Integrated Farming System: A Tool for Doubling Farmer’s Income
Mohd Salim Mir *
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Nasir Bashir Naikoo
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Zakir Amin
Division of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Tauseef A. Bhat
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Aijaz Nazir
Agromet Field Unit, SKUAST-Kashmir, 190025, J&K, India.
Raihana Habib Kanth
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Parmeet Singh
Programme Coordinator, KVK Shopian, SKUAST-Kashmir, 192303, J&K, India.
Waseem Raja
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Lal Singh
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Shayista Fayaz
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Tanveer A. Ahngar
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Tsultim Palmo
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
Ummaisa Rehman
Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Kashmir, 193201, J&K, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Integrated Farming System is a holistic approach in which different enterprises are utilized in a collaborative way, wherein the resources are managed efficiently so that waste output of one enterprise serves as the input for another. Due to an ever-increasing population, the arable land is becoming increasingly scarcer per person, leaving little room for horizontal agricultural expansion. There are 115 million working farms in India, with about 80% of them being small or marginal farmers. With Integrated Farming System, the living standards of these farmers can be enhanced by efficient utilization of different enterprises. The IFS is actually a mixed farming system wherein different enterprises like dairy, fish, poultry, and other beneficial enterprises give an enhanced returns with lower risks, which can intermediate the losses of crops in case of severe climatic conditions. Under IFS, various enterprises having lower dependency on severe weather circumstances, the farmer is comparatively on safer side as far as the adversities of crop losses are concerned There are many advantages to integrated farming systems (IFS), such as a more efficient use of farm resources and an eco-friendlier strategy to farming. As a system of crop and livestock farming, IFS consists of at least two distinct but logically interdependent parts. Water efficiency, weed and pest control, and soil health can all be improved with IFS. It also helps to maintain water quality. Chemical fertilisers, weed killers, and pesticides should be used sparingly in an integrated farming system in order to protect the environment from their harmful effects. Adopting an Integrated Farming System (IFS) ensures a stable and long-term source of farm income by integrating a number of businesses to make the most of the land's natural resources. IFS itself is important for sustainable development of farmer by improving yield, economic return, employment generation, nutritional security and livelihood.
Keywords: Economic returns, integrated farming system, nutritional security, sustainability