A move towards resource integrated farming

The high external input based green revolution strategy succeeded initially to raise yields of major food grains but failed to improve productivity in areas with low fertility soil and erratic rainfall, where most of India’s poor live and which covers about half of India’s land surface. Productivity in terms of energy and water (input-output ratio) steadily declined, both clean water and crude petroleum incidentally are scarce commodities and their prices are steadily rising. Food production increased, but hunger and malnutrition persisted and regional disparities kept increasing.

Integrated multi component farming systems, where the wastes from one operation or subsystem can be used a input for other subsystems/enterprises can reduce the risks as well as costs of production; improve soil fertility, provide balance nutrition and ensure enhanced holistic yields as well as income. 

This innovative and challenging program, to be carried out across the length and breadth of India, shall address these issues and seek to evolve resource integrated farm designs appropriate for various agro-ecological regions of the country through on farm participatory action research. This All India Coordinated Program, catalyzed and supported by Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, will attempt to develop models of diversified - integrated agricultural production systems for various agro-ecological regions. This nation wide program is based on common principles of sustainable resource management and a standardized research methodology.

Objectives

• To assess system structures and processes in bio intensive resource integrated innovative small /medium farms.
• To document traditional and indigenous knowledge systems/practices.
• To develop bio-intensive model farms and/or farm clusters through participatory research based on agro eco system principles.
• To ensure nutritional and livelihood security of model resource poor small and medium farm households.
• To explore possibilities of forward linkages (including value addition) at individual and collective farm level.

Operational Objectives

• To document of existing mixed and integrated farming practices. To identify problems in resource integration in existing farms as regards to external inputs and under/non utilisation of system residues / wastes.  
• To have participatory farming systems design and development with innovative farmers taking into account social, economic, cultural and ecological parameters at all levels.  
• To study the change in system parameters such as soil, water, biodiversity, nutritional and livelihood options in relation to baseline data over periodical intervals and at the end of the project.  
• To produce S&T communication material for dissemination of the developed farm systems by way of pamphlets/slide shows/ video films etc.