Economic Analysis of Integrated Farming System with Conventional Redgram Cultivation in North-East Karnataka-Region

This paper has studied the comparative economics of different modules of integrated farming system (IFS) against conventional crop cultivation in north-eastern region of Karnataka. It has also assessed their impact on livelihood security of farm households and has estimated the impact of IFS at farm level in terms of resource use and profitability of IFS with different components such as crop, dairy, horticulture, sericulture, vermicompost, sheep and goat rearing besides examining its impact on employment generation. The data for study were collected from 60 IFS and 60 non-IFS farmers from three districts of NEK region. The tabular analysis has been carried out for cost and returns calculations, and for comparing financial feasibility and overall performance of IFS modules, discounting measures have been used. The study has found that the practice of IFS to be more profitable in terms of productivity, employment generation and nutritional security as compared to conventional crop cultivation of non-IFS practices.