Sustainable Integrated Farming System Model for Enhancing Profitability, Resource Efficiency, and Soil Health for Smallholder in Indian Mediterranean Ecosystem of North Western Himalayan Region

N P Thakur^1*Dileep Kachroo²Parshotam Kumar²A K Gupta¹N Ravishankar²V Khajuria¹Vikas Koul¹Meenakshi Attri¹Swati Mehta^3*Graciela Dolores Avila-Quezada⁴Ali Salem^5,6*Mohamed A. Mattar^7*

• ¹Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu, India
• ²ICAR - Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Meerut, India
• ³Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
• ⁴Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
• ⁵Minia University Faculty of Engineering, Minya, Egypt
• ⁶Structural Diagnostics and Analysis Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Pécs 7622, Hungary
• ⁷Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Indian agriculture is facing a multifaceted crisis driven by declining profitability, shrinking landholdings, rising input costs, and deteriorating soil fertility under the pressures of climate changeespecially among small and marginal farmers who constitute 90% of the sector. This study presents a sustainable Integrated Farming System (IFS) model developed on one hectare under irrigated subtropical conditions in Jammu, India, combining diversified cropping, horticulture, dairy, poultry-cum-fishery, mushroom cultivation, biogas, and vermicomposting. The model demonstrated annual productivity of 23.55 t REY/ha, net profitability of Rs. 3.05 lakhs/ha, and employment generation of 481 man-days/ha. Animal-based components contributed the highest share of profits (45.5%), while the model met approximately 75% of on-farm input needs, reduced input costs by 40%, and provided comprehensive food and nutritional security for a five-member household. Notably, soil organic carbon and bulk density significantly improved under horticultural and boundary plantation zones, highlighting the ecological benefits of integrated systems. The findings affirm that IFS enhances profitability, input efficiency, and soil health, making it a viable strategy for resilient and sustainable smallholder farming.