Integrated farming for sustainable development

Abstract

Economic development of the country like India depends upon the development of the farmers. Several emerging challenges confront Indian farmers. These include limited land and water availability, which is further exacerbated by degradation of natural resources; climate changes; changes in demand and consumption patterns, moving toward high-value agriculture; increasing population pressure and liberalization of trade (Lele et al. , 2010). The most effective way of sustainable development of the target group is implementation of the schemes in a proper manner. Agricultural researchers widely recognise the importance of sustainable agricultural production systems and the need to develop appropriate methods to measure sustainability (Casare et al. , 2003). Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is an innovative science-based institution, which undertakes vocational trainings of farmers, farm women and rural youths, conducts on-farm research for technology refinement and frontline demonstrations to promptly demonstrate the latest agricultural technologies to the farmers as well as the extension workers (ICAR, 1999). Integrated farming is today’s emerging need for economic development of the farmers. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kota of the Rajasthan district imparts trainings and making farmers and farm women efficient in integrated farming. Therefore, conducting vocational trainings on different aspects like processing and value addition of food products, fruits and vegetables preservation, establishment of vermin compost unit, handicrafts, nursery management, bee keeping, garment construction and designing and fish production etc. The impact of trainings conducted were judged in the year 2013-14 according to the performance and earnings of the farmers. Out of 6000 efficient farmers of the district 2320 have started adopting integrated farming viz ., crop production with processing, horticulture, dairy etc. Data revealed that rural communities were deeply motivated through the agriculture technologies transferred during all the trainings and they have started integrated farming to improve their economic status. Majority of farmers and farm women were found engaged in processing of food products through its grading, splitting, polishing and different products like squash, pickle, powder, jam, murabba, soya paneer, soya milk, and soya nuts. Value addition of food products along with preservation of fruits AND vegetable were started by 82 % of women farmers resulted in good earning. Similarly 79 % of farmers started dairy with vermi compost unit. Progressive farmers of them established orchard of of Amla, guava, mango, papaya and orange with dairy, poultry farm, nursery and beekeeping unit together. Marginal farmers were found highly interested to develop herbal garden/medicinal plant with its processing and ornamental plant cultivation with beekeeping.