Comparative evaluation of different integrated farming system models for small and marginal farmers under the Eastern Himalayas
![](/public/icon/gor.png)
![](/public/icon/pdf.png)
Keywords:
Integrated farming system, Eastern Himalayas, Net returns, Sustainable value indexAbstract
Integrated farming system (IFS) ensures efficient utilization of available farm resources, increases unit productivity and income that are pre-requisite for sustainable livelihood of small and marginal farmers. The present study was conducted to evaluate the performance of four IFS model developed in ~ 1.0 acre area, at ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, Medziphema, Nagaland. The major components in IFS models were agriculture, horticulture, livestock and subsidiary components like fishery, vermicompost, mushroom and azolla. The field crops, vegetables and livestock components were included in IFS model considering topography of land, soil texture and preference for the tribal livelihood. The performance in terms of component wise productivity, profitability, employment generation and sustainability value index (SVI) were evaluated in consecutive three years (2012–2015). The combinations of subsidiary components in agriculture + horticulture + poultry + fishery in IFS model (model–4) gave the highest net returns (Rupees 32040) followed by the model with agriculture + horticulture + fishery + piggery + vermicompost (model 3) with net profits of Rupees 21230. In field crops component, cropping sequence of ricetoria- mungbean system was found to be the best in terms of productivity among the tested IFS models except in model 1. In terms of employment generation, IFS model-4 has shown maximum man-days engagement (395 days), followed by 350 days in model-3. Based on sustainability values index (SI) derived from different IFS models, maximum SVI values was recorded in model-4 (0.71) followed by model-3 (0.47). Therefore, the intensification of IFS model with crop, horticulture, fishery and livestock or poultry should be popularized among the small and marginal farmers on a larger scale, as it provide scope for higher returns, year round employment and sustainable livelihood in longer perspectives of Eastern Himalayas.Downloads
References
Acharya D and Mondal S S. 2010. Effect of integrated nutrient management on the growth, productivity and quality of crops in rice (Oryza sativa)-cabbage (Brassica oleracea) – greengram (Vigna radiata) cropping system. Indian Journal of Agronomy 55(1): 1–5.
Baishya A, Pathak A K, Bhowmick B C and Ahmed S. 2004. Predominant farming system and alternatives in Assam. Alternate Farming Systems: Enhanced Income and Employment Generation Options for Small and Marginal Farmers, pp 228–37. Singh A K, Gangwar B and Sharma S K (Eds). PDFSR, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh.
Bohra J S and Kumar R. 2015. Effect of crop establishment methods on productivity, profitability and energetics of rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) system. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 85(2): 217–23.
Chatterjee D, Kumar R, Kuotsu R and Deka B C. 2016. Validation of traditional weed control method through common salt application in the hill region of Nagaland. Current Science 110(8): 1159–67.
Deka B C, Chatterjee D, Sahoo B, Patra M K, Thirugnanavel A, Kumar R, Krose M, Bhatt B P and Ngachan S V. 2013. Soil-water-plant-animal-society continuum approach for livelihood improvement of Konyaks tribes of Mon in Nagaland, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, Medziphema, Nagaland.
Gill M S, Singh J P and Gangwar K S. 2010. Integrated farming system and agriculture sustainability. Indian Journal of Agronomy 54(2): 128–39.
Kumar R and Kumawat N. 2014. Effect of sowing dates, seed rates and integrated nutrition on productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake of summer mungbean in Eastern Himalaya. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 60(9): 1207–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2013.874559
Kumar R and Meena V S. 2016. Towards the sustainable management of problematic soils in north eastern India. Conservation Agriculture: An Approach to Combat Climate Change in Indian Himalaya, pp 339–65. Bisht J K, Meena V S, Mishra P K and Pattanayak A, (Eds). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2558-7_13
Kumar R, Chatterjee D, Deka B C and Ngachan S V. 2017a. Validation of common salt application on productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and soil health of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) under shifting cultivation area of Nagaland. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 16(2): 341–9.
Kumar R, Deka B C, Kumar M and Ngachan S V. 2015. Productivity, quality and soil health as influenced by organic, inorganic and biofertilizer on field pea in Eastern Himalaya. Journal of Plant Nutrition 38(13): 2006–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2014.988355
Kumar R, Deka B C, Thirugnanavel A, Patra M K, Chatterjee D, Borah T R, Barman K K, Rajesha G, Talang H D, Kumar M and Ngachan S V. 2015a. Comparative evaluation of different farming system models suitable for small and marginal farmers of Nagaland. Lead paper presented in the National Seminar on Sustaining Hill Agriculture in Changing Climate (SHACC), held during 5-7 December 2015 in Agartala, Tripura, pp 8–10.
Kumar R, Patra M K, Deka B C and Upadhyay P K.2017b. Azolla: An alternative source of feed for poulty farming in north east India. Indian Farming 67 (06): 54–6.
Kumar R, Patra M K, Deka B C, Ngullie E, Kumar M, Sangtam H M and Ngachan S V. 2015b. Promotion of agro-based interventions for sustainable livelihood in Nagaland through Tribal Sub Plan. ICAR RC NEH Region, Nagaland Centre Jharnapani, Nagaland.
Kumar R, Patra M K, Thirugnanavel A, Chatterjee D and Deka B C. 2016. Towards the natural resource management for resilient shifting cultivation system in eastern Himalayas. Conservation Agriculture: An Approach to Combat Climate Change in Indian Himalaya, pp 409-36. Bisht J K, Meena V S, Mishra P K and Pattanayak A (Eds). http://link.springer. com/book/10.1007/978-981-10-2558-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2558-7_16
Kumar R. 2015a. Productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake of maize (Zea mays) as influenced by management practices in north-east India. Indian Journal of Agronomy 60(2): 273–8.
Kumar R. 2015b. Effects of NPKS on growth, yield and quality of late sown toria varieties (Brassica rapa L. var. toria) under rainfed condition of North East India. Bangladesh Journal of Botany 44(4): 521–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v44i4.38565
Kumar R. 2015c.Influence of mulching, liming and farm yard manures on production potential, economics and quality of maize (Zea mays L.) under rainfed condition of Eastern Himalaya. Bangladesh Journal of Botany 44(3): 391–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v44i3.38545
Kumar S, Singh S S, Meena M K, Shivani and Dey A. 2012. Resource recycling and their management under integrated farming system for lowlands of Bihar. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 82(6): 504–10.
Kumar S, Singh S S, Shivani and Dey A. 2011. Integrated farming systems for Eastern India. Indian Journal of Agronomy 56(4): 297–304.
Ravisankar N, Pramanik SC, Rai R B, Nawaz S, Biswas T K and Bibi N. 2007. Study on integrated farming system in hilly upland areas of Bay Islands. Indian Journal of Agronomy 52(1): 7–10.
Solaniappan U, Subramanian V and Maruthi S G R. 2007. Selection of suitable integrated farming system model for rainfed semi-arid vertic inceptisols in Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Agronomy 52(3): 194–7.
Subba-Rao A and Sami-Reddy K. 2009. Analysis of soils for pH, EC and available major nutrients. (In) Methods of Analysis of Soils, Plants, Waters, Fertilizers and Organic Manures 2nd edn, pp l- 204. (Ed. Tandon. H.L.S), Fertilizer Development and Consultation Organization, New Delhi, India.
Tracy B F and Davis A S. 2009. Weed biomass and species composition as affected by an integrated crop-livestock system. Crop Science 49: 1523–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2008.08.0488
Yadav G S, Debnath C, Datta M, Ngachan S V, Yadav J S and Babu S. 2013. Comparative evaluation of traditional and improved farming practices in Tripura. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 83(3): 310–44.
Downloads
Submitted
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2018 The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-sa/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the articles published in The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences is vested with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which reserves the right to enter into any agreement with any organization in India or abroad, for reprography, photocopying, storage and dissemination of information. The Council has no objection to using the material, provided the information is not being utilized for commercial purposes and wherever the information is being used, proper credit is given to ICAR.