Productivity and economics of integrated farming system in irrigated agro- ecosystem of eastern Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

An experiment to identify an efficient farming system for irrigated agro-ecosystem of eastern Uttar Pradesh was carried out at Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during 2002-03 and 2003-04. Based on the 2-year study, rice (Oryza sativa L.)-pea (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense Pair.)-okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) was selected as the most remunerative cropping sequence, with the highest rice grain-equivalent yield (170.98 qlha) and net return (Rs 66,079lha) among all the sequences. Dairy pro- duced considerably higher net return (Rs 3,17,904/ha) than poultry (Rs 39,7681ha) and fishery (Rs 21,2241ha) but had lower benefit: cost ratio (1.28) than the fish component (1.42). The poultry component was found least profitable for every rupee invested. The farming system comprising crop component [rice-pea-okra and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moenchl-berseem (Tripliam alexandrinum L.)-maize (Zea mays L.)], dairy, poultry and fish- ery was identified as the most suitable and efficient farming system model, giving the highest system productivity, i.e. rice grain-equivalent yield of 1,237.5 qlha and net return under irrigated agro-ecosystem of eastern Uttar Pradesh.