Integrated Farming System to Mitigate Climate Change Impact on Horticulture in India

In India fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, aromatic and medicinal plants come under the head of horticulture crops. There is major contribution of these crops in increasing agriculture prosperity of the nation. India ranked First in whole world in terms of production, consumption and exports of spices and also ranked Second in production of fruits and vegetables in the whole world. With reference to the Second Advance Estimates for the year 2023-24 by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, India’stotal horticulture production is estimated to be 352.23 million tonnes, which is slightly lower than the 355.48 million tonnes recorded in 2022-23, marking a decline of 0.91%. However, the area under horticulture cultivation has slightly increased from 28.44 million hectares to 28.63 million hectares, showing a growth of 0.66%. (Datta et al., 2022)The total fruit output is projected at 112.63 million tonnes, compared to 110.21 million tonnes in the previous year—an increase of 2.19%. Fruits like banana, mango, guava, lemon, and grapes have shown growth in production but there is a decline in the production of apple and pomegranate. Vegetable production has declined. The estimated vegetable output for 2023-24 stands at 204.96 million tonnes, down from 212.55 million tonnes in 2022-23, reflecting a 3.55% decrease. Increase in production can be seen in bottle gourd, bitter gourd, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, tapioca, carrot, and tomato, while major crops like onion, potato, and brinjal have shown a drop. (Muchie & Assefa, 2021)

Climate change or we can say unpredictable and uneven weather conditions in a nation directly affects its agriculture sector. It causes biotic and abiotic stress while adversely affecting the horticulture crops of the country. Changing climatic conditions are as follows: -  Global warming  Rise in temperatures  Uneven monsoon rains  Unexpected cold & heat waves,  Droughts  Floods  Rise in Sea Level  Extreme & Unpredictable Weather Events  Glaciers and Ice Melting  Ocean Acidification  Loss of Biodiversity  Stronger Tropical Storms  Thawing Permafrost  Desertification The damages faced by farmers due to these adverse and unpredictable effects of climate change on different horticulture crops are stated below: -  Change in time taken for production of crops, because of rise in temperature crops develop very fast and mature early especially citrus fruits like lemon, oranges, melon and grapes.  Reduction in crop yield and production  Poor quality of crops due to drastic temperature variants.  Increased risk of pest and other sudden weather change diseases.  Flooding & Waterlogging  Soil Degradation  Reduction in Pollination  Nutrient Imbalance The above stated problems, causes huge losses to the livelihood of farmers across the nation. To overcome these losses the adoption of sustainable agriculture farming techniques is required. Sustainable agriculture practices are conservative agriculture methods used for the optimization of natural resources. Integrated Farming System is one of the many methods of sustainable agriculture used in the nation. Integrated Farming System (IFS) is the best remedy to deal with all sorts of problems faced by the farmers of Horticulture crops in India. IFS is a holistic approach that helps in a year-round income generation and ensure food and nutritional security to farmers, especially small and marginal farmers, Overall, IFS promotes economic stability, resource conservation, and environmentally friendly farming. (Bhagat et al., 2024)

The IFS has following Goals:  To Enhance the productivity of per unit area in production of the crops.  To improve the Soil heath and fertility  To Maximize the reduction of chemical fertilizers usage while encouraging the use of organic fertilizers.  Maximum yield & continuous income throughout the year.  Proper Waste Management System  Pest management.  Economic Stability to farmers  Conservation of natural resources  Protection of Environment and Biodiversity as a whole.

The Various Components in Integrated Farming System (IFS) are as follows: TABLE 1 VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM (IFS)

Crop Husbandry Growing and managing of crops for food, fodder and other purposes.

Aquaculture Farming of different species offish and other water animals or water plants.

Apiculture Keeping bees for production of honey and also to help pollinate plants.

Sericulture Growing silkworms to make silk.

Poultry Raising birds like geese, chicken and emu for eggs and meat.

Livestock Raising of cows, buffaloes’ goats, sheep, camels, horses and pigs for milk, wool, meat & transport.

Husbandry Growing trees, shrubs & herbs together with crops or animals on the same land to increase soil fertility Agro-forestry & additional income generation Biogas Plants Turning organic waste into gas for energy and compost.

Mushroom Growing mushrooms for food or medicinal use.

Cultivation Duckery Raising ducks for their meat, eggs, or feathers. (corrected)

Horticulture Growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.

FIGURE 1: Various Components in Integrated Farming System (IFS)

Source: Self-Created Research Gap: Despite various national and international studies highlighting the impact of climate change on horticultural crops, there remains alack of comprehensive, region-specific evidence on the effectiveness of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) in enhancing climate resilience among Indian farmers. Furthermore, most existing literature does not focus on the unique challenges faced by small and marginal farmers in adopting such systems. Therefore, this study is crucial in bridging this research gap by examining IFS applications, benefits, barriers, and policy needs, thereby underlining the significance of adopting IFS as a sustainable model to mitigate climate-related risks in horticulture.