INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM (IFS)

NEWS: The Union Agriculture Minister urged scientists to develop Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) for small farmers

About

• Synergistic approachà integrating multiple components: crops, livestock, horticulture, fishery, poultry, and apiary, on a single farm unit.
  • ~89.4% of Indian farmers are operating on small landholdings (<2 hectares)

Helps Small Farmers

• Raise net farm income by 30–60%: compared to monocropping through diversified outputs (ICAR field studies).
• Farmers adopting mixed crop–livestock systems: experience ~20–25% lower income variability during droughts and price shocks
• Generates 250–350 person-days/ha/year, compared to 120–150 days under cereal monocropping,
• Recycling of manure and residues: cuts chemical fertiliser and feed costs by 15–25%, improving profit margins
• Show 15–20% higher dietary diversityà improving protein and micronutrient intake

Key Government Initiatives Supporting Integrated Farming Models

• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Climate-resilient integrated farming through soil health management, water efficiency etc
• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH): Integration of high-value horticulture with farming systems to enhance income
• Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
• National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): Supports low-input integrated farming