Integrated Farming System (IFS) comprises interdependent, interrelated, often interlocking production systems based on few crops, animals and related subsidiary enterprises in a way that maximizes the utilization of nutrients of each system and minimizes the negative effect of these enterprises on the environment. It involves the utilization of primary produce and secondary produce of one system, as basic input of the other system, thus making them mutually integrated as one whole unit. The livestock-based IFS involves fish culture, livestock raising and agriculture. For instance, fishcum-pig farming. In such farming, the waste product of livestock (pig) is used as a manure for growth of Zooplanktons and Phytoplanktons in a pond, which act as a source of nutrients for the fish. The biomass rich bottom soil layer of the pond is removed periodically and used for crop or vegetable farming.

Benefits of Livestock-based Integrated Farming System (IFS)

• Productivity: Intensification of crops and allied activities in an IFS increases the yield per unit area per unit time.
• Sustainability: Effective recycling of the waste products increases the sustainability of the production base and also minimises environmental pollution.
• Balanced food: Multiple variety of food ensures that diverse nutrients are being grown from the same field and is available for consumption to the small and marginal farmers.
• Profitability: It reduces the cost of production and hence increases the purchasing power of farmers.
• Income stability: Due to interaction of enterprises with crops, eggs, meat and milk, round the year flow of money amongst the farming community is maintained.
• Employment generation: Combining crops with livestock enterprises increases the labour requirement significantly and helps in reducing the problems of under employment to a great extent.
• Saving energy: Cattle dung is also used as a biomass energy source, thereby the IFS reduces the dependency on petrol/diesel and fossil fuel.
• Meeting fodder crisis: By-product and waste material of crops are effectively utilized as a fodder for livestock.

Livestock-based IFS has been traditionally done in India, especially in the North-Eastern Region and can be emphasised all over India for doubling farmers’ income. For developing countries, sustainable agriculture holds the promise of addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges leading to sustainable development. And, the closed-cycle nature of IFS can play a critical role in achieving the above objectives.