The study was conducted in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal with the objective of identifying the existing farming systems, its sustainability and income generation capability. The study reveals that the existing farming systems hardly generates income of ` 100/day and employ only 11.89 percent of workforce for an average family size of five. Dwindling farm size coupled with lack of capital, agriculture could not suffice the households’ income. Around 73.33 percent of farm households go for non-farm activities for sustaining their livelihood. Analysis of sustainability index showed that capital intensive and inorganic farming system like cereals+ fish+ poultry scored highest as compared to others. The meagre farm income left nothing with the farmers to reinvest in land. A great transformation in the economic life of the farmer is possible provided modern production technologies and the synergy between farm and non-farm activities, performed in rural areas.