Skip to main content

Integrated Farming Systems: Climate-Resilient Sustainable Food Production System in the Indian Himalayan Region

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Exploring Synergies and Trade-offs between Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) represents about 16.4% of the total area and 3.86% of the total population of India. The region supports extraordinary cultural, ethnic, and biological diversity. Vast variation in rainfall pattern was also noticed in the entire Indian Himalayan region. The Western Himalayan region had comparatively less rainfall than the Eastern Himalayas. Farmers of IHR, usually, adopt traditional agricultural practices and practice mono-cropping, which leads to soil degradation and poor farm productivity. The environmental degradation in the region reached an alarming proportion, necessitating urgent attention for their scientific management for the overall sustainable development of the region. This calls for an extra concentrated focus on the issue from the viewpoint of policy, research, development, and extension. Hence, policy reorientation and human resources development are the key areas that need special attention. Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) approach aims to enhance the farm income, promote the sustainable utilization of natural resource, and livelihood diversification. The IFS approach has multiple objectives of sustainability, food security, nutritional security, and poverty reduction towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Location-specific IFS modules have the potential to double the farmer’s income besides providing year-round employment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arnab R, Uday K (2018) Emerging farming systems in Western Himalaya: a state level analysis of sustainability. Int J Environ Sci Nat Res 9(2):555757. https://doi.org/10.19080/IJESNR.2018.09.555757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avasthe RK, Babu S, Singh R, Yadav GS, Kumar A (2020) Productivity and profitability assessment of organically grown vegetables embedded in rice based cropping sequences in Sikkim Himalayas, North East India. J Environ Biol 41:111–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Babu S, Singh R, Avasthe RK, Yadav GS, Rajkhowa DJ (2016) Intensification of maize (Zea mays) –based cropping sequence in rainfed ecosystem of Sikkim Himalayas for improving system productivity, profitability, employment generation and energy-use efficiency under organic management condition. Indian J Agric Sci 86(6):778–784

    Google Scholar 

  • Babu S, Das A, Mohapatra KP, Yadav GS, Singh R, Tahashildar M, Devi TM, Das S, Panwar AS, Prakash N (2019) Pond dyke utilization: an innovative means for enhancing productivity and income under integrated farming system in north east hill region of India. Indian J Agric Sci 89(1):117–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Babu S, Mohapatra KP, Das A, Yadav GS, Tahasildar M, Singh R, Panwar AS, Yadav V, Chandra P (2020a) Designing energy-efficient, economically sustainable and environmentally safe cropping system for the rainfed maize–fallow land of the eastern Himalayas. Sci Total Environ 722:137874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137874

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Babu S, Singh R, Avasthe RK, Yadav GS, Mohapatra KP, Selvan T, Das A, Singh VK, Valente D, Petrosillo I (2020b) Soil carbon dynamics in Indian Himalayan intensified organic rice-based cropping sequences. Ecol Indic 114:106292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behera UK, Mahapatra IC (1999) Income and employment generation of small and marginal farmers through integrated farming systems. Indian J Agron 44(3):431–439

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatt BP, Bujarbaruah KM (2005) Intensive integrated farming system: a sustainable approach of land use in eastern Himalayas, Technical bulletin no. 46. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam. 43p

    Google Scholar 

  • Choudhary AK, Thakur SK, Yadav DS (2012) Development of integrated farming system model for marginal and small farmers of Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh – an innovative extension tool. J Hill Agric 3(1):46–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Dadhwal KS, Tomar JMS, Muruganandam M, Kaushal R, Chaturvedi OP (2012) Integrated farming systems for food and nutritional security in north western Himalayas. Indian Forester 138(8):689–696

    Google Scholar 

  • Das A, Patel DP, Munda GC, Ramkrushna GI, Kumar M, Ngachan SV (2013) Improving productivity, water and energy use efficiency in lowland rice (Oryza sativa) through appropriate establishment methods and nutrient management practices in the mid-altitude of north-east India. Exp Agric 50(3):353–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das A, Ghosh PK, Lal R, Saha R, Ngachan SV (2017) Soil quality effect of conservation practices in maize–rapeseed cropping system in eastern Himalaya. Land Degrad Dev 28:1862–1874

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das A, Devi MT, Babu S, Ansari MA, Layek J, Bhowmick SN, Yadav GS, Singh R (2018) Cereal-legume cropping system in Indian Himalayan region for food and environmental sustainability. In: Meena R, Das A, Yadav G, Lal R (eds) Legumes for soil health and sustainable management. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0253-4_2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Das A, Layek J, Ramkrushna GI, Babu S, Devi MT, Dey U, Suting D, Yadav GS, Lyngdoh DBD, Prakash N (2019) Integrated organic farming system: an innovative approach for enhancing productivity and income of farmers in north eastern hill region of India. Indian J Agric Sci 89(8):1267–1272

    Google Scholar 

  • Devendra C (1991) Non-conventional feed resources in Asia and Pacific, APHCA/FAO pub. no. 7. FAO Regional office for Asia and Pacific, Bangkok, p vii

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhar TN, Gupta SP, Johri SC (1997) Forestry in the Himalayan states of India – a comparative study. SHERPA, Lucknow, p 272

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewards P, Pullin RVS, Gartner JA (1986) Research and education for development of integrated crop-livestock-fish farming in tropics. International Centre for Living Aquatic Resource Management, Manilla, pp 5–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Kashyap P, Kansal A, Prusty AK, Singh JP (2015) Evaluation of horticulture based IFS models for providing nutritional security to small and marginal farmers of western plain zone of Uttar Pradesh, India. Int J Econ Plants 2(1):015–017

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Patra MK, Thirugnanavel A, Deka BC, Chatterjee D, Borah TR, Rajesha G, Talang HD, Ray SK, Kumar M, Upadhyay PK (2018) Comparative evaluation of different integrated farming system models for small and marginal farmers under the eastern Himalayas. Indian J Agric Sci 88(11):1722–1729

    Google Scholar 

  • Maikhuri RK, Rao KS, Semwal RL (2001) Changing scenario of Himalayan agroecosystems: loss of agrobiodiversity as an indicator of global environmental change impacts monitoring in central Himalaya, India. Environmentalist 21:23–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prakash N, Roy SS, Ansari MA, Sharma SK (2015) A comprehensive manual on integrated farming system: an approach towards livelihood security and natural resource conservation, Publication no. RCM (TM) – 08. 368 Pages. ICAR Research complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre, Imphal

    Google Scholar 

  • Press Information Bureau, Government of India Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (2019) https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=194883

  • Reganold JP, Glover JD, Andrews PK, Hinman HR (2001) Sustainability of three apple production systems. Nature 410(6831):926–930

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samal PK, Fernando R, Rawat DS (2000) Influences of economy and culture in development among mountain tribes of Indian central Himalaya. Int J Sust Dev World 7:41–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena KG, Maikhuri RK, Rao KS (2005) Change in agricultural biodiversity: implications for sustainable livelihoods in the Himalaya. J Mt Sci 2:23–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-005-0023-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh K, Bohra JS, Singh Y, Singh JP (2006) Development of farming system models for the north –eastern plain zone of Uttar Pradesh. Indian Farming 56(2):5–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Babu S, Avasthe RK, Yadav GS, Rajkhowa DJ (2016) Productivity, profitability and energy dynamics of rice (Oryza sativa) under tillage and organic nitrogen management practices in rice–vegetable pea (Pisum sativum) cropping system of Sikkim Himalayas. Indian J Agric Sci 86(3):326–330

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh V, Negi RK, Maikhuri A, Chandra AM, Dhyani PP (2018) Assessing sustainability of farming systems in mountain agroecosystems of Western Himalaya, India. Agroecol Sustain Food Syst 42:751–776. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2018.1427175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh VK, Mehta KS, Chauhan RS (2019) Evaluation of fisheries based integrated farming systems in mid hills of Uttarakhand. Int J Agric Sci 11(17):9000–9003

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatramanan V, Shah S (2019) Climate smart agriculture technologies for environmental management: the intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellbeing and development. In: Shah S et al (eds) Sustainable green technologies for environmental management. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., Singapore, pp 29–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2772-8_2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Venkatramanan V, Shah S (2020) Synergies between gender mainstreaming and food security. In: Leal Filho W et al (eds) Gender equality, encyclopedia of the UN sustainable development goals. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70060-1_18-1

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Venkatramanan V, Shah S, Prasad R (eds) (2020a) Global climate change and environmental policy: agriculture perspectives. Springer Nature, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatramanan V, Shah S, Prasad R (eds) (2020b) Global climate change: resilient and smart agriculture. Springer Nature, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Yadav GS, Debnath C, Datta M, Ngachan SV, Yadav JS, Babu S (2013) Comparative evaluation of traditional and improved farming practices in Tripura. Indian J Agric Sci 83(3):310–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Yadav GS, Lal R, Meena RS, Datta M, Babu S, Das A, Layek J, Saha P (2017) Energy budgeting for designing sustainable and environmentally clean/safer cropping systems for rainfed rice fallow lands in India. J Clean Prod 158:29–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.04.170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav GS, Das A, Lal R, Babu S, Meena RS, Saha P, Singh R, Datta M (2018) Energy budget and carbon footprint in a no-till and mulch based rice–mustard cropping system. J Clean Prod 191:144–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav GS, Das A, Lal R, Babu S, Datta M, Meena RS, Patil SB, Singh R (2019) Impact of no-till and mulching on soil carbon sequestration under rice (Oryza sativa L.)-rapeseed (Brassica campestris L. var. rapeseed) cropping system in hilly agro-ecosystem of the eastern Himalayas, India. Agric Ecosyst Environ 275:81–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Babu, S. et al. (2021). Integrated Farming Systems: Climate-Resilient Sustainable Food Production System in the Indian Himalayan Region. In: Venkatramanan, V., Shah, S., Prasad, R. (eds) Exploring Synergies and Trade-offs between Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7301-9_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics