PROSPECT OF INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM

The growing global concerns over food security, environmental degradation, and sustainable livelihoods have underscored the need for resilient agricultural models, particularly for small and marginal farmers. This study, conducted in the Patiala district of Punjab, India, under the aegis of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems (AICRP-IFS), aimed to assess the prospects of IFS adoption across economic, social, technical, ecological, and entrepreneurial dimensions. A total of 300 respondents were surveyed using a structured questionnaire from IFS-adopted villages. Prospect assessment was based on weighted scores assigned to 26 statements spanning five prospect categories. The findings revealed that IFS was widely perceived as economically beneficial, particularly for income diversification and risk reduction. Socially, IFS was seen as compatible with community needs and instrumental in improving livelihoods. Technically, it was viewed as a viable method for resource optimization and income enhancement. Ecologically, IFS was recognized for its potential in conserving biodiversity, improving soil health, and reducing erosion. Entrepreneurially, farmers acknowledged opportunities arising from trained labour, input availability, and market demand. Aspect-wise analysis indicated that a majority of respondents perceived medium to high levels of prospects across all five dimensions. Overall, 63 per cent of farmers perceived a medium, and 22.67 per cent perceived a high prospect for IFS adoption. Correlation analysis showed that variables such as landholding, training attended, farming system, cropping system, and risk-bearing capacity had a significant positive relationship with the prospect of IFS. The study concludes that IFS holds significant promise for enhancing agricultural sustainability, income stability, and rural development, particularly in resource-constrained farming communities.