Integrated farming systems for risk resilience and higher income in rainfed agriculture

Abstract

Rainfed agriculture is predominant in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid regions of the country and has a crucial role to play in sustaining the economy and food security of India. At present, about 51% of the net-sown area is rainfed, contributing about 40% of the total food production, supporting 40% of human and 60% of livestock population. However, aberrant behaviour of monsoon rainfall, multiple nutrient deficiencies, declining groundwater table and poor resource base of the farmers are major constraints for low and unstable farm production in rainfed areas. In addition, climate variability including extreme weather events resulting from global climate change poses a serious threat to rainfed agriculture. The farming systems approach is considered as important and relevant especially for the small and marginal farmers. The integrated farming systems (IFS) approach has the potential to overcome multifarious problems of farmers including resource degradation, declining resource-use efficiency, farm productivity and profitability.