Relative Performance of Various Integrated Farming System Models With Respect to System Productivity, Economics and Employment Generation

A field experiment was conducted at Main Agricultural Research Station, Raichur (Karnataka) during 2012-13 and 2013-14 to evaluate the relative performance of different integrated farming system (IFS) models. Different combination of various crops, animals, fishes and poultry birds were examined in the form of seven integrated farming systems (IFS) models. The mean of two years indicated that, cotton based integrated farming system model F₇ recorded higher system productivity (10,903 kg/ha/year) and net returns (Rs.1,89,069/ha/year), over conventional cotton alone (F₁) system (3,061 kg/ha/year and Rs.74,592/ha/year, respectively). The productivity per day was 3.56 folds higher in F₇ farming system model (29.87 kg/ha/day) over conventional system of cotton alone (8.39 kg/ha/day). Among different models, F₇ system recorded maximum total productivity in terms of cotton kapas equivalent yield, net returns and employment.