CONSTRAINTS FACED BY RURAL YOUTH PRACTICING INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM IN CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT

The present study was conducted in Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka state during 2017-18 to analyse the constraints faced by rural youth practicing IFS, marketing place followed by rural youth practicing IFS,distribution of rural youth according to combination of different enterprises of IFS and suggestions expressed by rural youth to improve IFS.Integrated Farming system (IFS) is a whole farm management system which aims to deliver more sustainable agriculture. Integrated Farming combines the best of modern tools and technologies with traditional practices according to a given site and situation. The constraints were grouped under production constraints (high cost of inputs : 86.25 %),financial constraints (inadequate subsidy: 85.00 %),Situational constraints (limited and irregular power supply : 86.25 %), Marketing constraints (exploitation by the middle men in the markets : 83.12 % )and Extension constraints (lack of clinical services for livestock : 78.75 %).Marketing place followed by rural youth practicing IFS are, 28.75 per cent of the respondents market their produce at taluk level followed by local level market (19.37 %), hobli level market (15.62%), district level market (14.38%) and neighboring districts (9.38%). Distribution of rural youth according to combination of different enterprises of IFS are, 1/3^rd (36.8 %) of the rural youth are practicing Agri + AH followed by Agri + AH + Horti (25.6 %). 10.7 per cent of them are practicing Agri + Horti.Suggestions expressed by rural youth practicing IFS to overcome the problems in practicing agriculture and allied to agricultural activities are Availability of quality seeds at affordable price (85.62 %, Rank I), Inputs should be made available at cheaper rate (78.75 %, Rank II), Assured irrigation facility (77.50 %, Rank III). The data was collected from total sample of 160 rural youth using pre tested interview schedule through personal interview method.