Impact of Integrated Farming System on Traditional Farming Practices in Redwa Village of Akola District, Maharashtra, India

Research and developmental initiatives under Rainfed Integrated Farming System Project implemented by AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, District-Akola are adopted in village Redwa, Taluka-Barshitakli of Akola district in Maharashtra state are reported in the present study. The study analyzed 20 rainfed and 8 partially irrigated farmers who have adopted different integrated farming systems approach (viz: Crop + Large ruminants and Crop + Large ruminants + Small ruminants). Crop interventions such as; intercropping of soybean + pigeonpea (6:1) as against farmer practice of no intercropping, opening of furrows in each row at 30-35 days after sowing for in-situ moisture conservation, foliar spray of 19:19:19 mix fertilizer to cope up with dry spells and high intensity rainfall events and protective irrigation (for farmers having partially irrigated situation) resulted in higher equivalent yield of crops. Implementation of livestock interventions such as, vaccination and feeding of green foliage of lucerne/ berseem/minerals and concentrates resulted in higher milk yield in large ruminants (i.e cow and buffalo) with good health, higher man days in case of bullock pair and higher meat returns and better weight gain in small ruminants (i.e; goat) as compared to farmers practice. In farmers practice vaccination and feeding with green foliage of lucerne/ berseem/minerals and concentrates is not followed which has been followed through incorporation of interventions under RIFS Project adopted farmers. In rainfed situation, the integrated farming system have recorded 38.8% higher equivalent yield in rainfed marginal category with crop+large ruminant, 28.09% increase in equivalent yield in rainfed marginal category with crop+large ruminant+small ruminant system, 50.26% higher equivalent yield in small category with crop+large ruminant and 48.58% rise in equivalent in small category farmers with crop+large+small ruminants as compared to farmers practice i.e without integrated farming system and no interventions. Whereas, in partially irrigated situation 32.20% increase in crop equivalent yield is recorded with marginal crop+large ruminant category and 57.76% increase is recorded with small category farmers having crop+large ruminants over traditional farmers practice. Farming system in dry land area is characterized by low and unpredictable yield due to inefficient use of rain and soil, rare use of fertilizers, high yielding varieties and improved soil conservation measures. Therefore, IFS is a multidisciplinary whole farm approach and very effective in solving the problems of small and marginal farmers which aims at increasing income and employment from small-holding by integrating various farm enterprises. Integrated Farming System is a combination of crop and livestock enterprises which consider the concepts of minimizing risk, increasing total production and profits by lowering external inputs through recycling and improving the utilization of organic wastes and crop residues which are effective tools for addressing various issues of rainfed farmers.