Sustainability of Farming Systems for Improving Farmers’ Livelihood Security

The paper has studied resource-use pattern, resource-use efficiencies and productivities and costs and returns of three farming systems, viz. (I) crops only, (II) crops + livestock, (III) crops + livestock + horticulture crops. The study is based on the primary data for the year 2007–08 collected through survey of 180 farmers of 12 villages in Ahmednagar and Solapur districts of Maharashtra. The ratio of MVP to MFC of resources such as milch animals, poultry birds, expenditure on fertilizer, FYM and working capital was more than unity, indicating less use of these resources. The per farm income pattern indicated that the maximum income was in farming system-III, followed by farming system-II and farming system-I. The output-input ratio was highest for farming system- III (1.75), followed by farming system-II (1.39) and in farming system- I (1.19). It could be therefore, concluded that farming system-III was most rewarding because of diversified activities and certainty of irrigation. The study has observed that among irrigation-based farming systems also, diversification needs greater emphasis on livestock with horticulture farming system as they stabilize farm income, increase employment opportunities and reduce risk of lower returns. The technological know-how, availability of inputs, diversification of crops and activities, efficient use of inputs, etc. will provide livelihood security and sustainable income to farmers in this region.