Discussions were held on to enhance the income sustainably of farmers in the eastern part of the country

The ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar recently organised a three-day National Conference on ’Integrated Farming Systems: A Tool for Enhancing Income and Nutritional Security.’

In his inaugural address, the Chief Guest, Dr BS Mahapatra, Vice-Chancellor, BCKV, Kalyani, West Bengal outlined the importance of the integrated farming system and emphasised decreasing the cost of cultivation. Dr Mahapatra regarded the IFS as a climate-resilient practice that increases the farmers’ agricultural income by the integration of the different components – crops, livestock, horticulture and fisheries, etc.

The Guest of Honour, Dr AS Panwar, Director, ICAR- Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh highlighted the importance of nutritional security for all along with food security. He also stressed on to develop location-specific farming system models for the various agro-ecological conditions.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr Ujjwal Kumar, Director, ICAR-RCER, Patna stressed the need for adoption of the IFS for the small and marginal farmers of the Eastern region to enhance their income sustainably.

The conference saw participation from 500 participants.