Status and Scope of Integrated Farming System (IFS) in Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam

Integrated Farming System is a mixed or multiple farming practices comprising agriculture, fishery, animals and other farming practices having a synergistic relation with each other to achieve the maximum output. A study was conducted in three districts of Upper Brahmaputra Valley zone of Assam viz. Tinsukia, Jorhat and Golaghat and identifying various components of IFS and their synergistic relation between various components. The study was carried out for 120 respondents with 40 respondents from each district. During the study, 13 different IFS models were identified with rice as one of the main component. The most widely used IFS model is Paddy+Vegetable+Dairy+Fishery. Categorization of farmers based on personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the farmers was done along with the association between this characteristics and adoption to any of the model of IFS. Economic motivation and source of finance is significantly associated with adoption of IFS whereas age, education, land holdings, annual income, source of income, extension contact, training exposure, information source utilization, scientific orientation, risk preference and decision making ability are not significantly associated. Various constraints like social problems, disease and pest, financial, knowledge and skill were identified during the study. The findings will help in redesigning the already implemented schemes to ensure a higher adoption of IFS in the region and doubling farmer's income by 2022.