Farming system options for small and marginal holdings in different topographies of Goa

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 1998 2001 at the ICAR Research Complex for Goa, Old Goa, to evaluate suitable integrated farming systems in different topographies. The results revealed that monocropping of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) was not productive in comparison to improved cropping, i.e. rice brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) or coconut forage grass combinations, respectively, and their integrated farming systems (poultry along with mushroom and dairy integration, respectively). Gross returns from lowlands predominated by rice and rice based copping systems were relatively higher (Rs 34,600lha) than from uplands with cashew (Rs 31,4201ha) or midlands and valleys with coconut (Rs 18,3701ha). However, the net returns (Rs 25,020lha) and benefit : cost ratio (3.91) were higher with cashew system, particularly with nut shelling. lntegration of mushroom and poultry production in rice and coconut systems with dairy and value addition in cashew through farming system approach resulted in gross return of R s 98,690lha and net returns of R s 48,00O/ha, although the investment cost was also enhanced substantially (Rs 50,680lha). lntegration of dairy with coconut and forage in tercropping through farming system enhanced the gross returns (Rs 94,870lha) and net returns (Rs 32,335lha) by 5 times over monocropping of coconut, indicating the superiority of the systems approach.