TYPES OF FARMING AND FACTORS INFLUENCING FARMING

                        TYPES OF FARMING

1. SPECIALIZED FARMING

‌              *  A single crop or livestock enterprise which is taken up by the farmer which contributes more than 50 % of its income it is called as specialised farming. 

‌             *  There should be

                    I. Assured income

                    II. Suitability of land

                    III. Relative profitability

from that enterprise. 

            * ‌ Eg : Crop - sugarcane, tobacco etc. 

                    Livestock - Poultry, sheep, fish etc. 

ADVANTAGES

I. Better utilization of land

‌            *    Suitability of land to the enterprise opted.

            *   ‌ And it should also allow alternate crop in case of failure of opted one.

II. Better management

            *   ‌ Special attention is given on particular enterprise.

            *   ‌ Resource wastage is minimised.

III. Less usage of equipments

‌            *    Equip the farm with the particular equipments which are required for the chosen enterprise.

IV. Increased farmer's skills

‌              *   Improved efficiency of the farmers and he gains better experience in that particular enterprise.

V. Better marketing

‌              *  It is easy for the farmer to find the better marketing system.

‌              *  He did not to find markets to sell various products.

DISADVANTAGES

I. Failure of crops

‌               *  Incase a failure of crops there is no compensation for the farmers( a major drawback ).

II. Untapped productive resources

‌                * As the farmer focuses on single crop, some productive resources remaind underutilized.

III. Affecting soil health

              * ‌ Raising of same crop continuously affect the soil health as the crop rotation practice is not followed.



2. DIVERSIFIED FARMING

             *  ‌ A number of enterprises can be taken up by the farmer at the same time and no single enterprise should give as high as 50 % of its income this is called as diversified farming.

‌            *   It is also known as general farming.

‌            *   It includes selling of various products at different times in the year.

ADVANTAGES

I. Resources are better utilised

‌              * In case of diversified farming all types of productive resources like land, equipments,etc.,are utilized in the better way.

II. Reduced farm risk

‌              * If there is chance of failure of a single crop, farmer can manage or with stand the income from the other crop. 

III. Flow of income

               ‌* There will be regular income for the farmer.

DISADVANTAGES

I. No better supervision

‌           *   As large number of enterprises are taken up that there is reduced effectiveness in looking after the enterprises by the farmer.

           *  ‌ It also affect the farm economy.

II. No better maintaining of implements

‌             *  It is difficult for the farmers to maintain various implements and machineries and it is also expensive. 

III. Marketing insufficiencies

‌            *  Farmers feel difficulty in marketing various farm produces.

3. MIXED FARMING

            *  ‌ It is the combination of both crops and livestock enterprise which should at least contribute 10 % of its total income, it is known as mixed farming.

            *  ‌ Its contribution should not exceed 49 % of its total income.

ADVANTAGES

‌     *  Application of organic manures.

     * ‌ It helps in maintaining soil fertility.

‌     *  It provides employability and stability to the farmer and his family members.

4. DRY FARMING

     Raising of crops under rainfed conditions is called as dry land agriculture.

            1. DRY FARMING

‌                   *  Raising crops in the regions of less than 750 mm of rainfall is called as dry farming.

                   * ‌ In this type of farming crop failure is common.

‌                   *  Moisture conservation should be practiced to withstand the prolonged dry period.

           2. DRYLAND FARMING

                 *  ‌ Raising crops in the regions of more than 750 mm of rainfall is called as dry land farming.

‌                *   Crop failures are relatively less frequent in this type of farming.

‌                 *  Moisture conservation is also necessary.

          3. RAINFED FARMING

‌                  *  Raising crops in the regions of more than 1150 mm of rainfall is called as rainfed farming.

‌                  *  It is practised in humid region.

‌                  *  In this type of farming crop failures are rare.

‌                  *  Drainage facilities are very much important.

‌                  *  Control measures for soil erosion must be taken.

5. RANCHING

‌                  Grazing of livestock in grasslands which is not fit for cultivation is called as ranching.

FACTORS INFLUENCING TYPES OF FARMING



PHYSICAL FACTORS

1. CLIMATE

‌              •  Sunshine, rainfall, wind, etc., directly influence the choice of crops.

              •  Eg.cereals like paddy require large quantity of water whereas pulses and millets can grow over less rainfall regions.

2. SOIL

             • ‌ Soil type, fertility, depth plays a major role in selecting crops.

‌             •  Highly fertile soil reduces manure and fertilizers cost. 

             •  ‌Eg. Paddy is well grown in alluvial soil.

3. TOPOGRAPHY

           • ‌ In hilly regions where temperatures are Low, shorter growing seasons and soil erosion is the major problem.

‌          •  Eg. plantation crops like tea, coffee, etc.,can be grown in the hilly areas.

ECONOMIC FACTORS

1. RELATIVE PROFITABILITY

‌              •  A farmer will go for an enterprise which will give relative profitability.

‌              •  If there is change in relative profitability there is option to change the crop with respect to each prices etc.

2. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

             • ‌ Particular enterprise required a different level of funds.

‌             •  Eg.Sugarcane, onion etc. require large amount of funds, whereas oil seeds millets require less amount of funds.

3. AVAILABILITY OF INPUTS

            ‌ •  Considerable quantity of inputs are required at needed time which directly has an influence of selecting the crops.

‌            •   Eg. Labour shortages are occuring commonly during the peak period in the sugarcane cultivation. 

4. MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS

           •‌   Inadequate marketing facilities have a direct influence on the selection of crops.

5. PERSONAL CHOICES

‌          •    Selection of enterprise is also based on farmers likes and dislikes apart from the above factors.

REFERENCE

  Agricultural economics, second edition., S. Subba reddy.,