Agrotechnology

Impact of Integrated Farming Systems Approach on the holistic development of resource -poor SC/ ST farmers: An Indian experience

3^rd International Conference on Agriculture & Horticulture

October 27-29, 2014 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

K Raja Mohan Rao and Nagaraju Y

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

In India, resource poor Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe population comprises nearly 25 percent of total population (2011cencus). They are constantly exposed to a threat of poverty, illiteracy, hunger, starvation, malnutrition and migration. Scheduled Caste Farming Families are totally depending upon agricultural production system for their survival. The major constraints they face are uncertain, untimely and inadequate rainfall, shrinking land holdings, non-availability of agricultural labour and drought animals, lack of purchasing power, lack of technical know -how and communication facilities. Agricultural sector is neglected due to rapid urbanisation and increasing input cost of agriculture. Hence they are migrating to cities for taking up occupations such as Construction work, street sweeping & sanitation and other manual labour. Though, the Central & State Governments are implementing various developmental programmes to bring them to the main stream of the society they are not able to get developed. The reasons are- they are politically neglected, economically vulnerable and Socially Excluded. However, the programme viz., Integrated Farming System Approach has really contributed for their development in the study area as per a Study that was conducted in some of the villages in Karnataka State of India. The results of the study are presented in this paper.