Income and employment generation for small and marginal farmers through integrated farming systems

Abstract

Pond-based farming system research studies comprising enterprises like field and horticultural crops, fishery, poultry, duckery, apiary, mushroom, dairy and agroforestry were undertaken at Bhubaneshwar during 1992-94, with a view to generate income and employment opportunities for small and marginal farmers. Among the above mentioned enterprises, apiculture produced the highest return of Rs 7.941 rupee invested. Multilayer pisciculture stood next, fetching Rs 5.461 rupee invested. Among the crops, the best returns were obtained with multistoried cropping involving pumpkin, ridge gourd and poi as ground storey; pineapple, colocasia, ginger and turmeric as first storey; and coconut as second storey. Poultry, duckery and mushroom enterprises fetched low returns. The highest level of employment (180 man dayslyear) was achieved in mushroom cultivation. lntegrated farming system, comprising above enterprises generated net income of Rs 58,360 and employment for 573 man days, on a small piece of land (1.25 ha), ensuring high standard of living for small and marginal farmers.