Integrated Farming System -A Viable Farming System for Livelihood Security, Resource Conservation, Sustainable Production, Carbon Sequestration, Energy Use Efficiency and Environmental protection in South India

Recently Indian agriculture is faced by several complex challenges like declining productivity, poor resource use efficiency, lesser share in Indian economy (14.4%); high dependence of population on agriculture and allied sectors (52%); more thrust on annual cereal crop production etc. Integrated farming system (IFS) is considered as one of the best viable option towards farming system approach through intensification of small holder farm income to ensure livelihood and income. Integrated Farming system approach includes crops and subsidiary enterprises (Dairy, Sheep etc.,). Accordingly, the land was divided component wise into per cent area out of 1.0 ha. Growing cropping systems like paddy-paddy /paddy-finger millet/paddy-pulse with 50 per cent area in order to meet the family food requirement and in addition to get better profit out of these produce. The five years pooled data revealed rice production for 5000 m ² was (4191 kg) of rice. Production from horticulture components was 2730 kg /year, dairy (720 lit /year) yield), sheep unit (152 kg/year) and vermicompost unit (8 t/year). Similarly, the net returns from various components viz. , crops (Rs. 54707 ), Horticulture (Rs.79161), Dairy (Rs.4, 21600) and sheep unit (Rs.52000). The total quantity of produce recycled was (24580 kg) worth of Rs.49160. Effective recycling of farm waste in terms of vermicompost/compost can save Rs.18197 by addition of 768.2 kg of nutrients in-terms of N, P & K. The total annual mandays generated out of various components varied from 671 mandays. Energy use efficiency was 3.81%, carbon sink was 13640 CO ₂₋ e in kg and improved carbon sequestration and negative trend was noticed in GHG emission (CO ₂ -e : -4093.0)