Income and employment generation for small and marginal farmers through integrated farming systems

Pond-based farming system research studies comprising enterprises like field and horticultural crops, fishery, poultry, duckery, apiary, mushroom, dairy and agroforestry were undertaken at Bhubaneshwar during 1992-94, with a view to generate income and employment opportunities for small and marginal farmers. Among the above mentioned enterprises, apiculture produced the highest return of Rs 7.94/ rupee invested. Multilayer pisciculture stood next, fetching Rs 5.46/ rupee invested. Among the crops, the best returns were obtained with multistoried cropping involving pumpkin, ridge gourd and poi as ground storey; pineapple, colocasia, ginger and turmeric as first storey; and coconut as second storey. Poultry, duckery and mushroom enterprises fetched low returns. The highest level of employment (180 man days/year) was achieved in mushroom cultivation. Integrated farming system, comprising above enterprises generated net income of Rs 58,360 and employment for 573 man days, on a small piece of land (1.25 ha), ensuring high standard of living for small and marginal farmers.