Dr. Banarsi Lal
Integrated Farming System is defined as a biologically integrated farming system that integrates natural resources and regulation mechanisms in to the farming activities to achieve maximum replacement of off-farm inputs, secures sustainable production of high quality food and other products through ecologically preferred technologies, sustains farm income, eliminates or reduces sources of present environment pollutions generated by agriculture and sustains the multiple functions of agriculture. In India small and marginal farmers are considered as the key for the food and nutritional security. Their capacity building is essential for the rural prosperity. These farmers have low income, less storage facilities, lack of farm mechanization and less market accessibility. They do less re-investment on the farm activities. These farmers are greatly influenced by the weather and natural calamities such as floods, droughts, land sliding etc. 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. 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 keeps the soil alive and it provides the sustainable support to farm and family through effective management of natural resources.
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.
In Integrated 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.
(The writer is Sr. Scientist & Head of KVK, Reasi SKUAST-J).
