Proposal
on
Research and Development for enhancing livelihood security through Integrated
Farming Systems in Karnataka
Prelude
Of
late farming community in India has been facing new challenges of food and
nutrition security, human health and structural adjustments to comply WTO
stipulations on the one hand and the sustainable environment on the other. The
slow growth of the agricultural sector is mainly due to stagnation in
productivity growth is grave concern for policy makers and planners. The key
challenges to Indians agriculture lies in designing, developing and managing
farming systems that enabled farmers to be efficient, equitable and
sustainable in the bio-economic, bio-physical and socio-cultural environments.
About
Two-Thirds of rural families in Karnataka are in Below Poverty Line (BPL).
Vulnerable groups such as SCs/STs form a 28 per cent of the population in the
state. Further, the most of the districts are characterized by shrinking
natural resource base (land, water, CPRs, irrigation tanks), widespread
poverty, malnutrition, indebtedness, farmers suicides, low agriculture,
livestock, horticulture, labour productivity, frequent crop failures, lack of
adequate purchasing power and economic losses due to mono-cropping. These are
resulting in massive unemployment and out migration.
These ipso facto reflect the constant struggle endured by farmers and the
people at large for their livelihood.
Majority
of the districts in the state are arid and semi-arid that are constantly
affected by harsh agro-climatic conditions which have adverse impacts on
productivity of crops. This is one of the main reasons for mono cropping of
crops such as groundnut, maize, finger millet, jowar have themselves proved to
be ‘time tested’ withstanding the acute stress of arid and semi-arid
climate. Livestock is a key complementary activity to farmers’ income
comprising sheep husbandry and dairy from local cows and she-buffaloes. Acute
shortage of gross and tree fodder are the key constraints and the productivity
of fodder is low in Common Property Resources (CPRs). In addition, the fodder
shortage has reduced the productivity of sheep and she buffaloes. Further due
to poor market linkages, there is no value addition activity bringing down the
cash incomes of farmers across all marketed crops and enterprises. Due to low
level of education, knowledge, skill and attitude, farmers have poor credit
worthiness and risk bearing ability, which are constraining them to be
non-enterprising and non-innovative rendering them to be in subsistence
agriculture.
The
existing resource base of large segment of farming community in the state does
not permit them to derive full benefit of modern technology. Hence the concept
of strengthening resource base and optimum allocation of resources is of
crucial importance. Therefore it is imperative to evolve suitable strategy for
undertaking more than one enterprise in the farm to increase productivity and
supplement the income. This can be effectively achieved by determining optimum
sustainable farming systems, resulting in increasing the farm income.
“Farming” is the process of producing economic and animal products, and
“System” implies set of interrelated practices organized in to the
functional entity. “Farming system” is resource management strategy to
achieve economic and sustained agricultural production to meet diverse
requirements of the farm households and preserving resource base for future
generation and maintaining high environmental quality. With in an
agro-ecological zone several farming systems will typically be found with
variations in resource endowments, preferences and socio-economic positions of
the rural households.
Implementation
of IFS for distinct production systems with weak livelihood security such as
totally rain fed farming, rain fed farming with Water Harvesting Structures (WHS),
rain fed farming with WHS and groundwater irrigation and Landless laborers
household with livestock, will substantially improve the livelihood security
on a sustainable basis. Infrastructural support to facilitate IFS, Soil and
Water Conservation (SWC), will enhance economic security, employment
opportunities, reducing drudgery and enhancing livelihood security.
Appropriate institutional linkages will improve market orientation,
efficiency, value addition and livelihood security. Human resource development
through capacity building in IFS and Income Generating Activity (IGA) enables
to counter the challenges of vulnerable areas in the state. Social capital
formation builds collective action, cooperation, trust, social cohesion
required for improving livelihood security through IFS
Considering
the contradictory goals of household food security and environmental
sustainability, farming Systems have such potential to evolve systems by
involving dynamic processes through which households transform their initial
endowment base into entitlements through on and off-farm activities. This
requires recognition of diversity of land types and the complex ways in which
farmers integrate the effective use of different ecological niches according
to intra and inter-seasonal changes. This leads to development of sequenced
short and long-term research interventions addressing the household food
security and longer-term environmental needs of different types of households.
The
agricultural systems would be sustainable if the systems are ecologically
sound, economically viable, socially acceptable and adaptable. Broadly the
earlier studies carried out lead to the conclusion that models need to be
tested for bio-physical and socio-economic viability before release for wider
adoption. Thus, IFS are niche models and broad generalizations of nitty-gritty
are seldom acceptable as they are farmer centric.
The
proposed project aims at evolving location specific IFS models for ten
agro-climatic zones in the state, keeping in view local resources and
production constraints faced the farmers.
Failure
of trickle down theory due to low multiplier effects
Development efforts in the target districts were largely technology and input focused, without appropriately considering linkages with other institutions including market and capacity building at different levels. Thus, the development strategies adopted could not adequately get internalized with the farming systems, the mainstay for sustainable livelihood. Though several technologies were developed for the benefit of rural population, their impact did not trickle down due to poor multiplier effects. The technologies introduced were resource intensive, which further created pressure on the fragile resource such as groundwater. The technologies were disseminated as ad hoc or piecemeal approach.
The technologies can realize full potential when they are implemented in a holistic manner involving multi-level and multi- institutional support system offering a basket of technologies with backward and forward linkages to the target groups. The process of technology dissemination requires a mechanism to make system viable and sustainable.
Problem
With shrinking natural resources, vagaries of nature and inefficient management of natural resources rural communities are exposed to the predicament of drought effects spanning socio-economic and bio-physical parameters, frequent crop failures, economic loss, leading to frustration, abandoning farming, migration of communities seeking better livelihood opportunities, shift to alternate income earning opportunities. The state is fraught with low productivity, poor farming systems integration, low income, low employment, low savings and investments, low level of knowledge, skill and attitude, low social mobilization, poor market linkages and value addition. Hence, this study focuses on enhancing livelihood security of the farmers and vulnerable groups through Integrated Farming System (IFS)
Role of Integrated Farming System
IFS
approach as a biophysical and socio-economic capsule has immense potential to
address instability of income, food and nutritional insecurity, unemployment,
vulnerability and poverty of farmers’ as well as landless laborers. The
urgency for addressing issues of livelihood security mainstreaming rural poor
to the benefits of production technologies and development process in an
integrated manner in the target districts needs no emphasis. This calls for
establishing synergy and complimentary to both at production system levels and
beyond production, farm activities to non-farm activities. IFS for optimizing economic returns from resource allocation
under different agro-ecological scenarios such as, totally rainfed, rainfed
farming supported by WHS and rain fed farming supported by under ground water
extraction are the need of the hour. In this action research study, the IFS
will be used to pave the way for growth and sustainable development for larger
uptake.
Rationale
At
present, no systematic approach is followed in choosing enterprises and no
efforts were made to integrate more number of enterprises in the system.
Hence, the over all productivity of the system practiced by farmers is
low. Till today, efforts were also not made to work out best integrated
farming systems to suit agro-ecological situations.
Hence, there is a need to work out best Integrated Farming System to
suit land holdings of small and marginal farmers.
This helps to increase productivity of crops, generation of additional
employment for the farming family, reduce dependence on fuel wood for fuel
etc.
The National Development Council (NDC) while reaffirming its commitment to achieve four per cent annual growth in agricultural sector in the 11th plan period has laid emphasis on evolving district plans keeping in view the sustainable management of the natural resources and technological possibilities in each agro-climatic zone. Besides NDC has also given stress on integration of livestock, poultry and fisheries in improving the livelihood securities of vulnerable farm households.
Integrated
farming system seems to be answer to the problem of increasing food production
and as well increasing income and improving nutrition status of the small
farmers, with limited resources. It
is necessary to keep in view farm resources along with the available
production technologies in order to evolve location specific improved
sustainable production systems. There is need to evolve location specific
farming systems which aim at judicious
utilization of physical – land, water, labour resources along with
production technology related to choice of crop varieties, pest and disease
management, besides integrating livestock systems to utilize farm byproducts
for each agro-climatic system to ensure better livelihood security to small
and marginal farmers. The integration of crop- livestock production system
also ensures scientific management of crop – livestock residues for
production of organic matter that can be ploughed back to land to enrich them
to achieve better productivity and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.
Integrated
farming system is one of the approaches where in the risk in dealing with
single component can be minimized. Integration of allied enterprises viz.,
dairy, poultry, fishery, mushroom, bio-gas etc., along with cropping offers
many advantages by way of higher and stable income, generation of employment
year round, effective recycling of organic wastes and efficient use of
resources and thereby improvement in the physical and chemical condition of
the soil.
This action research builds on the earlier works, which have already created the IFS modules for outreach. The project aims at extending the activities throughout the State covering all 10 agro-climatic zones and demonstrate the advantage of IFS approach in ensuring livelihood securities of vulnerable groups with following specific objectives:
Objectives
1.
Analysis of existing farming systems in terms of resource use
efficiency, production and productivity, income, employment and sustainability
across different agro-climatic zones.
2.
Evaluation and identification of farming systems through participatory
approach that ensures threshold level of income for the livelihood security.
3.
Development and evaluation of synergic effects and their actions
associated with different farming systems.
4.
Developing appropriate institutional and market linkages including
value addition for enhancing sustainability.
5.
Imparting training and capacity building of various stakeholders on
IFS.
Research Efforts at UAS Bangalore
Until
the 1980’s, the R&D efforts related inter
alia soil and water conservation, rainwater harvesting and management,
crop production and cropping systems, farm machinery. Later, the developmental
efforts were on watershed approach, with holistic development considering the
crucial natural and human capital through the All India Coordinated Research
projects. The University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore (UASB) played the
lead role in demonstrating and scaling up of watershed models for wider
adoption during the 1990s. For effective implementation of the watershed
projects, the participatory approach was promoted with the role of line
Departments. This facilitated better private-public participation (voluntary
organizations, local institutions and civic bodies). In recognition of this,
the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore bagged three National
productivity awards. Of late, there has been paradigm shift in the Natural
Resource Management (NRM) from common lands to farm resource as highlighted by
the World Bank aided Sujala project. The major focus here relate to
agriculture, horticulture, forestry, Human Resource Development (HRD),
Entrepreneurs Development Programme (EDP), local institution development, and
participation of community. These programmes have been successful in
demonstrating the macro level benefits to the farming community.
The
one acre Integrated farming System approach model has been tested and
validated at ARS, Bhavikere In one acre, a farmer can generate income through
out the year by taking up various activities such as agriculture,
horticulture, dairy, sheep rearing, poultry, aquaculture, piggery , etc.,.
which also utilize natural resources like land, water and vegetation more
efficiently. Further, the byproducts of these activities will be useful to
generate organic matter through livestock as well as green biomass for
sustainable soil health and productivity. Many farmers from both within and outside the State have visited the station and appreciated
the concept. Krishi Mela has been organized at this station to popularize this
model among farmers.
The
Extension Education Units (EEU), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is promoting the
IFS working with community at grass roots through its field functionaries.
They are educating farmers through organizing on-farm demonstrations,
educational activities, training programs, conducting participatory research
with communities, developing and disseminating production technologies.
University
has converted one research station as organic farming station at Naganehalli,
Mysore. Where studies have been conducted on integrated farming systems
involving agriculture, horticulture and livestock as components. Various research
activities on organic farming is being conducted involving crops like finger
millet, paddy, sugarcane and vegetable crops, promotion and popularization of
Neem based pesticides, Green manure, vermi-composting, bio fertilizers, press
mud, coir pith compost etc., are being encouraged for sustainable crop
production.
Further a model farm on ragi based organic farming has been established at GKVK. Organic Farming Centre at ZARS, Naville, Shimoga is being established as Centre of Excellence on Organic Farming Research as well as demonstration and to document all indigenous organic practices followed in various crops, cropping systems and farming systems both under rainfed and irrigated eco-system.
Research
efforts at UAS, Dharwad.
Survey
work: The present survey revealed that the type of crop cultivated and
animals maintained in their farming depends on the availability of water and
type of crops grown. In general almost all farmers followed farming system
approach but it was not systematic. The study indicated that the IFS was
profitable and improved the yield by 2-3 folds over conventional syste.
It helped in utilizing the family labourers more efficiently.
The farm waste could be efficiently recycled. Animal components helped
in providing income throughout the year.
However, this system could be still improved by adopting the following
scientific practices;
i. The farm waste (animal and crop) was not handled properly. Scientific method of composting should be necessarily followed. Vermi-composting could be effectively adopted in this area.
ii. Goat rearing was very profitable and there is a good demand for meat and it needs to be popularized.
iii. Inclusion of improved dairy animals is necessary. Culling of uneconomical animals should be done.
iv.
Introduction of fodder crops to improve the milk yield.
Standardization
of rice-fish –poultry system: Maintaining
rice-fish (pit at center of the field) -poultry (reared separately) recorded
significantly higher productivity, profitability and sustainability. (fig.2)
This model helped in controlling weeds, pests ( brown plant hopper and leaf
roller) and diseases ( blast) which are problematic in this area. The soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and
micronutrient content of the soil was increased. There was significant improvement in biological activity of
the soil. There was increase in
employment generation and water use efficiency.
Developed
suitable rice based farming system for small and medium farmers: The model
designed for middle and tail end farmers of TBP.
Integrating crop (rice, maize-sunflower, vegetables and fodder) + fish
in pond with poultry over the fish pond – goat recorded higher productivity,
profitability and sustainability over conventional system of rice –rice
system (fig 3). The water requirement was less than the conventional rice
-rice system and saved water to an extent of 30 per cent. The labour
requirement is lesser than the rice-rice system but IFS distributed of labour
through out the year. There was
improvement in soil health.
Research
activities
In
order to evolve Sustainable-farming systems for all the 10 agro-climatic zones
of the state, one-hectare IFS modules will be established for demonstration in
21 research stations under jurisdiction of UASB and 36 research stations under
jurisdiction of UASD. The modules will be developed keeping in view the local
resources endowments and prevailing cropping and livestock systems, which
ensures thresh hold level of income, employment through out the year and
nutritional security to farming families.
In addition, an advanced center of
research on IFS will be established at UASB as well as UASD. IFS demonstration units will also be developed
in each teaching campuses for educational purposes to train students on
IFS.
Outreach activities
The IFS modules evolved in
research stations will be taken to farmer’s field in a participatory mode
involving KVKs, EEUs, the line departments and NGOs. It is proposed to
demonstrate IFS module suitable to different agro-ecological situations in an
area of 100 ha block in all the 176 taluks of the state. The modus
operandi of implementation of the project is depicted in the flow chart
given below. Further, the holistic approach of IFS concept to be implemented
is also indicated as flow chart-11
Flow chart-I, Project implementation
