Participatory evaluation of choice and combination of enterprises for integrated farming system under dry-land and irrigated agro-ecosystems

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra Sutur, Mysore, has developed 6 integrated farming system (IFS models), 3 each under dryland and irrigated farming situations, between 2012 and 2015. The models were analyzed using case-study approach to draw principles of enterprise combination. The average number of enterprizes for 3 dryland models, sericulture, horticulture and cotton (Gossypium sp.)--based IFS, during base year and after 3 years was 3 and 13, respectively; it was 6 and 14, respectively, for the 3 irrigated models, organic horticulture, sericulture and agro-forestry-based IFS. The maximum annual net incomes under dryland in the base year were from agriculture (49, 600/ha), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) (39, 800) and sericulture (16, 700/ha); after 3 years, the order changed to coconut (46, 000), sericulture (30, 900) and agriculture ( 16, 600). Under irrigated condition higher net returns in the base year came from coconut (94, 000/ha), horticulture (42, 300/ha) and vegetables (40, 000/ha), which changed after 3 years to coconut (1, 34, 500/ha), sericulture (81, 400/ha) and silviculture (77, 600/ha). However, the maximum benefit: cost ratio under dry farming was from forage crops and goat/sheep rearing followed by vermicomposting, implying short-duration low-investment enterprises complemented the core enterprizes, coconut and sericulture. On the contrary, under irrigated farming system, the maximum profitability was in silviculture, coconut and goat/sheep rearing, indicating long-duration enterprises acting as supplementary enterprizes offered better returns. The results revealed that the choice of enterprises, their combination and contribution to the improvement of system productivity differed for dryland and irrigated farming systems but IFS enabled the systems more productive, profitable and sustainable under both the situations.