Integrated farming systems.

Abstract

The system of agricultural production has undergone immense changes in the past three decades (I). Crop yields have increased through a combination of plant breeding, intensive use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizer, and greater mechanization. Farming systems based on high inputs of agrichemicals and intensive tillage are now recognized as being unsustainable because they cause soil erosion, soil nutrient depletion, environmental pollution, increased pest problems, and public health hazards. In addition the profitability of cereal and oil crop production also declined at the end of the 20th century forcing farmers to examine ways of reducing their production costs (I). As a consequence farming is facing economic, political, environmental, and social pressures that are forcing changes in the methods of crop production. In response, a range of different production systems has evolved that try to address these issues. The most extreme are the organic or biological systems in which agro-chemical use is almost eliminated. Various systems have been defined that are between the extremes, such as integrated farming systems, and these aim to use lower inputs and as such are regarded as being more sustainable (2). Many definitions exist for integrated farming but the most appropriate is all encompassed in the description by El Titi (3) 'an holistic pattern of land use, which integrates natural regulation processes into farming activities to achieve a maximum replacement of off-farm inputs and to sustain farm income.' Integrated farming therefore incorporates the principles of integrated crop management (lCM) and integrated pest management (IPM) but takes a long-term. whole-farm approach that considers all aspects of crop production and land management (2). The emphasis is on preserving farm profitability by optimizing inputs, although consequently there may be ecological benefits and overall greater sustainability (4).