Driving factors for developing integrated farming: Multi-criteria decision-making analysis

AVIJIT  HALDAR; SANJIT  MAITI; RUPAK  GOSWAMI; SATYENDRA NATH  MANDAL; ARKAPRABHA  SHEE; BISWAJIT  GOSWAMI; DHIMAN  MAHATO; DIPANKAR  GHORAI; KAUSHIK  PAL; MADHUCHHANDA  KHAN; MALAY KUMAR  SAMANTA; MANAS KUMAR  DAS; MOUMITA DEY  GUPTA; MOUTUSI  DEY; PRANAB  BARMA; PRASANTA  CHATTERJEE; RAHUL DEB  MUKHERJEE; RAKESH  ROY; SRABANI  DAS; SWAGAT  GHOSH; UPAMA  DAS; KUNAL  ROY; AYAN  DAS; SAMRAT  MUKHERJEE; SUBRATA KUMAR  ROY; PRADIP  DEY

doi:10.56093/ijas.v94i3.148603

Authors

AVIJIT HALDAR ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute Kolkata, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 097, India
SANJIT MAITI ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana
RUPAK GOSWAMI School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Narendrapur Campus, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal
SATYENDRA NATH MANDAL Kalyani Government Engineering College, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal
ARKAPRABHA SHEE Dhaanyaganga Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Sargachhi Ashrama, Sargachhi, Murshidabad, West Bengal
BISWAJIT GOSWAMI Dakshin Dinajpur Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Majhian, Patiram, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal
DHIMAN MAHATO Kalyan Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jahajpur, Biltora, Purulia, West Bengal
DIPANKAR GHORAI Burdwan Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Bud Bud, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal
KAUSHIK PAL Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Ashokenagar, Parganas, West Bengal
MADHUCHHANDA KHAN Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Institute of Agriculture, Viswa Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal
MALAY KUMAR SAMANTA Nadia Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Gayeshpur, Nadia, West Bengal
MANAS KUMAR DAS Jalpiguri Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Ramshai, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
MOUMITA DEY GUPTA Bankura Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Bengal Comprehensive area Development Corporation, Sonmukhi, Bankura, West Bengal
MOUTUSI DEY Uttar Dinajpur Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal
PRANAB BARMA Darjeeling Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalimpong, West Bengal
PRASANTA CHATTERJEE Nimpith Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal
RAHUL DEB MUKHERJEE Coochbehar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Coochbehar, West Bengal
RAKESH ROY Malda Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Ratua, Malda, West Bengal
SRABANI DAS Jhargram Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Regional Research Station, Jhargram, West Bengal
SWAGAT GHOSH Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Arapanch, Sonarpur, Parganas, West Bengal
UPAMA DAS ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute Kolkata, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 097, India
KUNAL ROY Kalyani Government Engineering College, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal
AYAN DAS Kalyani Government Engineering College, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal
SAMRAT MUKHERJEE National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Kolkata, West Bengal
SUBRATA KUMAR ROY ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute Kolkata, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 097, India
PRADIP DEY ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute Kolkata, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 097, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v94i3.148603

Keywords:

Analytic hierarchy process (AHP), Driving factors, Integrated farming (IF), Limiting factors, SWOT analysis, West Bengal

Abstract

Integrated farming (IF) by temporal and spatial mixing of crops, livestock, fishery, and allied activities in a single farm, is considered a critical multifunctional option for smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Indian agriculture, to ensure sustainable livelihoods, the productivity of agricultural enterprises, stability of farm income, food and nutritional security. However, the adoption of IF still remains low. To explore the critical factors of IF systems and prioritize them for stakeholders’ decision-making and development of strategies, the current research was undertaken to integrate SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) - AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) analysis. We used a multi-stage sampling to select 60 practicing IF adopters in West Bengal state of eastern India for the collection of pair-wise comparison data on 32 SWOT factors using a close-ended questionnaire and subjected to AHP analysis to understand the quantitative importance of each factor of SWOT. Results of the multi- criteria analysis showed the total priority weight of the opportunity component (0.450) was the highest, followed by strength (0.341), weakness (0.114), and threat components (0.095). Based on the global priority weight of all 32 SWOT factors, sustainable livelihood security” was the key driving factor (0.081) followed by promotion of organic farming (0.072), better risk management (0.063) and incorporation of high-value crops (0.063) of opportunity component. Increased farm production and productivity (0.058) and enhancement in income (0.055) of strength component also played as vital driving factors. There was no factor of weakness and threat components within the first 10 important factors. The insights of this study may help improve extension services to smallholder farmers for prioritizing strategies in the adoption process of IF. Additionally, it can also help policymakers to design targeted policies, remove barriers, foster innovation, and promote sustainable practices, contributing to food security and environmental sustainability.

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