Reasi SKUAST-J)
