Although there are various types of farming systems which are practised in India. Broadly these can be broadly classified as traditional farming systems, which use traditional tools and inputs; and modern or industrial farming systems, which are mainly aimed at generating surpluses and profits from selling produce. Off-late due to climate consciousness, there is a shift towards sustainable agriculture and climate-smart farming methods.
1. Traditional Farming System: Subsistence farming
2. Modern or Industrial Farming Systems: Mixed farming, Intensive and extensive agriculture, commercial farming, plantation agriculture
3. Climate-smart agriculture: Integrated Farming System, Organic Farming, Zero-Budget Natural Farming, Precision Farming
1. Subsistence Farming
Subsistence farming is a form of agriculture where farmers focus on growing enough food to feed themselves and their families. It is prevalent in developing countries and often involves small landholdings with low mechanisation and input use. From an agro-economy perspective, subsistence farming is critical for food security and rural livelihoods, but it faces several challenges.
Limited access to technology, seeds, and fertilizers hampers productivity. Poor infrastructure and market access make it difficult for farmers to sell surplus produce, reducing potential income. Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns further threaten yields. Additionally, land degradation and overexploitation of resources can lead to decreased soil fertility.
2. Mixed Farming
Mixed farming integrates crop cultivation and livestock rearing on the same farm, enhancing resource utilization and diversifying income sources. Mixed farming offers several benefits, including improved soil fertility from animal manure, better risk management and additional income through diversified production, and more efficient use of farm labour and resources.
However, mixed farming faces challenges such as the need for a higher level of skills to balance crop and livestock activities. The initial investment in infrastructure can be substantial. Similarly, disease management becomes more complex with the presence of both crops and livestock. Environmental sustainability is also a concern, as improper management can lead to overgrazing, soil erosion, and water contamination.
3. Intensive and Extensive agriculture
Intensive agriculture focuses on maximizing output from limited land through high inputs of labour, fertilizers, pesticides, and advanced technologies. It plays a crucial role in meeting food demands in densely populated areas as the land per unit population is very low.
Extensive farming refers to a type of farming that uses mechanised equipment, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and agricultural research. It is practiced in areas with extensive farmlands and low population densities, for example, Argentina, Australia, USA, Canada, Russia. It is to be noted that the levels of insecticides, fertilisers and chemicals used in case of extensive farming is very less as compared to intensive agriculture since the pressure of population is very less.
4. Commercial Farming
Commercial farming is aimed at large-scale production of agricultural crops for market sale. It enhances efficiency through mechanization and advanced technologies which leads to higher yields and reduced labour costs. This type of farming drives economic growth by generating substantial revenue, job creation and promotes agro-industrial development. Export-oriented commercial farming contributes to foreign exchange earnings and trade balance improvement.
However, it also poses challenges, such as environmental degradation, monoculture risks, and resource depletion.
5. Plantation agriculture
It involves large-scale cultivation of cash crops like tea, coffee, and rubber. It generates significant export revenues. This form of agriculture creates numerous employment opportunities and overall rural development. Plantation agriculture attracts investment in infrastructure, such as roads and processing facilities, boosting regional economies.
However, it often leads to monoculture practices, which can degrade soil health and reduce biodiversity. Monoculture means cultivation of same types of crops over a large area of land.
6. Integrated Farming System (IFS)
Integrated farming system is a sustainable agricultural system that integrates livestock, crop production, fish, poultry, tree crops, plantation crops and other systems that benefit each other. It diversifies income streams, reducing financial risks for farmers. Waste from one component serves as input for another, such as animal manure fertilizing crops, enhancing soil fertility, and reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers. This system promotes sustainable practices, improving long-term productivity and environmental health. Integrated farming supports food security by producing a variety of agricultural products. Additionally, it creates employment opportunities in rural areas, contributing to overall economic stability and growth in the rural economy.
Note: National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture advocates the promotion of Integrated Farming under National Action Plan for Climate Action (NAPCC).
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National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) Objective: Promote sustainable agricultural practices, enhance productivity, and build resilience to climate change. Soil Health Management: Improve soil health using soil health cards, balanced fertilization, and organic farming. Water Use Efficiency: Increase water efficiency through drip and sprinkler irrigation, and water conservation. Integrated Farming: Adopt integrated farming systems for optimal resource use and higher productivity. Rain-fed Area Development: Focus on integrated farming in rain-fed areas to boost productivity. Climate Adaptation: Implement practices and technologies for climate change adaptation. |
Advantages of Integrated Farming System
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- It increases productivity per unit area due to simultaneous production of crops and allied enterprises.
- It provides an opportunity to solve malnutrition problems in our country.
- It improves soil fertility and soil texture from appropriate crop rotation and using cover crops and organic compost.
- It also minimizes the nutrient losses.
- It reduces weeds, insect pests and diseases through appropriate crop rotation.
- It ensures regular stable income through the products like egg, milk, mushroom, vegetables, honey and silkworm cocoons from the linked activities in integrated farming.
- It reduces production cost of components through input recycling from the by-products of allied enterprises.
7. Organic Farming
Organic farming is a production system which eliminates the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, genetically modified organisms and livestock food additives. It relies upon crop rotations, use of crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off farm organic wastes, biofertilizers, mechanical cultivation, mineral bearing rocks and aspects of biological control to maintain soil productivity.
Advantages of organic farming
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- It improves the soil physical properties such as granulation, good tilth, good aeration, easy root penetration and improves water-holding capacity and reduces erosion.
- It improves the soil’s chemical properties such as supply and retention of soil nutrients, reduces nutrient loss into water bodies and environment and promotes favourable chemical reactions.
- It helps to maintain environment health by reducing the level of pollution.
- It reduces human and animal health hazards by reducing the level of residues in the product.
- It helps in keeping agricultural production at a sustainable level.
- It reduces the cost of agricultural production and also improves the soil health.
- It ensures optimum utilization of natural resources for short-term benefit and helps in conserving them for future generation.
- It reduces risk of crop failure.
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Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) Under PKVY Organic farming is promoted through adoption of organic village by cluster approach and related certification. Fifty or more farmers to form a cluster having 50-acre land to take up the organic farming under the scheme. In this way the aim is to form 10,000 clusters covering 5.0 lakh acre area under organic farming. Features
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8. Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZNBF)
It means raising crops without using any fertilizers and pesticides or any other external materials. The word Zero Budget refers to the zero cost of production of all crops. ZBNF guides the farmers towards sustainable farming practices thus helps in retaining soil fertility, to ensure a chemical free agriculture and ensure low cost of production (zero cost) and thereby enhancing the farmers income. In short, ZBNF, is a farming method that believes in growing crops in tune with nature.
Principles of Zero Budget Natural Farming
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- No external inputs
- Soil to be covered with crops 365 days (Living Root)
- Minimal disturbance of Soil
- Bio stimulants as necessary catalysts
- Use indigenous seed
- Mixed cropping
- Integration of trees into the farm
- Water and moisture conservation
- Integrate animals in to farming
- Increase organic residues on the soil
- Pest-management through botanical extracts
- No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZNBF) vs Organic Farming
Similarities
Both of them focus restrict the application of synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. They encourage farmers to use local breeds of seeds and organic pest management methods.
Differences
Organic farming doesn’t discourage basic practices like ploughing, tilting, applying bulk organic manures (compost, vermicompost, etc.), weeding, etc. In natural farming, the natural agroecosystem is preserved by avoiding ploughing, tilling of the soil, weeding, application of bulk organic manures, etc.
Organic farming can be capital-intensive due to the requirement of bulk organic manures, whereas zero-budget natural farming is almost zero cost with locally made preparations.
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