Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Integrated farming is a holistic approach that combines different agricultural activities such as crop cultivation, livestock farming, and aquaculture to optimize resource utilization, improve farm productivity, and enhance sustainability. This research project aims to investigate the effects of integrated farming systems on sustainable agriculture. The integration of various farming components can lead to synergies that benefit the overall farming system. For example, the waste from livestock farming can be used as organic fertilizer for crop cultivation, reducing the reliance on synthetic inputs and improving soil health. Similarly, the by-products from crop cultivation can be used as feed for livestock, creating a closed-loop system that minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency. In addition to resource optimization, integrated farming systems can also improve farm resilience to external shocks and climate variability. By diversifying income streams across different agricultural activities, farmers can mitigate risks associated with price fluctuations or crop failures. For example, a farmer practicing integrated farming may not be as severely impacted by a decline in crop prices if they also have income from livestock or aquaculture. Furthermore, integrated farming systems can contribute to environmental sustainability by promoting biodiversity and reducing environmental degradation. The presence of multiple crops, animals, and aquatic species in a farm can create a more ecologically diverse and resilient ecosystem. This diversity can help improve soil fertility, control pests and diseases, and reduce the reliance on chemical inputs. Through a combination of field experiments, surveys, and data analysis, this research project will evaluate the performance of integrated farming systems in comparison to conventional mono-crop or mono-livestock farming systems. Key indicators such as farm productivity, resource use efficiency, income stability, and environmental impact will be assessed to determine the overall sustainability of integrated farming practices. The findings of this research project are expected to provide valuable insights into the potential benefits and challenges of adopting integrated farming systems for sustainable agriculture. By understanding the mechanisms through which integrated farming can enhance sustainability, policymakers, extension agents, and farmers can make informed decisions about adopting these practices to promote a more resilient and environmentally friendly agricultural sector.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Integrated farming system is simply the combination of the best and modern farming tools and technologies with some elements of traditional practices, depending on a given site and situation. This system enables farmers to identify opportunities or threats and allows them to respond accordingly, particularly with the consumers interest at heart.

Multiple objectives are involved in integrated farming such as sustainability, food security, poverty alleviation etc., which also involves the use of output of one enterprise whenever feasible.

Integrated farming system is a biologically integrated systems, which integrates natural resources in a regulation mechanism into farming activities to achieve maximum replacement of off-farm inputs, secures sustainable production of high quality food and other products through ecologically preferred technologies, sustain farm income, eliminates or reduces sources of present environmental pollutions generated by agriculture and sustains the multiple function of agriculture Iobc, (1993)

Edwards, (2007) defined the integrated farming system as an aquaculture system that is integrated with livestock’s and in which fresh animal waste is used to feed fish and also reported that there are synergies and complementary between enterprises that comprise a crop and animal component that form the basis of the concept of integrated farming system. According to this concept, integration usually occurs when outputs of one enterprise are used as inputs by another within the context of the farming system. FAO, (2012) stated that “there is no waste”, and “waste is only a misplaced resource which can become a valuable material for another product” integrated farming system.

In Nigeria, the farmers maintain different enterprises for their complementary and supplementary nature and for ensuring sustainable livelihood from time immemorial. After the advent of green revolution in the late 1970s and economic liberalization in early 1990s, the farmers gradually started focusing on a few enterprises due to several imposing factors including shrinking farm sizes, fluctuating commodity price, livelihood diversification and shortage of labour during peak agricultural season. It had a severe impact on food and nutritional security of millions of poor farm households. The anguish of farmers is often expressed in terms of their agitation in one or the other parts of the country, unwillingness to continue farming and increasing demands of compensating their economic loss. Although suggestions are pouring in from experts and leaders of organization for strengthening the income base farmers, the government cannot implement them entirely due to compulsions from socio-economic and political considerations. However, the government of Nigeria has made an announcement about Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Many factors appear to constrain close integration of traditional poultry and fish culture. The poor quality supplementary feeds usually given and the fact that confinement is restricted to overnight, result in less and poorer quality manure being available for use in fish culture. Moreover, farm households may already be using the poultry waste which is collectable for other purposes such as fertilizing backyard crops. Recent analysis of current poultry production in small-scale farming households reveals a marginal but important niche.

In view of the foregoing, the following questions arise:

i How do we design integrated farming system for sustainable agriculture?

ii What are the effects of poultry farming on fish farming in an integrated farming system?

iii What are the effects of fish farming system on crop farming system in an integrated farming system?

iv What are the effect of poultry, fish, and farming system on integrated farming system for sustainable agriculture?

1.3 Objectives

The broad objective of the study is to: access the effect of integrated farming system on sustainable agriculture.

The specific objectives are to be able to:

i.                 design integrated farming system for sustainable agriculture.

ii.               assess the effect of poultry farming on fish farming in an integrated farming system

iii.             assess the effect of fish farming system on crop farming system in an integrated farming system.

iv.             assess the effect of poultry, fish, and farming system on integrated farming system for sustainable agriculture.

1.4 Justification to the Study

This study will give an insight in identifying the socio-personal and socio-economic characteristics of integrated farming system farmers in relation to sustainable livelihood.

The study will help explore the various constraints experienced by the integrated farmers which are responsible for low productivity of farming systems.

The study will guide researchers in deriving insight in investigating and understanding the impacts of integrated farming system within and beyond the study area.