Improving the farming system to attain the household level self-sufficiency, land utilization efficiency and sustainable livelihood security depends on better socio-economic and ecological aspects of the systems practiced by the small farmers in the semiarid regions of India. The higher sustainable livelihood security index (SLSI) in the integrated crops-livestock system helps to restore economic and ecological sustainability. The aim of this study was to analyze how various modules of farming in different combinations have interacted with the diversification of existing systems. We used the ecological security index (ESI), economic efficiency index (EEI), and social equity index (SEI) to produce a SLSI of improved integrated farming system (IFS) compared with benchmark farming in semiarid regions. In this study, different existing IFS comprising of seven modules (field crops, dairy, goats, poultry, horticulture, fishery, and apiary) in different combinations were examined. Results revealed that 72.5% farmers preferred to integrate two modules, where as 95% of farmers adopted field crops + dairy (FC + D) in preference to other modules. The sustainability indicators: ESI (+43.3%), EEI (+16.0%), SEI (+11.6%), and SLSI (+6.0%) were improved in the FC + D farming system to a greater degree than other IFS module combinations. Similarly, improved IFS interventions also increased sustainability indicators over benchmark farming. Based on large scale household studies over 5 years, our findings suggest that the improved IFS succeeded in providing a wider array of livelihood security than existing practices. Hence, the paradigm shift from component approach to an IFS-based resilient system, which is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially acceptable, is needed for development of semiarid regions.

中文翻译：

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印度半干旱地区的弹性农业系统改善了小农的可持续生计安全

改善农业系统以实现家庭水平的自给自足、土地利用效率和可持续的生计保障取决于印度半干旱地区小农所采用的系统的更好的社会经济和生态方面。综合农牧系统中较高的可持续生计安全指数 (SLSI) 有助于恢复经济和生态可持续性。本研究的目的是分析不同组合的各种农业模块如何与现有系统的多样化相互作用。我们使用生态安全指数 (ESI)、经济效率指数 (EEI) 和社会公平指数 (SEI) 与半干旱地区的基准农业相比，产生了改进的综合农业系统 (IFS) 的 SLSI。在这项研究中，研究了不同的现有 IFS，包括不同组合的七个模块（大田作物、乳制品、山羊、家禽、园艺、渔业和养蜂场）。结果显示，72.5% 的农民更喜欢集成两个模块，其中 95% 的农民优先采用大田作物 + 奶制品 (FC + D)，而不是其他模块。可持续性指标：FC+D 农业系统的 ESI (+43.3%)、EEI (+16.0%)、SEI (+11.6%) 和 SLSI (+6.0%) 的改善程度高于其他 IFS 模块组合. 同样，与基准农业相比，改进的 IFS 干预措施也提高了可持续性指标。基于超过 5 年的大规模家庭研究，我们的研究结果表明，改进的 IFS 成功地提供了比现有实践更广泛的生计保障。因此，