What is Agriculture Farming

Agriculture Farming

Agriculture farming or farming refers to the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. It is an art of science that involves the cultivation of soil, growing crops, and raising livestock. This practice provides most of the world’s food and fabrics. In India, for example, agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of the population. The country has a variety of climatic conditions and soil types, which along with factors like availability of irrigation, use of machinery, and modern agricultural inputs have played important roles in the evolution of different farming practices. Some of the major types of farming in India include subsistence farming, intensive and extensive farming, commercial farming, plantation farming, and mixed farming

Agriculture Farming Types

Agriculture is a broad field with various types of farming. Here are several of the main types:

Pastoral farming: This is farming without cultivation.
Mixed farming: This involves both crop and livestock production.
Multiple cropping: Different plots are used for different crops.
Arable farming: This is farming with cultivation.
Pure arable/specialized farming: This involves a single crop or enterprise.
Diversified farming: This involves multiple crops or enterprises.
Single farming: This involved a monopoly marketing system.
In India, there some specific types of farming are practiced due to the country’s diverse climatic conditions and soil types:

Subsistence farming: The majority of farmers in India practice this type of farming for their own consumption.
Intensive and Extensive farming: These are based on the intensity of the farming practices.
Commercial farming: This type of farming is practiced to sell crops and livestock for profit.
Plantation Farming: This involves growing a single crop on a large scale.
Mixed Farming: This involves both crop production and livestock raising.
Each farming type has its own characteristics, challenges, and advantages. The type of farming practiced can depend on various factors such as rainfall, irrigational facilities, production purpose, size of holding, and technology used.

Farming Without The Use Of Synthetic Fertilizers

Farming without the use of synthetic fertilizers is often referred to as organic farming. Organic farming involves growing crops without synthetic inputs, such as pesticides, weedicides, or fertilizers. This approach uses a combination of traditional farming methods and modern technology to ensure the health and sustainability of both the environment and human beings.

Here are some key aspects of organic farming:

Natural Techniques and Practices: Organic farming uses natural techniques and practices instead of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. The goal of organic farming is to create a sustainable system that supports the environment, produces healthy crops, and protects the health of farmers and consumers3.
Soil Quality: Organic farming practices include a range of techniques aimed at preserving and enhancing soil quality, such as crop rotation, composting, and natural pest control.
Biodiversity: These practices also promote biodiversity and reduce the use of non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels.
Avoidance of Synthetic Chemicals: One of the key principles of organic farming is the avoidance of synthetic chemicals, which can harm the environment and pose health risks to farmers and consumers3. Instead, organic farmers use natural methods to manage pests and maintain soil fertility, such as using beneficial insects, birds, or other predators to control pests naturally, or adding organic fertilizers like manure or compost to the soil.
Organic farming is an important component of sustainable agriculture and is becoming increasingly popular around the world as consumers become more aware of the environmental and health benefits of organic product

Farming Revolution

The term “farming revolution” can refer to several significant periods in human history that transformed agricultural practices:

Neolithic Revolution: Also known as the Agricultural Revolution, this was a transformative period in human history that marked the transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled farming and agricultural practices. It is thought to have begun about 12,000 years ago.
Green Revolution: This was aimed at increasing agricultural productivity in the developing world using technology and agricultural research. The main focus was on transforming India into a modern industrial system through the adoption of technology, such as the use of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, mechanized farm tools, irrigation facilities, pesticides, and fertilizers.
Agricultural Revolutions in India: There have been many agricultural revolutions in India that focus on specific agricultural produce. For example, the White Revolution (also called Operation Flood) was aimed at increasing milk production, the Blue Revolution focused on fish production, and the Yellow Revolution was about oilseed production.