Securing the livelihood of small and marginal farmers by diversifying farming systems

Abstract

Mono-cropping of rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) has resulted in natural resource degradation, decline in farm profitability, factor productivity and environmental security. Contrary to mono-cropping, biodiversity is considered as an index to agricultural sustainability. Accordingly, an integrated farming system (IFS) model involving land-based enterprises-crops, dairy, fishery, duckery, poultry, biogas plant and agroforestry was developed in 1 ha area at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during 2015-16 to 2017-18. The objective of the present study was to find an alternative approach to replace rice-wheat system and enhance farmer's income in a sustainable manner. The IFS model had the potential to improve farmers' livelihood with a variety of produce, on-farm resource recycling and enhancing their income to INR 378,784 as against INR 68,200 from the rice-wheat system. The waste and by-products of one enterprise served as an input for the other, and reliance on off-farm inputs was reduced to a great extent aiding in strengthening environmental sustainability.