Integrated Farming is a system wherein mutually beneficial trees, crops, and/or animals are purposefully integrated to create supportive relationships. This way, a system is created that is more similar to natural ecosystems. Accordingly, it provides more goods and services for us too. Generally speaking, the more species there are in a system, the more abundant and stable is the supply of its goods and services.
Parthasarathy, Adanur, Thiruvannamalai district has set up a naturally integrated farm of 4.5 acres under the name 'ASN Sami' and is cultivating it naturally.he was Present in FTB, a Krishi Jagran initiative to speak and inspire about his way of Integrated Farming and shares the secret of profit-making if planned well. The need for planning is a must says Parthasarathy and calculating daily income, weekly income, monthly income, six months income, and annual income should be set up accordingly.
Farm Product Diversification
Diversification of crops have been done in a way that each crop compliments the growth of other resulting in better production, his model has been developed comprising different field crops and fruit trees such as safflower, sapodilla, lemon, pomegranate, and guava, as well as long-term profitable trees such as teak, mahogany, bulb, and vanga. He also has hens, goats, cows, and chickens. Parthasarathy reiterates the purpose of a living fence on his farm which will help him protect the land from external hostilities and instabilities, which is caused due to human, animal, pest, wind, and water intervention and also providing protection to the land and the crop being grown within. The living fencing also helps in restoring the disturbed balance of the eco-system, not only of the agricultural land concerned but also of the surrounding environment. The benefits of living fencing are of a long-term nature. For Crop protection, he uses natural products like garlic, chili, and ginger solution and the amino fish solution for the fruit trees. Azolla and fodder greens are grown are being fed to the cattle.
Profits
He produces fruits, vegetables, and vegetables produced on his farm at retail and wholesale prices to suit the market conditions. Apart from this, he has set up a farm pond and is cultivating native species of fish such as jellies, fingerlings, catfish, and loku. He said the fish is harvested and sold twice a year. He has been cultivating the fruits, vegetables, and vegetables produced on his farm at retail and wholesale prices to suit the market conditions. He says people from 15 villages around his village come to his farm to buy goods, which further enhances the credibility of the people on his integrated farm. Parthasarathy is happy to say that he earns up to Rs 1,000 a day from milk, eggs, and fruits, as well as a steady income minimally up to Rs 30,000 a month.
Parthasarathy shares that his entire integrated farm is maintained in a natural way and he was extremely delighted that the Tamil Nadu Coimbatore Agricultural University was providing help in every possible way.
Advise to Farmers
Parthasarathy has given good guidance to farmers who want to set up an integrated farm. Even 2 acres of land is enough to set up an integrated farm says Parthasarathy. Feed costs can be reduced if the chicken is reared in the open and Profits can only be seen if the cost of feed is reduced. Fodder should be made on the farm in a natural way like setting up Azolla tanks and cultivating fodder greens. Setting up a farm pond is an essential requirement for an integrated farm. Above all, hard work can lead to an integrated farm making a profit.
Parthasarathy, who maintains the 4.5-acre integrated farm as an individual and makes a profit minimally of up to Rs 4 lakh per annum, said he was doing his best to reduce environmental pollution and help minimize global warming with more than 2,000 trees on his integrated farm.
Before signing off he reiterates that each crop should complement the growth of others resulting in better production, the model has been developed comprising different crops and it is a huge success for a farmer having small holdings too.