EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS OF KERALA
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Date
2023
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Publisher
ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL
Abstract
The present study was conducted in Kerala. Three districts were selected randomly each
from Southern, Central and Northern Kerala. The respondent groups of the study were
comprised of Farmers and Extension Personnel. The total sample size was 240, among that
180 were IFS farmers and 60 were officials. Data were collected through a well structured
interview schedule. The collected data were analyzed by using appropriate statistical tools
in order to draw meaningful conclusions. Most of the IFS farmers in Kerala belonged to
old aged category and had completed education up to higher secondary. The primary
occupation of the majority of the respondents were farming only and they were marginal
farmers with small family size and herd size. Most of the farmers had medium level
experience in IFS activities and had high mass media exposure with medium extension
agency contact and extension participation. In the study area, nine IFS components were
identified. Component analysis in terms of extent of adoption, integration of practices and
contribution to household income revealed that, extent of adoption of identified
components and contribution to annual household income varied from low to medium
whereas extent of integration of available components varied from medium to low. Based
on various combinations, eight different dairy based IFS systems were identified and dairy
and crop were the dominant component in all systems both in terms of adoption as well as
integration. The findings also pointed out that for establishing and maintaining various
components in a unit, farmers were experiencing different technological needs and
constraints. IFS farmers perceived the need for value addition technologies more than
production technologies. In general, they preferred socially accepted low cost technologies
with high income generation capacity, efficiency, flexibility, easy accessibility and
permitting sustainable and maximum utilization of local resources. Lack of remunerative
prices for farm produces and high cost of production were the top ranked constraints
experienced by the farmers. Majority of the IFS farmers had a neutral to favourable attitude
towards IFS. IFS offers multiple sources of income and guarantees supply of balanced and
nutritious food to families which were the most important factors that influenced the
attitude. The findings highlight the need for revamping of the existing policies, schemes,
programs, to support institutional strengthening and capacity building of the farmers. This
will help the farmers to expand their existing units by adding more components and
technologies to their units. Further, this would overcome many constraints faced, thereby
improving the productivity and profitability.