Integrated farming system for resource recycling, sustainability, and employment generation among the small and marginal farmers in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra

Abstract

Integrated farming system (IFS) assures efficient resource recycling, long-term sustainability, and regular employment generation which are prerequisites for the sustainable livelihood of small and marginal farmers. The present research was conducted at All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming System Research, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during the Kharif-rabi season of 2023-24. The model was designed for a 1 ha area with crop, dairy, poultry, horticulture, vermicompost, kitchen garden, and boundary plantation. The results revealed that the system had generated a total of 22490 kilograms of recyclable products and by products out of which 9283 kilograms of products and by products were recycled resulting in a marketable surplus of ₹ 36756. The total quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium recycled within the system through cow manure (FYM), poultry manure, and vermicompost were 25.84 kg, 11.22 kg, and 19.32 kg respectively from 2803 kg of total organic manure. The system recorded a sustainability yield index (SYI) value of 0.85. Employment generation in the integrated farming system model was 285 man-days/year.