Farming System Approach (FSA)

Background Information about Farming Systems

      Since inception KVK has implemented various programmes and activities with the introduction of different approaches and obtained significant results.  One of approach was integration of farming systems.  The Ahmednagar district is having diverse farming situations, which is characterized by multiple soil types, varied rainfall distribution and sources of irrigation.  Under each farming situation there are numerous farming systems existing.  These farming situations are broadly divided into two major situations like irrigated farming situation and rain fed farming situation.

Analysis of farmers system

            Ahmednagar district comprises 14 tehsils of which 13 tehsils come under drought prone area.   Only one tehsil i.e. Akole receives highest rainfall.  The total area under cultivation is 13.60 lakh ha.  

The percent-wise Distribution of Existing Farming System

Under irrigated farming situation sugarcane is the dominant crop.  There are 6,80,609 farm families engaged in farming.  The agricultural laborer population is 3,80,918, however about 2,11,187 population is engaged in animal husbandry and dairying.   Previously dairying was a subsidiary business for agriculture but now it has become a primary source of income for the farming community.   There are main enterprises like agriculture, horticulture, dairying, animal husbandry prevailing in the district.  Under non-farm sector, daily wages and services are the major sources of income of the community.  However, KVK has made available various support services and helped in implementation of mandated activities for sustainability of the above existing farming systems in the operational area of the KVK. 

The main vision of the KVK in order to make these farming systems continued is to support existing farming systems for livelihood security and enhanced income of the farming communities.

              While making these existing farming systems sustainable, KVK has implemented various activities like training, demonstrations, on farm trials, along with supply of critical inputs and services.  In case of agriculture + dairying farming system, KVK has provided solutions to problems like availability of improved varieties in soybean, sugarcane planting methods, pest and disease management in cotton and availability of critical inputs like biopesticides and biofertilizers.  However, in case of horticulture + agriculture + dairying farming system, the KVK has provided solutions like leaf petiole analysis of grapes and pomegranate, availability of good quality seedlings, export quality production techniques, plant nutrition and disease diagnosis.  Besides this, to sustain the farming system like dairying + animal husbandry + agriculture, the KVK has made available a 10 point programme for improving the fat percentage in crossbreed cows and also made available improved breeds to up-grade the local goat and poultry breeds.

Keeping this approach in view, the KVK has made intervention in diversification of these existing farming systems with appropriate changes in the module developed by KVK.  For this purpose main support was obtained from the members of farmers clubs, which are functioning in various villages of KVK operational area. In the year 2003-04 KVK has started work on experimentation of suitable module for integration of different farming systems in these villages.  Initially the attempt was made in villages like Kolhar, Durgapur, Chandrapur, Loni, Chinchpur, Ashwi, Chincholi, Kesapur, Madhi and Ravande where the members have shown a positive attitude towards diversification in the existing farming systems. For collection of related data KVK has adopted various tools and techniques like PRA, group discussions and meetings with other stakeholders.

            These farming systems are mainly based on primary, secondary and tertiary sources of income for the family due to distinct factors like sources of irrigation, rainfall, size of holding, size of family and other resources that are available with the farming community.  Therefore, the data was collected on various aspects like soil type, crops, irrigation sources, power, equipments, implements, manpower, capital and other resources including size of holding and size of family.

            Besides these aspects some issues were also considered like support from state Government, critical inputs from KVK, marketing agencies, infrastructure and other technological know-how. With the help of a thorough analysis and discussion with the interested members on these aspects, the KVK has made intervention as per the needs of the participating farming communities.  Following are the examples of some farming systems modules developed by the KVK under various farming situations.

I. Irrigated – Command Unassured Canal Irrigation

(A) Before intervention the farming systems was Agriculture + dairying where primary sources of income was commodities under agriculture enterprise and the farming situation was irrigated with light soil having medium family size. After KVK intervention:

The existing farming systems were diversified to horticulture + agriculture + dairying.

The main crop introduced was floriculture which includes Marigold, Aster and Chrysanthemum

(B) Before KVK intervention- the existing farming systems under irrigated command canal irrigation situation was agriculture + horticulture. The primary source of income was agriculture crops like sugarcane, wheat. But due to problems like cost of inputs, pests, low yield in these crops, the members decided to shift from existing crops to new crops because of new marketing opportunities available with low cost of production.

After KVK intervention the change in the farming system to

(C)Before KVK’s intervention the existing farming system in canal command irrigation situation was agriculture + dairying where primary source of income was agriculture enterprise particularly from commodities like sugarcane and wheat.    After KVK’s intervention the farming system has transformed to horticulture + agriculture + dairying - where horticulture crop became a primary source of income i.e potato.

This change has taken place due to opportunities created in the assured marketing from private company due to contract farming.

(D) Before KVK’s intervention the existing farming system in canal command irrigation situation was agriculture + dairying where primary source of income was from sugarcane and wheat only. After KVK’s intervention the farming systems was transformed to horticulture + agriculture + dairying. The main crop introduced was brinjal which changed the Farming System.

The farmers have diversified because of formation of growers group, availability of critical inputs and marketing and also due to support from KVK.

II. Rainfed Farming Situation

The existing farming system was agriculture + daily wages + animal husbandry.         After KVK’s intervention, through vocational skill oriented training, entrepreneurship development and with the support from credit institutions as well as from private companies the concept of contract farming in poultry was introduced and the farming system was transformed. Here the main involvement of the unemployed rural youth was observed. After intervention animal husbandry + agriculture Farming System developed where poultry farming became the primary source of income.