The  Integrated Farming System method is based on a more organic, self-sustaining approach: after farmers grow and harvest crops, they feed livestock the leftover plant parts and grass from the fields, which results in nutrient-rich dung and urine that serves as an organic fertilizer for growing new crops.Its is a fr of Sustainable Agriculture.

Sustainable agriculture means an integrated approach to increasing farm yield and managing resources in order to address all three critical aspects of sustainability: economic, environmental and social.

The Integrated Farming System approach has multiple objectives of sustainability, food security, farmer security and poverty reduction.

It involves use of outputs of one enterprise component as inputs for other related enterprises wherever feasible, for example, cattle dung mixed with crop residues and farm waste can be converted in to nutrient-rich vermi-compost.

The salient features of Integrated Farming System include – innovation in farming for maximising production through optimal use of local resources, effective recycling of farm waste for productive purposes, community-led local systems for water conservation, organic farming, and developing a judicious mix of income-generating activities such as dairy, poultry, fishery, goat-rearing, vermicomposting and others.

Problems of Indian Agriculture:

In India , the following recurring and emerging issues for sustainable agricultural development and poverty alleviation must be considered:

(i) Population pressure and demographic transition;

(ii) Resource base degradation and water scarcity;

(iii) Investment in agriculture, structural adjustment and impact on the poor;

(iv) Globalization and implication on the poor;

(v) Modern science and technology and support to research and technology development; and

(vi) Rapid urbanization and urbanization of poverty, and deceleration in rural poverty reduction.

Solutions:

In addressing the above issues, the policies on agriculture must take note of the following uncommon opportunities:

• Conservation of natural resources and protection of environment.
• Vast untapped potential of our soil and water resources, and farming systems
• Technology revolution especially in the areas of molecular biology, biotechnology, space technology, ecology and management.
• Revolution in informatics and communication and the opportunity of linking farmers, extension workers and scientists with the national and international databases