All India Coordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems (AICRP-IFS)
Genesis of the AICRP-IFS:
1953-54 : Simple Fertilizer Trials (ECF).
1956-57: Model Agronomic Experiments-All India Coordinated Agronomic Experiment Scheme.
1968-69 : All India Coordinated Agronomic Research Project.
1989-90 : AICRP on Cropping Systems.
2004-05 : AICRP on Cropping Systems.
2010-11 : AICRP on Integrated Farming Systems.
All India Coordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems (AICRP-IFS) in its present form initiated in 2010-11 is operating with 25 main, 11 sub, 6 ICAR institute-based and 32 on-farm centres in 25 States/Union Territory implemented by Project Coordination Unit (PCU). All main and sub centres are engaged in basic and applied research and are necessarily located at SAUs or their Regional Research Stations or Agricultural colleges of those general universities, where strong agricultural research base is available. Whereas, on-farm research centres (earlier known as Experiments on Cultivators’ Field /ECF centres) are engaged in farmers participatory research and are located in different agro climatic zones. These OFR centres remain shifted from one zone /farming situation to another, every 5 years. The voluntary centres are situated in ICAR institutes and are taking up only IFS model development activity.
Objectives:
On-Station Research
To undertake applied and adaptive research in integrated farming systems (IFS), especially
On production technologies for improving system productivity and resource use efficiencies.
To develop efficient, economically viable and environmentally sustainable IFS models for different zones.
To undertake capacity building and human resource development in IFS.
On-Farm Research
To undertake characterization of existing farming systems for identification of production constraints and problem prioritization.
To undertake on-farm testing and refinement of system-based farm production technologies.
To optimize on-farm integration of farm enterprises for enhanced farm incomes, resource/input use efficiencies, and employment opportunities.
Programmes:
On-Station Research
Sustainable resource management for climate smart IFS.
Identification of cropping systems module for farming systems.
On-Station Research
Evaluation of management practices in pre-dominant cropping systems (OFR 1).