Agricultural farming systems are simply the way a farmer makes use of resources available for sustainable agriculture to meet his needs. Whiles doing all that, he tries to preserve and maintain the environment.
As you read on, you will learn and understand very simply the various types of farming.
Agricultural farming systems come when necessary. Over the years many factors have changed farming systems. These factors include;
- Available water, land, grazing areas, arable lands, forest; climate, landscape etc.
- The dominant pattern of farm activities and household livelihoods. These include field crops, livestock, trees and aquaculture. Also, hunting and gathering, processing and off-farm activities.
- The main technologies we use. This determines the intensity of production and integration of crops, livestock and other activities.
We have made it very simple. Read on to have a deeper understanding of agricultural farming systems.
1. Arable farming
In this system of farming, the farmer grows only crops. Crops he produces include annual crops eg. vegetables, plantain, cassava, grains and legumes etc. You can practice this system either on a small scale or on a commercial scale.
Read also: Greenhouse Vegetable Farming: Ideal for Vegetable Production in Ghana
Features of arable farming
- The farmer grows only crops.
- You need specialised skills and know-how.
2. Mixed farming
Mixed farming is an agricultural farming system where the farmer grows crops and raise animals at the same time on the same piece of land. He grows different crops with different maturity periods at the same time. There is continuous cropping the whole season. You can practice this in areas with good rainfall or irrigation facilities.
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Features of the mixed farming system
- Mostly done on a small to medium scale
- The farmer uses the droppings of animals as manure. Therefore, less use of synthetic fertiliser.
- The farmer raises and uses some farm animals as farm traction.
3. Subsistence farming
With subsistence farming, the farmer produces food for himself and his family. Farming is usually done small landholding with simple farm tools. People usually think the farmers in this system are poor. They do not use fertilisers and improved seeds as much as they should. Productivity is usually low. Moreover, electricity and irrigation are mostly not available to them. The farmers and their household use most of the food they produce.
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Features of Subsistence Farming
- The family works on the farm.
- Most of the work is done manually.
- The farms are small.
- Farmers follow traditional ways of farming.
- Yield is not very high.
- The family consume most of the yield.
4. Shifting Cultivation
With this system, the farmer clears a piece of forest land. He fells and burns the vegetation residue including the tree trunks and branches. Then, he uses that piece of land to grow crops for three to five years. The land loses its fertility. Then the farmer leaves to allow the land time to regain its fertility. That period is the fallow period. He moves with his household to a new area to farm on new fertile land. He repeats the process. And, the farmer may come back to cultivate former lands after it has regained its fertility.
Fertile lands are becoming scarce. So, shifting cultivation becomes difficult to practise. The government also discourages the practice. Because it poses a danger to forest reserves and nature. It is not a sustainable agricultural practice.
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Features of Shifting Cultivation
- Clearing and burning of the trees.
- Production levels keep going down after a couple of years.
- The land loses its fertility and its left to fallow.
- Households/families move to a new area for fertile lands.
5. Plantation farming
Plantation farming is also known as tree crop farming. This is where the farmer grows one type of crop on a relatively large piece of land. Crops include rubber, tea, coffee and cocoa. Also, spices, coconut, apples, grapes, oranges, mangoes, avocado etc. It is usually done on commercial bases with a substantial amount of capital investment. The system requires good management and technical know-how. It may also need the use of machines, fertilizers, irrigation and other facilities.
Some commercial plantations have a processing factory attached to the farm.
Features of Plantation farming
- High levels of production of a particular crop.
- High use of mechanization.
- It involves a huge capital investment.
- Commercial in nature.
6. Pastoral/Livestock farming
Pastoral farming produces only livestock and not crops. Example; dairy farming, raising beef cattle, and raising sheep for wool. In this system, farmers make use of the available feed resources to feed the livestock. They do not move livestock, like in the case of nomadic farming. Farmers set up pasture lands for the livestock.
This system is not sustainable. It becomes very expensive. Too much grazing destroys all-natural grazing fields. The farmer would have to buy feed for the herd.
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Features of pastoral farming
- The farmer only raises livestock.
- The farmer can use the animals as farm traction.
- Manure of animals used to fertilize grazing fields.
7. Nomadic farming
This is a type of agricultural farming systems similar to pastoral farming. But, herdsmen move their animals around in search of suitable grazing fields and water. They usually move animals like cattle, sheep, goats, camel, horses and donkeys.
In Africa, there are incidences of nomadic herdsmen leading their cattle into farmlands and destroying them. This has caused various conflicts between the herdsmen and other farmers.
Read also: Paddock Grazing System: A Solution to Cattle Production in Africa
Features of Nomadic farming
- Movement of herds.
- Herdsmen and their herd settle on fresh grazing fields for as long as it lasts.
- In West Africa, they encroach crops farms and destroy them.
These agricultural farming systems are the major ones but not all. There are other systems and a combination of them. They come from factors like the availability of some natural resources, landscape etc.
References
9 Main Types of Farming Systems Practices in India – Essay (shareyouressays.com)
Analysis of farming systems (FAO)
What is Farming System? (agriinfo.in)
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