1Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa-110 012, New Delhi, India
2Division of Dairy Economics, Statistics and Management, ICAR National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, Haryana, India
*Corresponding Author: Subrata Barman, Division of Agricultural Economics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa-110 012, New Delhi, India, Email: subratabarman25111999@gmail.com
Online published on 27 February, 2026.
Dairy-based integrated farming systems in the coastal region of West Bengal act as a climate-resilient agriculture practice. The present study examined four predominant dairy-based integrated farming systems (IFS) adopted in coastal West Bengal, focusing on the economic analysis of their interconnected components and pathways to profitability.
The study used stratified random sampling methods to collect 150 farmers from 25 villages in Coastal West Bengal. To quantify the interdependence amongst various components of farming systems, Leontief static input-output model has been used. Stochastic profit frontier model had been used for analysing the profit efficiency.
The study found Dairy + Fishery farming system had the highest profitability of INR 328139 /ha/annum. However, it has shown the lowest mean profit efficiency (0.55). This system can increase its profitability by the more veterinary expenditure per SAU and area under fishery (Ha) in IFS model. Among all the linkages of various enterprises in IFSs, crop-to-dairy linkage in Dairy + Crop + Fishery (Input-output coefficient: 0.09) farming system was the strongest one. The study recommends targeted policy support, including subsidies on fish feed and fingerlings and financial assistance for small and marginal farmers, to foster the growth of the dairy-based farming systems.
Dairy-based integrated farming system, Maximum likelihood estimates, Profit efficiency, Standard animal unit (SAU), Stochastic frontier
