Integrated Farming System For Food and Nutritional Security in India. P. C. Patel Dr P. C. Patel

Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) represent a comprehensive approach to agriculture designed to address various demands, including bolstering farm resilience, improving farmer livelihoods, enhancing food security, providing ecosystem services, and fostering adaptability and resilience in farming practices. These systems are characterized by the temporal and spatial mixing of crops, livestock, fishery, and allied activities within a single farm.
Important points of Integrated Farming Systems in India:
1. Holistic Approach: IFS entails a holistic approach to farming, aiming to meet multiple objectives simultaneously. These include not only food production but also farm resilience, livelihood improvement, and ecosystem services.
2. Productivity and Profitability: Literature reviews indicate that IFS has the potential to significantly improve farm profitability (up to 265%) and employment (up to 143%) compared to single enterprise farms. By integrating various components, IFS creates synergies that enhance overall productivity.
3. Nutrient Recycling: IFS enhances nutrient recycling through practices such as composting, mulching, and residue incorporation. This reduces the need for external input purchases and improves soil quality indicators like nutrient availability and microbial activity.
4. Biodiversity Conservation: Diversified cropping systems and integration of indigenous livestock breeds play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation within IFS.
5. Soil Organic Carbon: IFS contributes to improving soil organic carbon levels, which is essential for soil health and long-term sustainability.
6. Climate Resilience: By making farms adaptive and resilient, IFS contributes to climate resilience in agriculture.