Basics of Integrated Farming Systems

This volume on Integrated Farming Systems explains the diverse components that can be included in the agriculture sector. It is a practical guide to increasing a farm's productivity, profitability, and sustainability. The use of integrated farming systems has become essential with the growing population and the decreased availability of land resulting in the need to optimize the existing resources. By combining different farm enterprises like dairy, poultry, and fishery, farmers can achieve vertical expansion and increase their income and employment opportunities.

This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of integrated farming systems, from the different components that can be included to the benefits of recycling crop residues and the by-products within the farm. With practical advice for small and marginal farmers, this book offers a roadmap for improving productivity and ensuring balanced nutrition for farm families.

The book is suitable for a vast audience, from a farmer looking to increase profits and sustainability, a student of agriculture at the graduate or post-graduate level, or a researcher in the field of farming systems. It is an essential resource for reaping the benefits of integrated farming systems.

Dr Sohan Singh Walia is working as Director in the School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He started organic farming research as a pioneer work as PhD student (2001-04) and then worked on organic farming and integrated farming systems in All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems and All India Network Project on Organic Farming. Many of his recommendations on organic farming and integrated farming systems have been included in the package of practices for mass adoption by the Punjab farmers. He is also involved in technologies regarding the application of consortium in sugarcane, turmeric, potato, onion, maize, and wheat crops; integrated nutrient management in maize/soybean, and rice residue management for mass-scale adoption under Punjab conditions. He has developed Integrated Farming System Research Model comprising dairy, fishery, horticulture, vegetables, agro-forestry, and vermicomposting.

Dr Walia has tohis credit more than 450 research and extension publications, nine books, ten teaching manuals, seven extension folders and 22 book chapters. He has handled 24 research projects and is currently handling five research projects. He has guided four Ph.D and eleven M.Sc. students as a major advisor. He has been involved in teaching numerous courses and has organized training programs and delivered invited lectures and TV and radio talks. He was appreciated for outstanding work on integrated and organic farming during the QRT review and is the recipient of the Best organic farming centre award (2019) by ICAR, Dr M S Randhawa best book award (2017), ISA P. S. Deshmukh Young Agronomist Award (2005) among many others. Dr Walia has acquired advanced training in rice production systems from the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, South Australia.

Ms Tamanpreet Kaur is working as Senior Research Fellow under a project entitled “All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems” at the School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. She holds an M. Sc in Agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Her keen area of interest is Integrated Farming Systems. She has eight research papers, 13 extension articles, one booklet and three book chapters to her credit.