Augmentation of economic status of Bastar tribals through integrated (crop, livestock, poultry, duck, fish) farming system

Investigations were carried out to find out a sustainable mixed farming mod el which is economically viable integrating the crop livestock poultry, duc k and fish farming on 1.5 ha land holding. Different viable combinations, v iz. (i) arable, (ii) mixed farming with 2 crossbred cows (Jersey x Red Sind hi), (iii) mixed farming with 2 buffaloes (Murrah), (iv) mixed farming with 2 crossbred cows + fish, (common carp + grass carp + rohu + catla mixed), (v) mixed farming with 2 buffaloes, (vi) mixed farming with 2 crossbred cow s + 15 goats (Jammunapari) + 10 poultry + 10 ducks + fish were developed to find out the best package on this land holding of 1.5 ha suitable for the tribal region. A model having 2 crossbred cows + 15 goats + 10 poultry bird s + 10 ducks on 0.25 ha area including for own living + fish (0.15 ha pond) along with crop cultivation(on 1.1 ha) was the best with a net income of R s 44 911/year against arable farming alone (Rs 24 093) with a cost returns of 1 : 2 and employment generation of 380-man-day.