Author(s): D. MONDAL AND A. K. BANDYOPADHYAY

Abstract: At present, the farmers concentrate mainly on crop production which is subjected to a high degree of uncertainty in income and employment to the farmers. In this context, it is imperative to evolve suitable strategy for augmenting the income of a farm. Integration of various agricultural enterprises viz., cropping, animal husbandry, fishery, forestry etc. has paramount importance in the agricultural economy. These enterprises not only supplement the income of the farmers but also help in increasing the family labour employment A study was conducted in Katwa and Kalna sub-divisions of Burdwan district in West Bengal on Relative importance of the different integrated agricultural activities performed by farmers to augment their income as well as family labour employment. In such situation the researcher had determined to intervene the relative importance of the different integrated agricultural systems as perceived by the farmers. Structured interview schedule was used to obtain information from 60 progressive farmers. The data obtained were analyzed by frequency, percentage and paired comparison. The relative importance of integrated agricultural systems as perceived by the farmers were integration of crop-horticulture, crop aquaculture, crop-agro-forestry, crop-livestock, and crop-agro processing and crop-allied activities or bio-gas production technique.

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