Securing the Livelihood of Small and Marginal Farmers by Diversifying Farming Systems

Mono-cropping of rice–wheat system in the Indo- Gangetic Plains (IGP) has resulted in natural resource degradation, decline in farm profitability, factor productivity and environmental security. Contrary to mono-cropping, biodiversity is considered as an index to agricultural sustainability. Accordingly, an integrated farming system (IFS) model involving land-based enterprises ‒ crops, dairy, fishery, duckery, poultry, biogas plant and agroforestry was developed in 1 ha area at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during 2015–16 to 2017– 18. The objective of the present study was to find an alternative approach to replace rice–wheat system and enhance farmer’s income in a sustainable manner. The IFS model had the potential to improve farmers’ livelihood with a variety of produce, on-farm resource recycling and enhancing their income to INR 378,784 as against INR 68,200 from the rice–wheat system. The waste and by-products of one enterprise served as an input for the other, and reliance on off-farm inputs was reduced to a great extent aiding in strengthening environmental sustainability.