Year: 2025 | Month: September | Volume 12 | Issue 3

Economic Analysis of Integrated Farming Systems for Livelihood Security among Smallholder Farmers in Dharwad District of Karnataka

Jayashree Pattar Sangeetha Jadhav Kalavathi K Kambali and Sairam M
DOI:10.30954/2394-8159.03.2025.6

Abstract:

Integrated farming systems (IFS) are slowly gaining acceptance as strategies to promote the livelihood security of smallholder farmers through enterprise diversification, resource recycling and increased farm productivity that are resilient to climate change. The present study was conducted to evaluate the contribution of integrated farming towards enhancing the livelihood security to small farmers in Dharwad, Karnataka. The study was carried out in 2024-25 in Dharwad and Kalaghatagi taluks with multistage sampling technique and primary data were obtained from 120 smallholder farmers practicing integrated farming system by personal interview with a pre-prepared structured schedule. The results indicated that the majority of the farming system combinations in the study area were Agriculture + Horticulture + Dairy and Agriculture + Horticulture + Dairy + Vermicompost. Farm enterprises that reported the highest percentages of annual household income were field crops (41.8%), dairy (28.1%), horticulture (18.4%), vermicompost (5.8%) and forestry (5.9%). The average annual income for integrated farming systems was between ` 28,250 and ` 51,456 per farm, with the income varying according to the enterprise diversification. Economic analysis revealed that the diversified integrated farming systems performed well compared to less diversified farming systems, yielding gross returns of between ` 102,071 and ` 248,769 ha/year, net returns of between ` 74,592 and ` 189,069 ha/year, and a benefit–cost ratio of between 2.71 and 4.91. Some of the main barriers cited by farmers were lack of availability of inputs, prohibitive labour prices, low market prices and institutional credit and subsidy delays. In spite of these difficulties, it was clear that integrated farming systems had a positive impact on income diversification, year-round employment opportunities, nutritional security and resource-use efficiency. The study results suggest that IFS are a viable approach for sustaining agricultural development and improving livelihood security, climate resilience among the smallholder farmers in Dharwad district. Improving access to extension, markets and institutional services will further enhance adoption and sustainability of IFS in the region.

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