1Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal (700 097), India
10Dept. of Fisheries, Ramkrishna Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal (743 338), India
11Dept. of Plant Protection, Darjeeling Krishi Vigyan Kendra, UBKV, Kalimpong, West Bengal (734 301), India
12Dept. of Horticulture, Uttar Dinajpur Krishi Vigyan Kendra, UBKV, Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal (733 207), India
13Dept. of Agriculture Extension, Bankura Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Bengal Comprehensive Area Development Corporation, Sonamukhi, Bankura, West Bengal (722 207), India
14Dept. of Animal Science, Jalpaiguri Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Ramshai, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal (735 219), India
15Dept. of Horticulture, Nadia Krishi Vigyan Kendra, BCKV, Gayeshpur, Nadia, West Bengal (741 234), India
16Dept. of Animal Science, Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal (731 236), India
17Dept. of Information Technology, Kalyani Government Engineering College, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal (741 235), India
18Dept. of Animal Science, North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Ashokenagar, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (743 223), India
19Dept. of Agriculture Engineering, Kalyan Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jahajpur, Biltora, Purulia, West Bengal (723 126), India
2Soil Science Division, Burdwan Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres, Bud Bud, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal (713 403), India
20Dept. of Fisheries, Dakshin Dinajpur Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Majhian, Patiram, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal (733 133), India
21Dept. of Animal Science, Dhaanyaganga Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Sargachhi Ashrama, Murshidabad, West Bengal (742 408), India
22Dept. of Agriculture Extension, School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Narendrapur Campus, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal (700 103), India
23Dairy Extension Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana (132 001), India
3Dept. of Information Technology, Kalyani Government Engineering College, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal (741 235), India
4Division of Fisheries Economics, Extension and Statistics, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Andheri (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra (400 061), India
5Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Kolkata, West Bengal (700 097), India
6Fisheries Division, Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, West Bengal (700 150), India
7Dept. of Horticulture, Jhargram Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Regional Research Station, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jhargram, West Bengal (721 507), India
8Dept. of Animal Science, Malda Krishi Vigyan Kendra, UBKV, Ratua, Malda, West Bengal (732 205), India
9Dept. of Animal Science, Coochbehar Krishi Vigyan Kendra, UBKV, Pundibari, Coochbehar, West Bengal (736 165), India
*Corresponding E-mail: vetavijit@gmail.com
Online Published on 20 March, 2026.
The experiment was conducted during the month of April to November in 2022 to study integrated farming systems (IFSs) in West Bengal. IFSs offered holistic solutions to food security, resource efficiency, and rural livelihoods, yet adoption remained limited in India due to socio-economic, ecological, and institutional barriers. A significant gap existed in empirical evidence regarding the relative importance of the enabling and constraining factors influencing the adoption and scalability of IFS in the Indian context. This study aimed to bridge that gap by identifying and ranking key factors influencing the adoption of IFSs in Eastern India. A multi-stage sampling approach was used to select 60 farmers practicing IFS for data collection across six agro-climatic zones (ACZs) in West Bengal, India from April to November in 2022. This study identified and ranked key factors, based on relative closeness values (ranging from 0 to 1), influencing IFS adoption in West Bengal through a SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges)– TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) analysis, a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method grounded in machine learning principles. Zone-specific insights revealed strengths and/ or opportunities like women’s participation, income enhancement, farm production improvement, sustainable livelihood security, and scope of organic farming, alongside major weaknesses and challenges like intensive water requirement, higher labour engagement, greater capital start-up cost, natural calamities, and market volatility. The integrated methodology presented a replicable model for contextual planning and informed decision-making in West Bengal and similar agro-climatic regions across India and beyond.
IFS, West Bengal, Machine learning, SWOC–TOPSIS, Decision-making, Policy
