Fish-cum-livestock integrated farming for efficient farm resource utilization in tripura-a case study

Farm resource utilization capacity of an integrated farming system was estimated through resource co st ratio (RCR) approach. The system was demonstrated by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, South Tripura in a rural village, Bagma. The farming system was diversified by integrating fisheries, dairy and duckary components beside the ins tallation of a biogas unit. The resource cost ratio of the integrated farming system during the year 2016—17 was 0.07 indicating a substantial social profitability. The farm spent only 0.07 units of non-marketable resources to produce one unit of marketable output in the form of fish, milk egg and meat. The farm received higher social profit (Rs. 2,13,130) than private profit (1,54,510.), might be due to the effect of integrated farming system approach where farm utilized cow- dung and biogas slurry as pond manure. Further, sensitivity analysis on the integrated approach in farming proved that the RCR would be higher, i.e., 0.14 if the farm were specialized without integration approach. Integration approach had an impact on farm resource utilization in terms of social profitability or RCR. Besides reducing the risk of failure of an enterprise, the integrated farming approach showed positive social externalities.