Impact of integrated farming systems on increasing farmers income in Dharashiv district of Maharashtra state

Introduction

Indian's economy mainly depends on agriculture, especially by small and marginal farmers. These farmers form 86.2% of the farming population, but they operate only 47.3% of the total farmland, according to the 10 th Agricultural Census (2015-16). Over the years, the average land size per farmer has gone down from 2.28 hectares in 1970-71 to 1.08 hectares in 2015-16. After the Green Revolution, many Indian farmers began focusing on single-crop farming systems. This shift has caused problems like poor soil health, higher chances of crop failure, and reduced productivity. As the world's population keeps growing, more resources are needed to meet basic human needs. In developing countries, land and water are becoming harder to access, while the population continues to rise. A good farming system helps farm families use their resources wisely. It includes various types of farm activities such as growing crops, raising animals, fish farming, agroforestry, fruit and vegetable farming and silk farming. These activities help improve farm productivity and income. Integrated farming system is not only a reliable way of obtaining fairly high productivity with considerable scope for resource recycling, but also a concept of ecological soundness leading to sustainable agriculture. Farming system represents an appropriate combination of farm enterprises, viz. cropping systems, horticulture, livestock, fishery, poultry and the means available to the farmers to raise them for profitability. The livestock-farming system has recently focused on a significant momentum that provides the highest food output subsequently enhancing the income of the farmers by involving them in various active livestock enterprises. The Integrated Farming System helps farmers increase their income, which improves their livelihood security. If one component of the system fails or becomes less profitable, other components can still support the farmer financially. IFS allows farmers to produce more from the same land and time by combining crops with allied activities like livestock and poultry. It helps improve profitability, ensures sustainability, provides a balanced diet, protects the environment, and generates income throughout the year. It also creates job opportunities and helps solve fuel-related problems. This system helps farmers grow economically faster. IFS is considered one of the best ways to increase profits from farming. The main idea behind IFS is to reduce waste by using the byproducts from one activity as input for another. This process lowers production costs and increases productivity.

Objectives

To examine and compare the cost and returns of the integrated farming systems.

Methodology

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the integrated farming systems in Dharashiv district. The study is based on primary data in Dharashiv district. Two tahsils of Dharashiv district namely Kallamb and Dharashiv were selected purposively as these tahsils are observed more sample. Then,6 villages were be selected randomly for the study on the basis of IFS. Total ninety-six farmers were selected for the present study by survey method. The data pertained to the year 2023-24.

Analysis of data

The standard cost concept was use to achieve the objective.

Cost concept for crop production

The cost of cultivation was worked out by using the accepted cost concepts. Where, GI = Gross income Q m = Quantity of main product P m = Price of main product

Cost A1

Results and Discussion

Farming systems in selected district The integrated farming system in study area was presented in Table 1. From Table 1. It was revealed that 24 farmers from the Crop +dairy integrated farming system, 24 farmers from Crop+ dairy +hort integrated farming systems,24 farmers from Crop+ dairy+ poulty integrated farming systems and 24 farmers from Crop+ goatery+ hort farming system were taken from the study.

Economics of Crop+ dairy farming systems

The costs and returns of different enterprises under the Crop integrated farming system in the study area and the share of cost and returns of each enterprise in the whole farming system were presented in Table 2. It is observed from the table that the gross returns of the Crop +dairy integrated farming system as a whole was ₹.1054337, the net returns ₹.265815.65, and the benefit-cost ratio was 1.34. It is also revealed from the table that from different crop enterprises the highest net returns was observed from the Dairy (/cow) i.e.₹.124161.48, followed by Sugarcane crop and Soybean crop i.e. ₹. 54447.17 and ₹.33134.49 respectively. In this integrated farming system, the gross returns was highest in the Sugarcane crop ₹. 273300, followed by Dairy(/cow) and Dairy(/Buffalo) i.e. ₹.247380 and ₹.195710 respectively. The B: C ratio indicates the profitability of the Crop+ dairy farming systems. The highest B:C ratio was observed in Dairy(/cow) i.e. 2.01 followed by Gram and Sugarcane i.e. 1.39 and 1.25 respectively.

Economics of Crop + Dairy +Hort integrated farming system

The costs and returns of different enterprises under the Crop + Dairy+ Hort integrated farming system in the study area and the share of cost and returns of each enterprise in the whole farming system were presented in Table 3. It is revealed from the table that gross returns and net returns from the Crop + dairy+ hort integrated farming system as a whole is ₹.2301278 and ₹.922431.71 respectively, and the B: C ratio is 1.67. It is observed in the table that gross returns are highest in Mango crop i.e. ₹. 728000, followed by Sapota and Sugarcane crops i.e. ₹.519600, and ₹.263750 respectively. Net returns highest in mango i.e. ₹.395235.34 followed by sapota and dairy(/cow) i.e.₹.276665.55, and ₹.116475.16 respectively. In this integrated farming system benefit-cost ratio is highest in mango crop i.e.2.18, followed by sapota and dairy(/cow) enterprises i.e. 2.14 and 1.92 respectively.

Economics of Crop + dairy+ poultry integrated farming system

The costs and returns of different enterprises under the Crop + dairy+ poultry crop farming system in the study area and the share of cost and returns of each enterprise in the whole farming system were presented in Table 4. It is revealed from the table that gross returns and net returns from the Crop + dairy +poultry integrated farming system as a whole is ₹.1987577, and ₹. 625909.4 respectively, and the B: C ratio is 1.46. It is observed from the table that gross returns are highest in poultry i.e.₹.1161468, followed by sugarcane and dairy(/cow) i.e.₹.259500 and ₹.222620 respectively. Net returns highest in poultry i.e. ₹. 395462.9 followed by dairy(/cow) and sugarcane crops i.e.₹. 98031.96, and ₹. 43814.24 respectively. In this integrated farming system benefit-cost ratio is highest in dairy(/cow) i.e.1.79, followed by soybean and poultry enterprise i.e. 1.61 and 1.52 respectively.

Economics of Crop + goatery+ hort integrated farming system

The costs and returns of different enterprises under the Crop + goatery +hort integrated farming system in the study area and the share of cost and returns of each enterprise in the whole farming system were presented in Table 5. It is revealed from the table that in Crop + goatery+ hort integrated farming system as whole gross returns i.e.₹. 1362825, net returns i.e. ₹.441468.36, and B:C ratio is 1.48. It is also observed from the table that among different enterprises, the highest net returns were observed from mango crop ₹.322263.07 followed by sugarcane and soybean enterprises i.e.₹.30622.87 & ₹.29834.67 respectively. Among the different enterprises highest gross returns observed from Mango enterprise was ₹. 715360 followed by sugarcane and wheat enterprises i.e.₹.266500, and ₹.90728 respectively. The 5 benefit-cost ratio was highest in mango crop i.e. 1.81, followed by soybean and gram crop i.e. 1.54 and 1.31 respectively.

Cost and returns of integrated farming systems

A study on the economics of farming systems helps to understand the profitability and selection of appropriate farming systems on the farm. The data on cost and returns on various farming systems are presented in Table 6. It is revealed from the table that, in the Crop +dairy integrated farming system average gross returns worked out to ₹.1054337. The net returns obtained at various costs were ₹.499532.61 at cost A1, ₹.775919.61 at cost B1, and ₹.265815.65 at cost C3. In the Crop + dairy+ hort integrated farming system average gross returns worked out to ₹.2301278. The net returns obtained at various costs were ₹.1354858.29 at cost A, ₹.1779636.34 at cost B, and ₹.922431.71 at cost C3. The average gross returns in the Crop +dairy+ poultry farming system were Rs.1987577. The net returns obtained at various costs were ₹. 857454.44 at cost A1, ₹. 1709545.31 at cost B1, and ₹. 625909.4 at cost C3. In the Crop + goatery+ hort farming system average gross returns worked out to ₹. 1362825. The net returns obtained at various costs were ₹.846765.78 at cost A1, ₹. 877670.45 at cost B1, and ₹. 441468.36 at cost C3. The highest net returns at cost C3 was recorded in the Crop + dairy+ hort integrated farming system i.e.₹. 922431.71 followed by the Crop + dairy+ poultry integrated farming system i.e.₹.625909.4. Among the integrated farming systems, the B:C ratio was observed highest at cost C3 i.e.1.67 in the Crop + dairy+ hort integrated farming system followed by Crop + goatery+ hort integrated farming system, and Crop + dairy+ poultry & Crop+ dairy integrated farming system i.e.1.48,1.46 and 1.34 respectively. Hence Crop + dairy+ hort integrated farming system was more profitable than the other three integrated farming systems.

Comparative economics of selected integrated farming system

The four integrated farming systems identified as major farming systems across the study area, irrespective of the district are compared for their returns generating capacity, costs involved, net returns, and benefit-cost ratio. The outcomes of the analysis are presented in Table 7. Table 7 reveals that the per hectare total cost was the highest in the Crop + dairy +hort integrated farming system i.e.₹.1378846.29 followed by Crop +dairy+ poultry i.e.₹.1361667.6, Crop + goatery +hort crop i.e.₹.921356.64 and Crop+ dairy crop i.e.₹.788521.35. Among the systems, the highest per hectare gross returns was observed in the Crop + dairy+ hort integrated farming system i.e.₹.2301278 followed by Crop + dairy+ poultry, Crop +goatery+ hort and 6 Crop+ dairy integrated farming system i.e.₹.1987577, ₹.1362825 & ₹.1054337. The net returns was highest in Crop + dairy +hort i.e.₹. 922431.71, followed by Crop + dairy+ poultry i.e. ₹.625909.4, Crop +goatery+ hort i.e.₹.441468.36. and Crop +dairy i.e. ₹. 265815.65. Also, the B:C ratio was the highest in Crop + dairy +hort integrated farming system i.e. 1.67 followed by Crop + goatery+ hort integrated farming system i.e.1.48, the Crop + dairy+ poultry integrated farming system i.e.1.46.and Crop +dairy integrated farming system.i.e.1.34. It is calculated based on income on the hectare of agricultural land of each farming system and the number of animal units and poultry units that exist in respective integrated farming systems. It is seen from the table that among the selected integrated farming systems the farmer practicing the Crop + dairy+ hort integrated farming system has fetched the highest returns. It is suggested that to improve the economic condition of selected farmers, they should establish dairy unit, poultry unit, goatery unit and horticultural crop as subsidiary occupation in addition to crops.

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