The Livestock-based integrated farming system (IFS) can help to achieve twin goals of doubling farmers’ income and making farming sustainable. Analyze.

Livestock-based integrated farming system brings together crop cultivation, fisheries, livestock rearing and agro-forestry to benefit farmers in multiple ways.

Features of livestock-based IFS:

  • Farmers cultivate crops and raise livestock simultaneously.
  • Livestock provide organic manure (cow dung) for farms.
  • Livestock rearing compliments agricultural activity and acts as secondary income.

Benefits of livestock-based IFS:

  • Diversification of farmer income, e.g. selling milk to dairy cooperatives, selling eggs.
  • It is an insurance against failure of crops during floods, droughts, etc.
  • Can make farming resilient in the scenario of climate change.
  • Availability of milk increases the nutritional security for families of small and marginal farmers.
  • Use of organic fertilizer reduces the adverse impact of chemical farming on soil, water and crop quality.
  • Livestock-based IFS can be used to switch to zero budget natural farming.
  • It can help in producing chemical-free organic food products which are in high demand and sells at premium price.
  • Livestock can be used as draught animals.

According to NABARD’s All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey, the average income of an agricultural household is barely Rs.9000 per month. Livestock-based IFS can provide income security to farmers and help achieve the target of doubling farmers’ income.

Originally written on March 3, 2024 and last modified on October 27, 2024.
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