Integrated Farming Systems for small and marginal farmers' prosperity Sustainable agriculture road map for India
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UK Behera
Contd from previous issue
Farm activities can be planned simultaneously to produce renewable energy, generate income and minimise risk by introducing different enterprises, achieve food security and maintain biodiversity and prevent erosion by way of planting trees, shrubs, etc. This creates ecosystem awareness by encouraging diversity at the farm level and redesigning the farming system. Thus, by implementing the DFM approach, aspects/issues such as income generation, risk minimisation, climate change, ecosystem service and energy security can all be well addressed, which is difficult to achieve using conventional approaches.
(vi) Energy Self-sufficient Integrated Farming Systems (E-IFS)
The question arises as to how and what forms of renewable modern energy generating capacity can be added to the exiting resource recycling capabi- lities of an IFS so that the whole system becomes self-sufficient or even surplus in energy. In the E-IFS concept, the objective is to integrate all direct and indirect sources of energy (which so far have not been fully explored), and to utilize resource recycling and resource conservation to reduce the energy embodied in inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water. This would lead towards a reduction in carbon emissions (i.e. towards carbon neutrality) and cleaner and greener farming.
An E-IFS would be one that uses little or no fossil fuel energy and even produces more energy than is required, so that it becomes energy than is required, so that it becomes another product off the farm. However, such an energy surplus needs to be achieved without competing with food crops for land and resources. Finally, the very nature of farming within an E-IFS, with its diversity of enterprise, can act as a risk reduction mechanism in the wake of climatic changes that may possibly lead to crop failure. The incorporation of modern energy sources within an IFS can provide an ideal farming system if some of the limitations mentioned previously are overcome. Next we briefly address some policy measures that could make such a system attractive to farmers under current Indian circumstances.
(vii) Farm Development card
(To be contd)
Contd from previous issue
Farm activities can be planned simultaneously to produce renewable energy, generate income and minimise risk by introducing different enterprises, achieve food security and maintain biodiversity and prevent erosion by way of planting trees, shrubs, etc. This creates ecosystem awareness by encouraging diversity at the farm level and redesigning the farming system. Thus, by implementing the DFM approach, aspects/issues such as income generation, risk minimisation, climate change, ecosystem service and energy security can all be well addressed, which is difficult to achieve using conventional approaches.
(vi) Energy Self-sufficient Integrated Farming Systems (E-IFS)
The question arises as to how and what forms of renewable modern energy generating capacity can be added to the exiting resource recycling capabi- lities of an IFS so that the whole system becomes self-sufficient or even surplus in energy. In the E-IFS concept, the objective is to integrate all direct and indirect sources of energy (which so far have not been fully explored), and to utilize resource recycling and resource conservation to reduce the energy embodied in inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water. This would lead towards a reduction in carbon emissions (i.e. towards carbon neutrality) and cleaner and greener farming.
An E-IFS would be one that uses little or no fossil fuel energy and even produces more energy than is required, so that it becomes energy than is required, so that it becomes another product off the farm. However, such an energy surplus needs to be achieved without competing with food crops for land and resources. Finally, the very nature of farming within an E-IFS, with its diversity of enterprise, can act as a risk reduction mechanism in the wake of climatic changes that may possibly lead to crop failure. The incorporation of modern energy sources within an IFS can provide an ideal farming system if some of the limitations mentioned previously are overcome. Next we briefly address some policy measures that could make such a system attractive to farmers under current Indian circumstances.
(vii) Farm Development card
(To be contd)