From soil to sustainability: Unlocking the potential of integrated farming systems in Punjab

Abstract

For​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ quite some time, Punjab's agriculture has been the major source of food security in India, however, the region is currently facing heavy consequences of soil degradation, groundwater over-extraction, and the persistence of environmentally unfriendly monocropping practices. The present research goes deep into the radical potential of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) as a green agricultural model that harmoniously combines crop production, animal husbandry, fish farming, horticulture, and the utilization of renewable ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌energy. This paper used a mixed-method approach that included field surveys, interviews with stakeholders, and secondary data analyses to evaluate the environmental, economic, and social aspects of the IFS implementation in the different agroclimatic zones of Punjab. The results indicate that the IFS had been able to increase resource-use efficiency by 35-45%, improve soil fertility indices by 28%, and raise net farm income by 40% over that of conventional systems. Furthermore, IFS models became more resistant to climate change through the diversification of their income sources and the reduction of their dependence on inputs. The study argues that Integrated Farming Systems are a realistic route to agricultural sustainability in Punjab, thereby guaranteeing environmental stability, profitability, and the security of people's ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌livelihoods.