Refinement of conventional integrated farming system model with natural farming
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Date
2022-12-12
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CSK HPKV, Palampur
Abstract
An experiment was carried out in rabi and kharif seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 to evaluate
the productivity and profitability of integrated farming system under conventional and natural
farming in mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh at 1 hectare AICRP-IFS on station
research farm (Bhadiarkhar) of Department of Agronomy, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi
Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. The objective of the study was to refine existing integrated
farming system model with natural farming and to identify and optimize component linkages
for profit maximization. Components under study were field crops (CS), vegetable crops,
livestock, poultry and mushroom. Farm area between different components was allocated as,
0.65 ha to field crops (4875 m2
under conventional farming, 1625 m2
under natural farming),
0.175 ha to vegetable crops (1050 m2
under conventional farming, 350 m2
under natural
farming), 0.10 ha to fodder crops (750 m2
under conventional farming, 250 m2
under natural
farming)and 0.075 for livestock, poultry, mushroom and other enterprises (manure pit,
vermicompost unit and fodder chopping unit). Comparisons were made on the basis of
production and economic benefits of different enterprises. Results revealed that among field
crops, “maize + soybean- gobhisarson” and “soybean –wheat” cropping systems performed
better under conventional and natural farming, respectively. Among vegetable-based cropping
systems, “okra-radish-garlic” and “okra+ soybean-pea” remained economically efficient
under conventional and natural farming, respectively. Among different farming systems,
integration of CS + Vegetable + Dairy+ Mushroom+ Poultry resulted in highest net returns
under conventional farming; whereas under natural farming, combination of CS + Vegetable
+ Mushroom + Poultry resulted in highest net returns under existing farm plan. Optimization
of farming system was done using linear programming. With optimal resource allocation it
was predicted that under conventional integrated farming system, maximum returns can be
obtained with allocating maximum area and resources to field crops and vegetable cropping
systems components. Whereas, maximum returns can be obtained by integrating and
allocating available resources to vegetable based cropping systems component and poultry
component under natural farming. The study suggests that farm resources were not optimally
allocated in existing plan. With modification in existing component combinations emanated
from the linear programming net farm profit can be increased.