How to increase Income through Integrated Farming System (IFS)

 

 

How to increase income through Integrated Farming System (IFS)

           by: Dr. V. J. Savaliya  M.Sc. (Agri), Ph.D.

1.   Introduction :

The world is facing climatic change situations and aberrant weather situations. This affects agriculture and concerned businesses. The weather pattern became irregular. Therefore, the rain is erratic and not as per needs of crops. The rain may be heavy or very less. The onset of monsoon may be very due to cyclonic rain or may be very late. There may be long time rain or long dry spell during crop season when critical stages of moisture requirements.  There may late season rain or early withdrawal of monsoon. The climatic change is also responsible for temperature irregularities and cyclones which damages seasonal and horticultural crops.

2  Problem:

 All these irregularities adversely affect rural employment through out year. The farmers are not harvesting satisfactory yields  and not getting desired income from farming. At the same time,  other agricultural concerned enterprises  which are in   semi-urban and urban areas are also adversely affected which again lead to unsecured income and less employment.

3  Solution:

The farming should be considered as business for satisfactory and sustainable income with employment generation. The Integrated Farming System (IFS) is a holistic approach   to mitigate the climate change and profitable farming  at this junction.

                  3.1 Integrated Farming System:  Concept:

The Integrated Farming System (IFS) in is a holistic approach in farming. It is comprehensive and wide ranging approach for getting very good returns through combining and coordinating various enterprises such as agriculture including horticulture and vegetable crops, dairy farming, agro-forestry, beekeeping, aquaculture, sericulture, poultry and other suitable enterprises as per local situations.

           The resources management practices such as installation of solar- wind energy systems, water harvesting, micro irrigation, organic manure preparation practices, bio-agents, and Artificial Intelligence tools should be adopted as per the local situations to harvest maximum from farming on sustainable basis.

          The IFS coordinates all resources   which are on the farm and off the farm for effective and efficient utilisation. The products and byproducts of one enterprise acts as inputs for other enterprise which reduces input cost for various enterprises on farm. The products and specially byproducts are utilised in cyclical form in Integrated Farming System. This is best practice for farm waste management. Thus, the production and productivity of different enterprise are increased on sustainable basis with higher returns from farm with employment generation for family members and surrounding people.

The Integrated Farming System includes various enterprises according available resources in community such as transportation facilities, markets and natural resources. The resources with farmers their   economic conditions as well as social acceptance of particular enterprise are important factors for designing IFS model.

          This ultimately IFS leads to rural development and thereby all round development  in terms of.... 

• Economic through better income, 
• Social-cultural through better relationships among all stakeholders

• Wellness and health through provision of fruits, vegetables and milk etc.
• Psychological through mental satisfaction to all stakeholders

    Thus, IFS is a “Holistic Approach of Development” to become strategically adaptive in climatic  and other changing   situations.

The project plan of IFS model should be prepared and implemented considering all these aspects for success.

3.2 Components of Integrated Farming System Model:

                                         

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