Vol. 11, Special Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
Dhavale ND, Kapse PS and Lad AS

Abstract:
The study entitled, ‘Awareness of farmers towards integrated farming system’ was carried out in Parbhani district of Marathwada region of Maharashtra state. A total of 120 farmers were considered as respondents for the present study. The data regarding the extent of awareness about the meaning of IFS among the respondents revealed that 60.83 per cent of the respondent farmers had partial awareness about meaning of IFS while awareness of the farmers about IFS combines various agro-supplementary occupations, 62.50 per cent of them respondents were partially aware about it. Whereas 50.00 per cent of the respondents partially aware about IFS saves costs and increase productivity by recycling the resources available in one agribusiness to another. Regarding awareness of the respondents about various models of IFS, 44.17 per cent of the respondents were completely aware about IFS model - Cropping system + Cow / Buffalo Rearing + Vermicompost Production + Fruit Cultivation + Vegetables Cultivation whereas 38.33 per cent of the respondents were unaware about IFS model - Crop System + Cow / Buffalo Rearing / Poultry + Fruit Cultivation, 38.33 per cent of the respondents were not aware about this model. Data also shows that 39.16 per cent of the respondents were medium level of awareness regarding IFS, followed by high level awareness about IFS (36.67%) and 24.16 per cent of them were unaware about IFS concept. In case of constraints about IFS, lack of technical knowledge about IFS were expressed by 91.67 per cent of the respondents, followed by adverse weather conditions and rainfall uncertainty was expressed by 87.50 per cent respondents. Whereas, constraints of unavailability of quality raw material on time for IFS was expressed by 66.67 per cent of the respondents. Regarding market-oriented constraints in IFS, 91.67 per cent of the respondents were expressed the constraints of price fluctuations of agricultural produce, followed by 85.00 per cent of the respondents were expressed the constraints of lack of market facilities at the village level. Majority of the respondents suggested to remove broker / middleman in marketing system of agricultural products (95.83%), followed by government can support to fetch a reasonable price to agriculture produce in the market suggested by 93.33 per cent of the respondents. Agriculture marketing facilities should be strengthened is suggested by 92.50 per cent of the respondents, 91.67 per cent of them suggested make availability of quality inputs at the village level related IFS and regular power supply to agriculture.