Scope and Limitation of Integrated Farming Systems –Sustainability of Integrated Livestock Farming systems And Economic Importance

TOPIC: SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS –SUSTAINABILITY OF INTEGRATED LIVESTOCK FARMING SYSTEMS AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

PREPARED & PRESENTED BY DR. LAKSHYA J. KAKATI

2016-v-14(M)College of veterinary sc. &AHCentral agricultural University

Selesih,Aizawl,MIzoram

INTRODUCTION: SCOPE OF INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM , AN OVERVIEW IN INDIAN CONDITION

• Indian economy is predominantly rural and agriculture oriented where the declining in the land for farm site poses a serious problem.

• In agriculture majority of the farm holdings are dry lands and even irrigated areas depend on the monsoon.

• In this context, if farmers are only concentrated on crop production they will be subjected to a high degree of uncertainty in income and employment.

Hence, it is imperative to manage certain strategies for the rural landless/marginal farmers by combining the different farming systems to ensure the profitability while preserving the environment and increase the productivity and supplement the income.

In an agricultural country like India, the average land holding is very small. The population is steadily increasing and the farm holding spaces are reducing day by day. This is major issue for the farmers to manage production of their crops and livestock at the same time.

The income from cropping for an average farmer

is hardly sufficient to sustain his family. So, the farmer has to be assured of a regular income for a reasonable standard of living by including other enterprises like a combination of farming systems i.e. fish cum duck, Cattle cum paddy farming etc.

By analyzing the fact above there is a strong need of development of integrated farming to ensure an all round development of farming families.

Duck cum fishery farming

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY ?

The word "sustain," from the Latin sustinere (sus-, from below and tenere, to hold), to keep in existence or maintain, implies long-term support. As it pertains to agriculture and veterinary, sustainable describes farming systems that are "capable of maintaining their productivity and usefulness to society indefinitely.

In other words sustainability is the “triple bottom line” referring to the three main aspects of sustainability; ecological, economical and social.

SUSTAINABILITY OF ILFS

Sustainable production can be achieved through production of healthy animals and producing wholesome food while wisely using environmental, social, and financial resources.

Cyclic. The farming system is essentially cyclic (organic resources – livestock – land– crops). Therefore, resources can be used more efficiently.

Rational. Using crop residues more rationally is an important route out of poverty. For resource-poor farmers, the correct management of crop residues, together with an optimal allocation of scarce resources, leads to sustainable production.

Ecologically sustainable. Combining ecological sustainability and economic viability, the integrated livestock-farming system maintains and improves agricultural productivity while also reducing negative environmental impacts.

The maintenance of an integrated crop-livestock system is dependent on the availability of adequate nutrients to sustain animals and plants and to maintain soil fertility.


Given their traditional knowledge and experience, local farmers are perfectly able to apply an integrated system.

The animals are also checked from overgrazing of the grass lands and the overall products are more organic and eco-friendly and can be taken as a staple food without any consideration of poisoning


In this system an inter-related set of enterprises used so that the “waste” from one component becomes an input for another part of the system, which reduces cost and improves production and/or income.


ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ILFS

Although there is a gradual investment in agriculture by corporate investors, farms remain predominantly family owned and operated around the world.

The need for diversity in income streams for family operations is high. Single enterprise operations are venerable to both price and production fluctuations.

These risks are often outside the control of the operator, in turn an integrated system creates a buffer against economical and biological risks.

Economies of scale have been the key driver for specialization. As terms of trade have tightened, the margin on each unit of product grown diminishes. Hence the need to lower production cost and increase turn over.


The emergence of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) has enabled the farmers to develop a framework for an alternative development model to improve the feasibility of small sized farming operations in relation to larger ones.


References: Recent Advances in Integrated Farming

Systems by SS Rana Sr Scientist Department of Agronomy, COA, CSK HPKV,

Palampur176062

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Scope and Limitation of Integrated Farming Systems –Sustainability of Integrated Livestock Farming systems And Economic Importance