D. G. SATIHAL, SURESH S. PATIL, B. S. REDDYRASHTRARAKSHAK2020-01-132020-01-132015-08-30120http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810140323In recent years, food security, livelihood security, water security as well as natural resource conservation and environment protection emerged as major issues worldwide. The Integrated Farming System (IFS) with multi-enterprises may pave the way for realizing increased productivity and profitability of the farm. Till now, only few studies have been conducted on the economic importance of IFS in this region. Hence, study was conducted in NEK region during 2014-15 and investigated the socio-economic status of IFS farmers, resource use efficiency among IFS and Non- IFS farmers, livelihood pattern of IFS farmers with Non-IFS farmers and performance of different IFS modules in NEK region. A total of 120 responders were selected from for the study. The findings of the study revealed that redgram (44%), paddy (9%) and cotton (7%) were the major crop grown in the study area. The inputs were over utilized, except human labour, bullock labour and plant protection chemicals by both IFS and Non- IFS farmers even though the cost of cultivation of crop production was marginally higher in IFS farmers the net returns also higher in IFS farmers only compared to Non- IFS farmers. The IFS farmers earned their livelihood income from crop production, dairy, sheep and goat rearing, wage earning and petty business. Whereas, Non-IFS farmers earned from crop production, wage earning and petty business. The commonly modules been practiced by IFS farmers were Crop+Dairy, Crop+Dairy+Horticulture, Crop+Dairy+Sericulture, Crop+Dairy+Vermiculture, Crop+Dairy+Goat rearing and Crop+Dairy+Sheep and Goat rearing. Among these the most profitable, financially feasible, and economically viable module was Crop+Dairy+Sheep and Goat rearing as indicated by higher returns per rupee of investment (2.22) in the study area. Overall, the IFS farmers have realized higher income, employment opportunities and better nutritional security because of multidimensional effect of IFS for sustainability and livelihood security.ennullThesis