Farming System in India and It's Types | Agriculture Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

About Farming Systems in India

• In India, farming systems are strategically chosen to suit specific locations where they are most suitable.
• India's agriculture benefits from various farming systems, including subsistence farming, organic farming, and industrial farming.
• Different regions of India practice diverse types of farming, such as horticulture, ley farming, agroforestry, and others.
• The varying geographical locations in India result in distinct climatic conditions, which in turn have varying impacts on agricultural productivity.
• Crop yields in India are significantly influenced by the monsoon cycle.

Farming System Concept

• In the context of agriculture, a farm is seen as a whole system.
• Examples of farming activities include growing crops, raising livestock (such as dairy, poultry, and piggery), fish farming, silk production (sericulture), beekeeping (apiary), cultivating tree crops, and other related enterprises.
• Combining multiple farming activities can be more profitable than focusing on a single enterprise, especially for small and marginalized farmers, if chosen, planned, and executed thoughtfully.
• When integrating various enterprises with crop production, it's essential to consider the farm as a unified unit. This way, the outputs and waste products of one enterprise can be efficiently used as inputs in another.
• The primary objective of this farming system is sustainability. It aims to optimize the production process by using resources efficiently without harming the environment's quality. Simultaneously, it strives to align with national agricultural goals.

Objectives of Farming System

• Enhance crop yield, efficiency, and income per land area.
• Raise the available potential.
• Enhance ecological sustainability and food equilibrium.
• Maintain a consistent income throughout the year.
• Address the challenges related to the scarcity of timber, fodder, and fuel.
• Generate employment opportunities and the potential for developing agricultural industries.
• Improve the effectiveness of resource utilization.

Types of Farming System

Traditional Subsistence Farming

• This farming method is still observed in small areas of India, employing basic tools like hoes, daos, and digging sticks, along with family and community labor.
• All crops are grown for personal consumption.
• Farmers choose between dryland or wetland farming based on monsoon patterns, soil fertility, and environmental suitability for the crops they cultivate.

Shifting Agriculture

• In this farming system, farmers clear small areas of forest to cultivate crops, commonly practiced by tribal farmers.
• Crops are cultivated for 2 to 3 years, after which soil fertility diminishes. Farmers then move to new land and repeat the process.
• Common crops include dry paddy, maize, millets, and vegetables.

Plantation Farming

• This type of farming is prevalent in equatorial and tropical regions, requiring high temperatures and rainfall.
• Introduced during the colonial era in the 19th century, it primarily involves the cultivation of tree or bush crops.
• Profitable crops in this system include tea, rubber, spices, coconut, tobacco, cocoa, coffee, and various fruits.

Intensive Farming

• Intensive farming is a method that maximizes land use for high yields per unit area.
• Farmers use more fertilizers, pest control measures, and irrigation, along with modern technology to boost crop production.
• The emphasis in intensive farming is on productivity and efficiency.

Crop Rotation

• Crop rotation involves planting different crops successively on the same land to improve soil quality, optimize nutrient levels, and combat pests and weeds.
• Rotations may range from simple, involving a few crops, to complex, incorporating numerous varieties.
• This practice helps restore soil nutrients naturally and disrupts pest and disease cycles while enhancing soil health and biodiversity.

Terrace Farming

• Terrace farming is a technique where "steps" or terraces are constructed on hillsides and mountains to cultivate crops.
• Common in rice-growing nations like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, it prevents soil erosion and promotes healthy crop growth.
• Water and nutrients flow from one terrace to the next during rainfall, and terracing can be graded or level, depending on the terrain.

Wetland Farming

• Wetland farming takes place near bodies of water and often involves raised beds on adjacent land.
• It's an intensive method requiring regular maintenance and attention.
• Wet farming can lead to soil oxidation and subsidence due to the presence of peat, and it's historically been used for rice and grain cultivation on river floodplains.

Dryland Farming

• Dryland farming occurs in semi-arid to arid regions with no irrigation, relying solely on monsoon rainfall. Common crops include coarse grains, millets, oilseeds, pulses, and cotton.
• Effective soil moisture management and crop selection are essential for optimizing limited moisture.
• Practices include post-harvest tillage and weed control to preserve moisture and prevent runoff.

Rainfed Farming

• Rainfed farming involves growing various crops dependent on monsoon rainfall.
• It can be categorized into "dry lands" (receiving less than 750 mm of rain annually) and "rainfed areas" (receiving more than 750 mm).
• Rainfed farming occurs across diverse soil types and climate conditions, with annual rainfall ranging from 400 mm to 1600 mm.
• It plays a significant role in many developing countries but faces challenges due to water stress and climate change.

Mixed Farming

• Mixed farming integrates various agricultural activities like crop production, livestock, poultry, fisheries, and beekeeping on one farm to meet diverse needs.
• The primary goal is self-sufficiency, with an emphasis on balancing profitability and ecological sustainability.
• Effective cropping systems, such as combining livestock with crop farming or using animal manure in organic farming, are vital in this system.
• Every product generated is utilized, providing high returns for agricultural labor.

Specialized Farming

• Specialized farming centers on deriving 50% or more of income from a single source, like crops, cattle, dairy, or poultry.
• Specialization involves focusing primarily on one commodity for market sale, which necessitates stable economic conditions and specific market channels.
• Farms are often named after the primary source of income, such as "sugarcane farms" or "vegetable farms."

Diversified Farming

• Diversified farming comprises multiple income sources on a single farm, with none contributing over 50% of total income.
• It combines various enterprises like crop production, dairy, poultry, fishing, fruit production, and sheep farming.
• This approach optimizes land, labor, and capital usage and mitigates risks associated with crop failure.
• Diversified farming systems are adapted to local cultures, customs, and governmental frameworks worldwide to ensure sustainability.

Impact of Climate Change on Farming Systems

Regional Variations in Soil and Climate in India

• Different regions of India have distinct soil and climate conditions that are suitable for specific types of agriculture.
• Western parts of India, with annual rainfall below 50 cm, primarily practice single-cropping due to drought conditions. States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and northern Maharashtra grow crops like jowar, bajra, and peas in this climate.
• In contrast, eastern India receives 100-200 cm of annual rainfall, enabling double cropping without irrigation. This climate is found in the West Coast and states like West Bengal, parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam, where crops like rice, sugarcane, and jute are cultivated.

Seasonal Crop Types in India

• India grows three main categories of crops: rice, wheat, and maize, each suited to specific seasons based on weather conditions.
• Kharif crops are planted from the onset of the monsoon to early winter, approximately from June to November. Examples include rice, corn, millet, groundnut, moong, and urad.
• Rabi crops are winter crops sown in October-November and harvested in February-March. Typical examples are wheat, boro paddy, jowar, and nuts.
• Zaid crops, categorized as summer crops, are sown between February and March and harvested between May and June. Examples include Aush paddy, vegetables, and jute.

Conclusion

Farming systems serve as strategies to enhance productivity, profitability, and the long-term sustainability of agricultural production. These systems offer solutions to challenges related to fuel, feed, and energy resources, job creation, income stability, and the growth of agricultural-related industries. Achieving sustainable agriculture involves practices such as using organic fertilizers, maintaining a balance in chemical fertilizer application, and adopting an integrated and precision farming approach with a focus on a well-rounded biological system. These efforts collectively improve living standards by maximizing overall net returns, increasing employment opportunities, recycling crop residues, optimizing resource utilization, minimizing risks, and fostering environmental harmony through a carefully chosen combination of components and entities.