PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF FARMING SYSTEMS IN UPPER BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY ZONE OF ASSAM

B. GOGOI¹*, M. BORAH², J. HAZARIKA³, A. RAJBONGSHI⁴, A. BORAH⁵, B. BORAH⁶, K.K. SHARMA⁷, A. BAISHYA^8
1Integrated Farming Systems, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
²Integrated Farming Systems, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
³Integrated Farming Systems, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
⁴ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nalbari, 781 337, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
⁵Livestock Research Station, Mandira, Kamrup (Rural), 781 127, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
⁶Integrated Farming Systems, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
⁷Integrated Farming Systems, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
⁸Director of Post-Graduate Studies, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
* Corresponding Author : bg100777@yahoo.co.uk

Received : 19-08-2019     Accepted : 13-09-2019     Published : 15-09-2019
Volume : 11     Issue : 17       Pages : 8958 - 8963
Int J Agr Sci 11.17 (2019):8958-8963

Keywords : Integrated farming, Cropping system, Socio-economic status, Characterization, Diversification, Intervention
Academic Editor : Dr Santosh Kumar Jha
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research, Modipuram, Meerut, UP, India for providing the financial support to carry-out the works. Authors are also thankful to Integrated Farming Systems, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, Assam, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The survey was conducted during 2013-14 in Jorhat and Sibsagar district of Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone in the state of Assam with a view to characterize the existing farming systems of the zone and to analyse the problems and prospects related to farming systems in the zone. Data generated from the survey indicated that, farming systems on the sample farms comprised of crop, livestock, poultry, duckery, fishery and apiary component. The findings showed that the major farming system prevailing in Jorhat district was crop + livestock + poultry, while the same in Sibsagar district was crops+ livestock+ poultry+ fishery. The data also revealed that the contribution of crop component towards farm income was highest in both Jorhat district (46%) and Sibsagar district (45%). Among the bio-physical constraints faced by the respondent farmers, irregular supply of water/erratic rainfall was most important, which was faced by 98 and 95% of the farmers in Jorhat and Sibsagar district respectively. Among the socio-economic constraints, non-availability of suitable infrastructure ranked first in both the districts.

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