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Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)
GS Paper III – Agriculture | Concept · Key Features · Benefits · Challenges · Government Initiatives | Updated with 2024–25 Current Affairs | Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan | PYQs + MCQs
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Concept
Key Features
ICAR Model
Benefits
Environmental Impact
Govt Initiatives
Challenges
Current Affairs
Way Forward
Mains PYQs
Practice MCQs
30–60%
Higher farm income vs monocrop
250–350
Person-days/ha/yr (vs 120–150 monocrop)
15–25%
Cut in fertiliser/feed costs
45
ICAR IFS Models (23 states + 1 UT)
89.4%
Farmers with < 2 ha — need IFS
20–25%
Lower income variability in drought years
1. Concept of Integrated Farming Systems
🌱 Definition
A farming system that involves the integration of multiple components of agriculture — crop cultivation, livestock rearing, aquaculture, agroforestry, and other allied activities — in a single farm unit. Emphasises use of natural processes and ecological principles to enhance productivity and sustainability.
Core Principle: "There is no waste" — waste products of one component become inputs for another, creating a closed-loop system that minimises waste and promotes efficiency. For example: livestock waste → fertiliser for crops; crop residues → feed for livestock.
🔁 The Closed-Loop Principle
🐄 Livestock → Manure → 🌾 Crops
🌾 Crops → Residues → 🐄 Livestock feed
🐟 Fish ponds → Nutrient-rich water → 🌾 Crop irrigation
🌳 Agroforestry → Shade + biomass → 🌱 Soil health
🐝 Bees → Pollination → 🍎 Horticulture yield
🌾 Crops → Residues → 🐄 Livestock feed
🐟 Fish ponds → Nutrient-rich water → 🌾 Crop irrigation
🌳 Agroforestry → Shade + biomass → 🌱 Soil health
🐝 Bees → Pollination → 🍎 Horticulture yield
🆚 IFS vs Monocropping
| Parameter | IFS | Monocropping |
|---|---|---|
| Income | 30–60% higher | Baseline |
| Employment | 250–350 days/ha/yr | 120–150 days |
| Income variability | 20–25% lower | High |
| Input cost | 15–25% lower | Baseline |
| Dietary diversity | 15–20% higher | Lower |
Why IFS Matters for India (2026 context): Union Agriculture Minister (February 9, 2026) urged scientists to strengthen and expand IFS tailored for small farmers. Nearly 89.4% of Indian farmers operate on landholdings below 2 hectares — making diversification through IFS essential for income stability. IFS aligns with Viksit Bharat@2047 goals and doubling farmer income.
2. Key Features of Integrated Farming Systems
🌾🐄 Crop-Livestock Diversification
Integrated farming raises a range of livestock and a variety of crops on the same land. Lowers risk of crop failure; promotes a balanced farm ecosystem. Multiple income streams from a single farm unit.
♻️ Resource Efficiency
Maximised through efficient use of land, water, and nutrients while minimising waste. Animal manure replaces costly chemical fertilisers — improves agricultural yields. Crop residues used as livestock feed — eliminates external feed purchase.
🌍 Natural Resource Conservation
Reduces soil erosion, limits water pollution, and maintains biodiversity. Organic matter recycling improves soil structure and water-holding capacity. Less chemical runoff than conventional monoculture systems.
🐛 Reduced Pests & Diseases
Crop rotation, intercropping, and mixed cropping reduce pest/disease occurrence. Beneficial insects (ladybirds, praying mantises) reduce aphids and thrips by 25–30% (KVK data). Lessens pesticide dependence — improves sustainability.
💰 Increased & Stable Earnings
Diversification of product lines reduces income variability. 30–60% higher net farm income than monocropping (ICAR). During droughts and price shocks, mixed crop-livestock systems show 20–25% lower income variability (NITI Aayog).
🥗 Nutritional Security
Households practising IFM show 15–20% higher dietary diversity — improved protein and micronutrient intake (NFHS-linked rural nutrition studies). Fish, eggs, milk, vegetables, and fruits produced on one farm.
3. ICAR Integrated Farming System Models
🔬 ICAR-IARI IFS Model — 9 Components for 1 Hectare (Irrigated)
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (New Delhi) has developed a flagship IFS model for a 1-hectare irrigated farm with nine components working in an interconnected loop:
🌾 Crop Production
Food and cash crops; residues recycled
Food and cash crops; residues recycled
🐟 Pisciculture
Fish pond; nutrient-rich water for crops
Fish pond; nutrient-rich water for crops
🦆 Duckery
Ducks eat pests in fish ponds; eggs
Ducks eat pests in fish ponds; eggs
🐔 Poultry
Eggs + meat; droppings as fertiliser
Eggs + meat; droppings as fertiliser
🐝 Apiary (Beekeeping)
Honey + pollination services
Honey + pollination services
🌳 Agroforestry
Timber + fruits + shade + biomass
Timber + fruits + shade + biomass
🌿 Composting Unit
Converts all organic waste to manure
Converts all organic waste to manure
🔥 Biogas Plant
Cooking fuel from animal waste; slurry as fertiliser
Cooking fuel from animal waste; slurry as fertiliser
🐄 Dairy
Milk; dung for biogas/compost
Milk; dung for biogas/compost
3.1 ICAR Research Infrastructure for IFS
| Institution/Programme | Key Details |
|---|---|
| ICAR-IIFSR | Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut — apex body for IFS in India. Renamed from PDFSR (Project Directorate for Farming System Research, operationalised 2009) |
| AICRP on IFS | All India Coordinated Research Project on IFS (initiated 2010-11); 25 main centres + 12 sub-centres at State Agricultural Universities; 32 on-farm research centres across agro-climatic zones |
| 45 IFS Models | ICAR developed 45 climate-resilient IFS models across 23 states and 1 UT, covering 15 agro-climatic zones. Developed with 25 SAUs, 5 research institutes, 1 Central University through AICRP |
| KVK Demos | 731 KVKs across India replicate and demonstrate ICAR IFS models for farmer extension. On-farm participatory research for adaptive trials |
| Demonstration Effect | Over 30% of neighbouring farmers in IFM-adopting villages implement similar practices after observing successful integrated farms (NABARD) |
Types of IFS: IFS can be classified as Natural (naturally occurring integrated systems in traditional farming) and Intentional (scientifically designed to achieve multiple objectives — increased production, profit, cost reduction through recycling, family nutrition, sustainability, ecological security, and employment generation).
4. Benefits — Economic, Social & Employment
| Benefit Area | Quantified Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Farm Income | 30–60% higher net farm income vs monocropping through diversified outputs | ICAR Field Studies |
| Risk Reduction | ~20–25% lower income variability during droughts and price shocks | NITI Aayog |
| Employment Generation | 250–350 person-days/ha/year vs 120–150 under cereal monocropping | ICAR |
| Input Cost Efficiency | Recycling manure and residues cuts chemical fertiliser and feed costs by 15–25% | FAO-ICAR Joint Studies |
| Nutritional Security | 15–20% higher dietary diversity — improved protein and micronutrient intake | NFHS-Linked Nutrition Studies |
| Soil Organic Carbon | Increases by 0.3–0.5% per year through organic manure and residue recycling | ICAR |
| Biodiversity | Mixed cropping and agroforestry increase on-farm plant and insect diversity by 15–20% | FAO-ICAR Studies |
| Pest Control | Beneficial insects reduce aphid/thrips populations by 25–30% — lower pesticide use | KVK |
| Demonstration Effect | 30%+ of neighbouring farmers adopt IFM after observing successful farms | NABARD |
Why Small Farmers Need IFS: 89.4% of Indian farmers have landholdings below 2 hectares (Agriculture Census 2015-16). For them, IFS is not optional — it is the pathway to economic viability. A single crop failure can push a small farmer into debt. IFS creates multiple income streams (milk, eggs, fish, horticulture, crops) that provide year-round cash flow, reducing dependence on any single commodity.
5. Environmental & Social Impact
🌱 Soil Health Improvement
- Organic manure and crop-livestock residue recycling increases soil organic carbon by 0.3–0.5% per year
- Improved soil fertility and long-term productivity
- Biogas slurry is a high-quality liquid fertiliser — preserves soil microbiome
- Reduces chemical fertiliser use → prevents soil acidification and nutrient lock-up
🌿 Biodiversity & Ecological Balance
- Mixed cropping and agroforestry increase on-farm plant and insect diversity by 15–20% (FAO-ICAR)
- Beneficial insects (ladybirds, praying mantises) reduce aphid/thrips by 25–30%
- Agroforestry components support bird and pollinator habitat
- Intercropping reduces monoculture vulnerability to pest outbreaks
💧 Water & Climate Benefits
- Reduced chemical inputs → lower nutrient runoff into water bodies
- Agroforestry components improve microclimate and groundwater recharge
- Climate-resilient farming — diverse systems withstand weather shocks better
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from lower synthetic fertiliser production/application
👨👩👧 Social Benefits
- 15–20% higher dietary diversity → better household nutrition, especially children
- Year-round employment for farm family — reduces seasonal migration
- Women's participation — dairy, poultry, beekeeping offer women-led enterprise opportunities
- Demonstration effect: 30%+ neighbouring farmers adopt after observation (NABARD)
6. Government Initiatives Supporting IFS
| Scheme/Mission | IFS Relevance | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| NMSA-RAD (National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture — Rainfed Area Development) | Directly promotes IFS clusters in rainfed areas | Integrates crops, livestock, horticulture, fisheries, agroforestry; promotes location-specific IFS clusters for climate resilience and income |
| RKVY-RAFTAAR | Funds infrastructure and innovative IFS models | States given flexible grants for IFS assets — sheds, ponds, fodder units, packhouses; agri-entrepreneurship under IFS; 60:40 Centre-State funding |
| MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) | Promotes high-value horticulture integration | Encourages integration of horticulture with crop-livestock systems for income enhancement; post-harvest support |
| PMMSY (PM Matsya Sampada Yojana) | Strengthens fisheries as IFS component | ₹20,050 crore outlay; enables fish-crop-livestock integration; support for inland aquaculture and fish-paddy systems |
| PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana) | Promotes organic nutrient cycling in IFS | ₹20,000/acre/3 yrs; PGS certification; organic input production from livestock; nutrient loops between crops and animals |
| NMNF (National Mission on Natural Farming) | Low-input IFS through ZBNF principles | ₹2,481 crore (Nov 2024); 1 crore farmers target; 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres; on-farm organic inputs from livestock |
| National Livestock Mission (NLM) | Supports livestock component of IFS | Launched 2014; promotes dairy, poultry, piggery, goatery within integrated farming systems; breed improvement |
| KVKs (731 centres) | Technology demonstration and extension | Replicates 45 ICAR IFS models; on-farm participatory research; farmer training on crop-livestock-fishery integration |
Kerala — Jaivagriham Project: Kerala Government provides financial assistance for integrated farming through the Rebuild Kerala Initiative. Integrated farming programmes implemented by combining at least five enterprises — crop farming, animal husbandry, poultry, beekeeping, and fish farming. This is a model state-level IFS initiative for replication.
7. Challenges in IFS Adoption
- Integrated models require 20–30% higher upfront capital than single-crop systems — deterring adoption by marginal farmers
- Nearly 45% of smallholders face difficulty accessing formal credit for allied activities (livestock sheds, fish ponds, composting units)
- Cattle sheds, fishponds, poultry units, biogas plants require substantial initial investment
- Institutional credit for animal husbandry, fisheries, and agroforestry components is fragmented and harder to access than crop loans
- Banks often lack IFS-specific credit products combining crop + livestock + fishery financing
- IFS requires technical proficiency in multiple domains — crop production, animal husbandry, aquaculture, agroforestry
- Traditional farmers trained in single-crop systems lack skills for multi-enterprise management
- Veterinary, fishery, and horticulture extension services are typically separate — integrated advisory is rare
- Labour-intensive operations require technical skill development across all IFS components
- Agronomic decisions (which crops, which livestock, which fish species to combine) require location-specific expert guidance
- Fragmented schemes across crops, livestock, and fisheries departments delay convergence benefits
- Only ~30% of districts show effective scheme convergence for integrated support
- Different ministries (Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries) operate separate schemes with poor coordination
- Extension services organised by sector — crop extension workers don't advise on livestock; fishery officers don't cover crops
- Budget allocations don't encourage district-level officials to promote cross-sector integration
- Diversity of IFS products (crops, milk, fish, eggs, fruits, honey) creates market access challenges — no single aggregator handles all
- Fluctuating or low market demand for perishable IFS products (eggs, fish, vegetables) can undermine profitability
- Multiple regulatory compliances: food safety (FSSAI), animal welfare, environmental norms, fisheries laws — cumbersome for small farmers
- Value chains for IFS produce underdeveloped — limited agro-processing and cold chain infrastructure in rural areas
- Climate change affects multiple components simultaneously — crop failure + livestock disease + fish pond depletion in one drought year
Structural Constraint: The core challenge is that India's agricultural support system is designed for monoculture. MSP, insurance (PMFBY), credit (KCC), and extension (KVKs) all prioritise individual crops. IFS requires a convergence architecture where crop + livestock + fishery support is delivered simultaneously, which only ~30% of districts currently achieve.
8. Current Affairs 2024–25 High Priority
🌾 Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) 2025 — Lab-to-Land at Scale
- Launch: May 29, 2025, Sakhigopal, Puri (Odisha) by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Duration: May 29 – June 12, 2025 (15-day pre-Kharif campaign); to be conducted biannually before Kharif and Rabi seasons
- Scale: 2,170 interdisciplinary teams; 1.5 crore farmers across 700+ districts; 65,000+ villages; 16,000+ scientists deployed
- Teams composition: Scientists from 113 ICAR institutes + 731 KVKs + State Agricultural Universities + state line department officials + FPO representatives
- Objectives: Educate farmers on modern technologies, high-yield seeds, region-specific practices; raise scheme awareness (PMFBY, PM-KISAN, subsidies); promote natural farming, soil health, IPM; support horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries for rural livelihoods
- Achievement in 10 days: 1,896 teams reached 8,95,944 farmers across 8,188 villages
- IFS Relevance: Campaign directly promotes integrated farming and solar energy convergence for marginal farmers; advocates crop diversification and allied sector integration
- UPSC relevance: Addresses "lab-to-land" gap — compresses technology transfer timelines by deploying scientists directly into fields (demand-driven research)
🌱 Union Agriculture Minister Pushes IFS Expansion (February 9, 2026)
- Union Agriculture Minister urged scientists to strengthen and expand IFS tailored for small farmers
- Context: 89.4% of Indian farmers operate on landholdings below 2 ha — income diversification through IFS is critical
- Push for region-specific, climate-resilient IFS models — not one-size-fits-all
- Stressed integration of fisheries, horticulture, and natural farming within crop-livestock systems
🌿 National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) — November 2024
- Budget: ₹2,481 crore; target: 1 crore farmers in 15,000 clusters over two years
- 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) — community-level IFS support nodes providing Jeevamrit, Bijamrit and other ZBNF inputs
- Strongly complements IFS — promotes on-farm organic inputs through crop-livestock nutrient recycling (cow dung/urine → Jeevamrit → soil fertility → higher crop yield)
- Reduces chemical input costs; builds soil health; integrates livestock as essential IFS component
🐟 PM Matsya Sampada Yojana Progress 2024-25
- PMMSY — ₹20,050 crore flagship fisheries scheme — enabling fish-crop-livestock integration
- Fish-paddy (rice-fish farming) systems being promoted in Odisha, Manipur, Chhattisgarh — combining fish production with rice cultivation in same field
- Fish farming pond construction + water from irrigation canals = integrated water-land use
- Target: doubling fisheries production and fishers' income; fisheries value chain strengthened for IFS market access
9. Way Forward
🌱 Cluster Scaling
Promote agro-climatic, location-specific IFM clusters with common infrastructure and shared advisory. Example: NMSA's Rainfed Area Development (RAD) component already promotes IFS clusters in rainfed areas. Scale this model to cover all 60% of India's rainfed cultivated area.
💰 Flexible Financing
Enable states to fund customised IFM assets (cattle sheds, fish ponds, fodder units, packhouses) through flexible grants under RKVY. IFS-specific credit products combining crop + livestock + fishery financing in a single Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility.
♻️ Nutrient Cycling
Strengthen organic nutrient loops linking livestock and crops to cut input costs and improve soil health. Use PKVY and NMNF frameworks to formalise on-farm organic input production. Biogas plants as dual-benefit units — cooking fuel + liquid fertiliser.
🔬 Lab-to-Land Compression
Compress technology transfer timelines by deploying scientists directly into villages for adaptive trials and demonstrations. Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan model (2,170 teams, 700+ districts, biannual) should be made permanent rather than episodic. Demand-driven research — scientist feedback from villages shapes ICAR priorities.
🏪 Value Chain Development
Develop IFS-specific value chains — integrated market platforms handling milk, eggs, fish, horticulture, honey from the same farm. Link IFS farmers to FPOs for collective marketing. Build cold chain and agro-processing infrastructure at cluster level. Leverage e-NAM for IFS produce price discovery.
🔗 Convergence Architecture
Create district-level IFS convergence committees with Agriculture + Animal Husbandry + Fisheries + Horticulture + Forest departments. Unified IFS extension workers trained across all components. Single-window IFS credit + insurance + subsidy portal at district level.
10. UPSC Mains PYQs
15 Marks
⏱ ~18 minutes | 200 words
GS Paper III2022Agriculture Diversification
What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (UPSC 2021)
Introduction: India's agriculture is dominated by rice-wheat monoculture (50%+ cultivated area); 86% farmers with < 2 ha landholdings need diversification for income stability. Integrated Farming Systems represent the most comprehensive diversification model.
Challenges before Crop Diversification:
Challenges before Crop Diversification:
- MSP bias: Effective procurement only for rice and wheat — farmers reluctant to shift to pulses, oilseeds, millets without assured price
- Market infrastructure deficit: Cold chains, warehouses, processing units for horticulture and allied products underdeveloped in rural areas
- Input subsidy lock-in: Urea subsidy (₹1 lakh crore/yr) and free electricity incentivise paddy — reform politically difficult
- Credit gap: KCC primarily for crop loans; allied activity financing (livestock, fishery, horticulture) harder to access — 45% of smallholders lack credit for diversification
- Technical knowledge gap: IFS requires multi-domain competence; extension services organised by sector rather than farm-holistically
- Climate risk: New crops unfamiliar to farmers in different agro-climatic zones carry higher perceived risk than traditional staples
- AgriStack + Krishi DSS: Soil profile mapping and crop suitability data → helps farmers identify optimal diversification options for their specific land
- Drone technology (Namo Drone Didi): Precision spraying enables horticultural crops requiring careful nutrient management
- Remote sensing + AI: DGCES and NADAMS provide real-time crop health and drought data → support for decision-making on crop switching
- e-NAM and digital markets: Transparent price discovery for non-MSP crops improves farmer confidence in diversification
- mKRISHI and eSagu: Farm-specific personalised advisories on crop diversification combinations for different agro-climatic zones
10 Marks
⏱ ~12 minutes | 150 words
GS Paper IIIIntegrated Farming
What are Integrated Farming Systems? Discuss their benefits for small and marginal farmers in India and the challenges in their adoption.
Introduction: IFS = integration of crops, livestock, fisheries, and agroforestry in a single farm unit; closed-loop system where waste of one component becomes input for another. With 89.4% of Indian farmers on < 2 ha, IFS is critical for income stability.
Benefits for Small and Marginal Farmers:
Benefits for Small and Marginal Farmers:
- Higher income: 30–60% higher net farm income vs monocropping (ICAR) through diversified outputs across seasons
- Risk reduction: 20–25% lower income variability during droughts — multiple income streams buffer single crop failure
- Employment: 250–350 person-days/ha/year vs 120–150 under monoculture — reduces seasonal unemployment and migration
- Input cost savings: Manure recycling cuts fertiliser + feed costs by 15–25% — critical for land-constrained farmers
- Nutritional security: Household-level production of milk, eggs, fish, vegetables — 15–20% higher dietary diversity (NFHS)
- Soil health: Soil organic carbon increases 0.3–0.5%/year — long-term productivity protection
- 20–30% higher initial capital requirement; 45% of smallholders lack formal credit for allied activities
- Multi-domain technical knowledge required — crop + livestock + fishery competence
- Only 30% of districts show effective scheme convergence across Agriculture + Animal Husbandry + Fisheries
- Market access for diverse IFS outputs (eggs, fish, honey, vegetables) challenging without aggregation infrastructure
10 Marks
⏱ ~12 minutes | 150 words
GS Paper III2019Biotechnology
How can biotechnology improve the living standards of farmers? (2019)
Introduction: Biotechnology enables genetic, cellular, and molecular tools to improve agricultural productivity, reduce input costs, and enhance farm resilience — with direct livelihood implications for India's 140 million farmer households.
How Biotechnology Improves Farmer Living Standards:
Way Forward: Strengthen ICAR biotechnology programmes; fast-track GEAC approvals for non-food biotech; prioritise biotech solutions for IFS components (livestock vaccines, fishery genetics).
How Biotechnology Improves Farmer Living Standards:
- Pest-resistant crops: Bt cotton (Bollgard I & II) reduced pesticide applications by 40–50% in initial years, saving farmers ₹2,000–4,000/acre; Bt Brinjal (where approved) — similar pesticide savings
- Drought/flood tolerance: DRR Dhan 1 (drought-tolerant rice), Swarna Sub-1 (submergence-tolerant) protect income during climate stress — IFS component protection
- Bio-fortification: Zinc-enriched wheat, iron-rich pearl millet, Golden Rice — address micronutrient deficiencies while maintaining farm productivity
- Animal health: Recombinant vaccines (FMD, PPR) for livestock — protect cattle, sheep, goat components of IFS from disease losses
- Tissue culture planting material: Banana, sugarcane tissue culture — disease-free planting material improves yields 25–40% for horticulture IFS component
- Biopesticides and biofertilisers: Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Trichoderma reduce chemical input costs — complement ZBNF and PKVY within IFS
Way Forward: Strengthen ICAR biotechnology programmes; fast-track GEAC approvals for non-food biotech; prioritise biotech solutions for IFS components (livestock vaccines, fishery genetics).
11. Practice MCQs — Integrated Farming Systems
Q 1
Which of the following best describes the core principle of an Integrated Farming System (IFS)?
The core principle of IFS is the closed-loop system — "there is no waste." Waste products of one component become inputs for another: livestock manure → crop fertiliser; crop residues → livestock feed; fish pond water → crop irrigation; biogas plant slurry → liquid fertiliser. This interconnection maximises resource efficiency across the farm unit. Options (a), (c), and (d) describe monoculture or single-system farming, not integrated farming. The closed-loop principle is what distinguishes IFS from crop diversification alone — it creates systemic interdependence between farm components. Correct answer: (b).
Q 2
ICAR has developed 45 Integrated Farming System (IFS) models for India. Which institution serves as the apex body for IFS research in India?
ICAR-IIFSR (Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research), Modipuram, Meerut is the apex body for IFS in India. It was renamed from the earlier PDFSR (Project Directorate for Farming System Research), which was operationalised in 2009. The AICRP on IFS (All India Coordinated Research Project) operates under IIFSR with 25 main centres + 12 sub-centres at State Agricultural Universities + 32 on-farm research centres across agro-climatic zones. ICAR-IARI (option a) developed the 9-component IFS model for 1-hectare irrigated farms, but IIFSR is the dedicated apex institution. ICAR-CIFA (option b) is the freshwater aquaculture institute that hosted the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 2025 launch. Correct answer: (c).
Q 3
Consider the following about Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) 2025:
1. It was launched on May 29, 2025 in Odisha and ran for 15 days as a pre-Kharif campaign.
2. It deployed 2,170 interdisciplinary teams to reach 1.5 crore farmers across 700+ districts.
3. Teams included scientists from ICAR institutes, KVKs, State Agricultural Universities, and FPOs.
4. The campaign was a one-time initiative and is not intended to be repeated before the Rabi season.
Which are CORRECT?
1. It was launched on May 29, 2025 in Odisha and ran for 15 days as a pre-Kharif campaign.
2. It deployed 2,170 interdisciplinary teams to reach 1.5 crore farmers across 700+ districts.
3. Teams included scientists from ICAR institutes, KVKs, State Agricultural Universities, and FPOs.
4. The campaign was a one-time initiative and is not intended to be repeated before the Rabi season.
Which are CORRECT?
Statement 4 is WRONG: VKSA is NOT a one-time initiative. The campaign is intended to be conducted biannually — before both Kharif and Rabi sowing seasons to ensure timely dissemination of research findings. This was agreed at the Kharif Conference attended by state agriculture ministers. Statement 1 ✅ (Launched May 29, 2025 at Sakhigopal, Puri, Odisha; May 29–June 12 = 15 days). Statement 2 ✅ (2,170 teams; 1.5 crore farmers; 700+ districts; 65,000+ villages). Statement 3 ✅ (Teams include scientists from 113 ICAR institutes + 731 KVKs + SAUs + state line departments + FPO representatives). Correct answer: (b).
Q 4
Under the ICAR-IARI Integrated Farming System model designed for a 1-hectare irrigated farm, which of the following components are included?
1. Crop production and agroforestry
2. Pisciculture and duckery
3. Biogas plant and composting unit
4. Solar irrigation and drip infrastructure
1. Crop production and agroforestry
2. Pisciculture and duckery
3. Biogas plant and composting unit
4. Solar irrigation and drip infrastructure
The ICAR-IARI IFS model for 1 ha irrigated area has nine specific components: Crop Production, Pisciculture (fish farming), Duckery, Poultry, Apiary (beekeeping), Agroforestry, Composting Unit, Biogas Plant, and Dairy. Components 1, 2, and 3 from the question are all present. Solar irrigation (Statement 4) is NOT a core component of the ICAR-IARI IFS model — while solar pumps (PM-KUSUM) complement IFS, they are not part of the defined 9-component model. Note: The model optimises land use by creating interconnected flows — e.g., ducks eat pests in fish ponds while providing eggs; biogas plant uses animal dung for cooking fuel AND the slurry becomes liquid fertiliser; agroforestry provides shade, fodder, timber, and fruit. Correct answer: (c).
Q 5
Consider the following pairs — Scheme : Key IFS contribution:
1. NMSA-RAD : Promotes location-specific IFS clusters in rainfed areas
2. PMMSY : Strengthens fisheries as an allied activity enabling fish-crop-livestock integration
3. PKVY : Promotes organic nutrient cycling between livestock and crops using PGS certification
4. National Livestock Mission : Focuses exclusively on cattle breeds — not relevant to IFS
Which pairs are CORRECTLY matched?
1. NMSA-RAD : Promotes location-specific IFS clusters in rainfed areas
2. PMMSY : Strengthens fisheries as an allied activity enabling fish-crop-livestock integration
3. PKVY : Promotes organic nutrient cycling between livestock and crops using PGS certification
4. National Livestock Mission : Focuses exclusively on cattle breeds — not relevant to IFS
Which pairs are CORRECTLY matched?
Pair 4 is WRONG: The National Livestock Mission (NLM, 2014) does NOT focus exclusively on cattle — it supports all livestock including dairy, poultry, piggery, and goatery within integrated farming systems. NLM specifically encourages farmers to embrace integrated farming systems by developing these diverse livestock enterprises alongside crop production. Pair 1 ✅: NMSA's RAD component directly promotes location-specific IFS clusters in rainfed areas. Pair 2 ✅: PMMSY (₹20,050 crore) strengthens fisheries as an IFS allied activity — fish-paddy systems, fish-crop-livestock integration. Pair 3 ✅: PKVY promotes organic nutrient cycling through PGS certification — ₹20,000/acre/3 years supports organic input production from livestock (dung, urine) within IFS framework. Correct answer: (c).
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