Title : Integrated farming system for food and livelihood security
Abstract:
Food security is the prime issue across the globe for feeding ever-growing population coupled with shrinking natural resource base. The continuous diversion of already limited cultivated area under the plough, particularly in North-Western Himalayan region towards other development activities like construction of roads, buildings and industrial sector has further aggravated the problem of providing sufficient food and livelihood security to the masses. Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is the largest source of livelihoods in India. 70 percent of its rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood, with more than 82 percent of farmers being small and marginal. Existing crop based systems do not provide sufficient round the year production and income to meet the requirement of relatively larger family size of such households. We have to look for a system which is capable of providing food, fibre, fruits, milk, nutritious diet and round the year employment to small and marginal farmers. Integrated Farming System (IFS) based on scientific validation involving various components like crops, fodder, vegetables, fruits, livestock and agroforestry is the ultimate solution for providing the food and livelihood security. Further, the IFS also addresses the identification of most appropriate combinations of various farm activities/enterprises that are synergistic and complementary to one another. Integrated farming system model developed in the North-Western Himalayan region can provide sustainable livelihood to marginal and small households. Such One hectare IFS model developed at CSKHPKV, Palampur (HP), India comprising various components as crops (0.65 ha), horticulture including vegetables (0.175 ha), fodder, agroforestry and border plantation etc. (0.1ha) and livestock, mushroom, poultry and vermicomposting unit (0.075) has proven to be very efficient in sustaining the farmers’ income and providing round the year employment. The latest findings from this model revealed gross returns and net returns of more than Rs. 4.45 lacs (5855 USD) with net returns of more than Rs. 2.15 lacs (2830 USD). The highest net returns were obtained from livestock followed by cropping system. This model also generated employment for over 370 mandays. Though rice cultivation, livestock and poultry are known for generating more amount of greenhouse gases but inclusion of agroforestry, fodder and horticulture components neutralized their effect on the environment by serving as carbon sink. The developed IFS model and even smaller models proposed by us may be applicable and effective in North-Western Himalayan region having similar climatic and geographical conditions.
