Integrated Farming System (IFS) is a farming practice that involves integration of solo agriculture system with livestock, aquaculture, forestry or other interrelated set of enterprises.
Benefits of IFS.
- Increase in productivity per unit area
- Reduced production cost
- Generate employment
- Regular stable income with reduced risks
- Availability of nutritious food
- Best suited for small farms
How it promotes sustainable agriculture?
- Waste of one enterprise becomes input for another thus promotes recycling. E.g.: Poultry droppings are used as a feedstock for fish.
- Sustainable soil fertility and productivity through organic waste recycling.
- Resilient and adaptive to climate variability.
- Help in environmental protection through effective recycling of waste from animal activities like poultry, piggery and pigeon rearing.
As per the agriculture census of 2015-16, the share of small and marginal farmers in India is around 86%, thus integrated farming is a sustainable solution for Indian agriculture and making farming a profitable enterprise. Once implemented in a systematic way, IFS will greatly help in achieving the target of doubling the farmers’ income.