TYPES OF FARMING
Organic farming
• Organic farming is a technique which involves
cultivation of plant and rearing of animals in
natural way.
• This process involves the use of biological
material, avoiding synthetic substances to
maintain soil fertility and ecological balance.
• It involves growing and nurturing of crops
without the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
• It does not permit genetically modified
organisms.
Organic farming is a holistic production
management system which promotes and
enhances agro-ecosystem health, including
biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil
biological activity. It emphasizes, the use of
management practices in preference to the use
of off –farm inputs, taking into account that
regional conditions require locally adapted
systems. This is accomplished by using, where
possible, agronomic, biological, and mechanical
methods, as opposed to using synthetic
materials, to fulfil any specific function within
the system (FAO, 1999).
• As per the definition of the USDA study team
on organic farming “organic farming is a
system which avoids or largely excludes the
use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers,
pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc) and
to the maximum extent feasible rely upon
crop rotations, crop residues, animal
manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral
grade rock additives and biological system of
nutrient mobilization and plant protection”.
Key characteristics of organic farming
• Protecting the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter
levels, encouraging soil biological activity, and careful mechanical
intervention
• Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources
which are made available to the plant by the action of soil micro-organisms
• Nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen
fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop
residues and livestock manures
• Weed, disease and pest control relying primarily on crop rotations, natural
predators, diversity, organic manuring, resistant varieties and limited
(preferably minimal) thermal, biological and chemical intervention
• The extensive management of livestock, paying full regard to their
evolutionary adaptations, behavioural needs and animal welfare issues with
respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding and rearing
• Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider
environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats
Organic livestock farming
• Organic livestock farming is a land based activity. In order to avoid
environmental pollution, particularly natural sources such as the
soil and water, organic production of livestock must in principle
provide for a close relationship between such production and the
land.
• Livestock must have access to free range exercise area and / or
grazing apart from specified exemptions.
• Biological diversity should be encouraged and preference should be
given to breeds adaptable to local conditions. Genetically modified
organisms and products derived are not compatible with organic
production.
• Organic livestock should be fed on organically produced grass,
fodder and other feed stuffs, apart from some specifications (for
ruminants 10% of DM of specified components may come from
conventional origin).
• Animal health management should be mainly based on
prevention (appropriate breeds, a balanced high-
quality diet and a favorable environment in terms of
stocking density and husbandry practices).
• The preventive use of chemically synthesized
medication (allopathic medicines) is not permitted, but
sick and injured animals must be treated immediately
as well being of the animal is more important
(although this may affect their status with regards to
organic certification).
• Housing should satisfy the needs of the animals
concerned. Adequate ventilation, light, space and
comfort should be provided to permit ample freedom
of movement to develop the animal's natural social
behavior.
Cooperative and collective Farming
• A group of farmers form cooperative society by
pooling their resources voluntarily for more
efficient and profitable farming.
• Cooperative societies help farmers to procure all
important inputs of farming, sell the products at
most favorable terms and helps in processing the
products at cheaper rates.
• Collective farming is based on social ownership
of means of production and collective labour.
• Yearly target is fixed by the government and the
produce is also sold to the state at a fixed price.
• Capitalistic farm is an agricultural production
unit in which all factors of production (land,
labour, capital and management) are
procured on the market. This is another way
of saying that the factors of production are
commodities and have market value.
LARGE AND SMALL SCALE FARMING
• Large scale:-Farming system which involves
growing of crops and rearing of animals
on large piece of land applying
modern farming technologies.
• Small-scale agriculture Small-scale agriculture is
the type of agriculture that is practiced on
relatively small plots of land. In small scale
agriculture the land do not exceed four hectare.
• Small-scale agriculture is practiced for both
subsistence and commercial purposes
COMPARISON BETWEEN SMALL AND LARGE SCALE FARMING
S. No Aspects Large scale Small scale
1 Division of labour (Specialization) Possible Limited
2 Mechanization Possible Not possible
3 Quantity of the output More Less
4 Cost of production Low High
5 Cost of management Low High
6 Risk More Less
7 Marketing facilities Better Poor
8 Economy of buying and selling More Less
9 Possibility of using improved technology More Less
10 Danger of over production More Less
11 Supervision Poor Better
12 Flexibility Inflexible Flexible
13 Chances of unhealthy competition More Less
Contract farming
• Contract farming can be defined as
agricultural production carried out according
to an agreement between a buyer
and farmers, which establishes conditions for
the production and marketing of
a farm product or products. Typically,
the farmer agrees to provide agreed
quantities of a specific agricultural product.
• Well-managed contract farming is an effective way to
coordinate and promote production and marketing in
agriculture.
• It is essentially an agreement between unequal parties:
companies, government bodies or individual entrepreneurs
on the one hand and economically weaker farmers on the
other.
• It is, however, an approach that can contribute to both
increased income for farmers and higher profitability for
sponsors.
• When efficiently organized and managed, contract farming
reduces risk and uncertainty for both parties as compared
to buying and selling crops on the open market.
• Advantages for farmers
• Inputs and production services are often supplied by the sponsor
• This is usually done on credit through advances from the sponsor
• Contract farming often introduces new technology and also enables
farmers to learn new skills
• Farmers' price risk is often reduced as many contracts specify prices in
advance
• Contract farming can open up new markets which would otherwise be
unavailable to small farmers
• Advantages for sponsors
• Contract farming with small farmers is more politically acceptable
than, for example, production on estates
• Working with small farmers overcomes land constraints
• Production is more reliable than open-market purchases and the
sponsoring company faces less risk by not being responsible for
production
• More consistent quality can be obtained than if purchases were made
on the open market
• The main feature of Contract Farming is that the
buyer/contractor supplies all the material inputs and
technical/proper advice required for cultivation to the
cultivator.
• This approach is widely used, not only for tree and cash
crops but also, increasingly for poultry.
• Poultry production with layers and broilers has extended into
contract farming wherein the poultry farmers agree to
provide eggs or chicken of certain quality and adhere to the
management practices indicated by an agency in return for
an assured market.
• The agency is responsible for supply of chicks, vaccinations,
and health care, poultry feed and purchasing the output,
chicken or eggs.
• The farmers’ responsibility is to provide land, sheds and
labour for maintenance.
Integrated Farming System (IFS)
• IFS focuses on multi-cropping, rotational cropping, inter-cropping, mixed
cropping practices with allied activities like horticulture, Livestock, fishery,
apiculture etc.
• IFS practices rely upon the concept of conservation agriculture to ensure
minimum soil disturbance by adopting minimum tillage, use of crop residues
on soil surface and adoption of spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop
rotations to derive optimal benefits from inputs and at the same time,
minimize adverse environmental impacts.
• Depending on the type and extent of natural resources/assets/commodities
already developed or supported, location-specific crops, fruits, vegetables,
spices, flowers, feed & fodder, livestock, fisheries, apiculture, mushroom,
medicinal & aromatic plantation and related income generating activities are
being supported.
Integrated Farming System (IFS) - Benefits
• Increasing agricultural productivity of rainfed areas in a
sustainable manner
• To minimize the adverse impact of possible crop failure due to
extreme climatic events through income from other
interventions of farming system
• Restoration of confidence in rainfed agriculture by creating
sustained employment opportunities through improved on-
farm technologies and cultivation practices.
• Enhancement of farmers income and livelihood support for
reduction of poverty in rainfed areas.
• The IFS approach has multiple objectives of sustainability,
food security, farmer security and poverty reduction.
• It involves use of outputs of one enterprise component as
inputs for other related enterprises wherever feasible, for
example, cattle dung mixed with crop residues and farm
waste can be converted in to nutrient-rich vermi-compost.
• The salient features of IFS include – innovation in farming for
maximising production through optimal use of local resources,
effective recycling of farm waste for productive purposes,
community-led local systems for water conservation, organic
farming, and developing a judicious mix of income-generating
activities such as dairy, poultry, fishery, goat-rearing,
vermicomposting and others.
Intensive and Extensive Farming
• Intensive farming refers to the intensification and mechanization of
the agriculture, with the objective of increasing the productivity of
a particular land. This is possible through the high-level use of
inputs such as capital, labour, fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides,
weedicides etc., which results in increased yield of the crop per
hectare. In this system, the use of inputs is comparatively higher
than the land area.
• It can be applied in animal husbandry too, wherein a large number
of cattle are reared in small space, as the law of the concerned
jurisdiction allows. Further, medication for livestock is adopted to
increase their productivity.
• The essence of intensive farming is that it depends on the
chemicals to accelerate the growth and increase the crop yield.
• Extensive Farming is a system of cultivation, which uses
limited inputs, i.e. labour, investment, machinery etc., in
comparison to the land under cultivation.
• In this method, traditional methods of farming are given
preference. Further, the productivity is based on the
natural fertility of soil, climate and terrain of the area and
so it is practised in large farms to achieve higher yields and
to achieve profitability. The total crop production is high,
due to large land holding, but the low in terms of per unit
production.
• Due to less use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it is an
environment-friendly method, as it does not damage the
environment.
Difference between Intensive and
Extensive farming
• Intensive farming is an agricultural method of increasing the crop yield by heavy
use of chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, etc. and machines. On the other
extreme, extensive farming is a farming method, wherein acres of land are being
farmed, with lower inputs, i.e. labour and investment, in comparison to the land.
• While intensive farming is performed in the areas, which are densely populated,
extensive farming takes place in the region of a moderate population.
• In densely populated areas, intensive farming can easily be practised because it
requires the small area for cultivation. However, the land in such areas is
expensive. On the contrary, extensive farming can be undertaken in the areas
where there are huge farms for cultivation. Nevertheless, the farms are relatively
less expensive.
• The farms under intensive farming are located near the market area, which
minimises the cost of transportation and distribution. Conversely, in extensive
farming, land under cultivation, is located in remote areas, which increases its cost
of transportation and selling it to the market.
• Intensive farming results in high production per unit of land, but per person is less.
Unlike, in extensive farming large farms are cultivated, and that is why the total
production is high, but per unit production is low.