Integrated Farming Systems for sustainable livelihoods in Agri and allied sectors from 31-05-2022 to 04-06-2022

Increasing the income of farmers from different sources, across holding and region has become an utmost priority for the policy planners. This triggers an urgent need of transformation in agriculture production combined with integrated farming system (IFS) approaches. In Integrated Farming Systems, all agricultural enterprises including cropping system,animal husbandry, fishery, bee keeping, goat rearing, horticulture and others are setupinto a single unit of land and hence better utilization of resources occurs at reduced cost andultimatelyincreasesthe farmers’income. The IFS also play a major role in biodiversity conservation through adoption of diversified cropping system and through integration of indigenous livestock breeds. Keeping in view of importance of improving the capacities of Extension workers on Integrated FarmingSystems, a 5 day on campus training programme is organized at EEI, Hyderabad to improve the knowledge and skills of the extension functionaries in the area of “Integrated Farming Systems for Sustainable Livelihoods in Agri and Allied Sectors from 31st May – 4th June, 2022. The programme was coordinated by Dr. R. Vasantha, Professor, EEI, Hyderabad. 41 middle level Extension functionaries from Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal husbandary, Sericulture, Fisheries and Agri Engineering from Telangana, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Odisha and Andhrapradesh took part in the programme. The programme was organized in hybrid mode by including 3 sessions in online mode as the experts are from different states and sessions in offline mode. Training took inputs and rich experience from speakers of diverse backgrounds who are working as Scientists in Universities and National institutes, professionals from NGOs, Private enterpreneurs and farmers. They belonged to various states such as Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhrapradesh and Telangana. The programme started with Icebreaking session to make the participantscommunicate openly and feel relaxed which ultimately increases the effectiveness of training. The sessions focused on topics such as Successful IFS models for various farming situations, Sericulture, Income generation and nutritional security through IFS, Role of FPOs in attaining sustainable livelihoods through IFS, Integration of fisheries into IFS : Challenges and Opportunities, Farm implements and machinery for IFS, Integration of duckery, poultry, cattle and crops, Business opportunities in IFS, Efficient resource recycling and costreduction techniques in IFS, ITKs in IFS and their scientific rationality, Bankable projects and schemes for IFS and Extension strategies for promotion of IFS. 3 field visits were also made to National fisheries development board (NFDB), Rajendranagar, IFS farm, PJTSAU and Sri Haribabu Organic farms, Timmapur. Oppurtunity was given to trainees to share their experiences which helped in facilitating interstate cross Learning. Yoga session was also arranged every morning through out the training for the benefit of participants. Speaking during valedictory Dr. R. Jagadeeshwar, Director of Research, PJTSAU said that declining Agricultural growth rate, sinkage in net cultivable area, climate change and environmental pollution are some of the major problems affecting Indian agriculture. He felt that crop cultivation alone can’t fulfill the demand of food and nutritional requirement, hence focus on multi-component farming which is a means of efficient resource recycling is the need of the hour. He appreciated EEI, Hyderabad for conducting need based and timely training by identifying resource persons across PAN India. M. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director, EEI speaking on the occasion informed the trainees that IFS has an inter-related set of enterprises in which waste from one component becomes an input for other enterprises of the system, which reduces cost and improves production. Integrated farming systems seem to be the possible solution for nutritional security and income stability for small and marginal farmers. He motivated the participants to transfer these learnings to farmers and other extension professionals of their jurisdiction. FEED BACK: Majority of participants indicated that the session on “ ITKs in IFS and their scientific rationality” is highly satisfactory and very much useful for them, followed by the topic Successful IFS models in various farming situations. Some of the trainees got very much motivated to promote Natural farming back home from the practical experience they have gained from the field visit to Sri Haribabu organic farms, Ameerpeta village, Timmapur district. Tapas Chandra Roy, trainee from Odisha informed the house that he will implement Silage making technology back home. Another trainee suggested to include more field visits in upcoming programmes.