AGRO-247 Farming Systems & Sustainable Agriculture

Questions on selected Topics

Q.1 Define Farming System & give the Classification of farming System.

Ans: “Farming system” therefore designates a set of agricultural activities organized while preserving land productivity,
environmental quality and maintaining desirable level of biological diversity and ecological stability. The emphasis is more on a
system rather than on gross output.

*Classification of Farming Systems:

 According to the Size of the Farm:

o Collective farming.
o cultivation farming: i) small scale farming ii) large scale farming.
 According to the Proportion of Land, Labour and Capital Investment:
o Intensive cultivation.
o Extensive cultivation.
 According to the Value of Products or Income or on the basis of Comparative advantages:
 Specialized farming.
 Diversified farming.
 Mixed farming.
 Ranching.
 Dry farming .
 According to the Water Supply:
 Rained farming.
 Irrigated farming.
 According to I) type of Rotation:
 a) lay system: i) unregulated lay farming ii) regulated lay system.
 b) Field system.
 c) Perennial crop system.
 II) Intensity of the Rotation:
o Shifting cultivation.
o Lay or fallow farming.
o Permanent cultivation.
o Multiple cropping.
 Classification According to Degree of Commercialization:
o Commercialized farming.
o Partly commercialized farming.
o Subsistence farming.
 Integrated Farming System.

Q.2 Define Cropping System. & Give the classification of Cropping System.

Ans: Cropping system: A cropping system refers to the principles and practices of cropping and their interaction with farm
resources, technology, aerial and edaphic environment to suit the regional or national or global needs and production strategy.

Classifications of Cropping System: Depending on the resources and technology available, different types of cropping systems are
adopted on farms, which are as below.
I. Mono-cropping or Single Cropping: Mono-cropping refers to growing only one crop on a particular land year after year. Or
Practice of growing only one crop in a piece of land year after year e.g. growing only rabbi crops in dry lands or only said crops in
diary lands (Lands situated in river basins which often remain flooded during rainy season). This is due to climatologically and socio
economic conditions or due to specialization of a farmer in growing a particular crop.Groundnut or cotton or sorghum is grown year
due to limitation of rainfall.

1.Monoculture: Practice of repetitive growing only crop irrespective of its intensity as rice-rice-rice in Kerala, West Bengal and
Orissa.

2.Sole Cropping: One crop variety grown alone in pure stand at normal density.

II. Multiple Cropping or Poly-cropping: Growing two or more crops on the same piece of land in one calendar year known as
multiple cropping. It is the intensification of cropping in time and space dimensions i.e. more number of crops within a year and more
number of crops on the same piece of land at any given period. It includes inter-cropping, mixed cropping and sequence cropping.
Eg.1) Rice-potato-green gram. 2) Rice-mustard-maize. 3) Jut-rice-potato.

1.Relay Cropping: Growing the succeeding crop when previous crop attend its maturity stage-or-sowing of the next crop immediately
after the harvest of the standing crops. Or it is a system of cropping where one crop hands over land to the crop in quick succession.
E.g. 1) Paddy-lathers 2) Paddy-Lucerne. 3) Cotton-Berseem.

2. Sequential Multiple Cropping:

2.1. Sequence Cropping: Defined as growing of two or more crops in sequence on the same piece of land in a farming year. Crop
intensification is only in time dimension and there is no intercrop competition.Depending on the number of crops grown in a year. It is
called as double, triple and quadruple cropping involving two, three, and four crops, respectively.

2.1.a. Double cropping: 1.Rice – potato/ mustard 2. Sorghum- gram.

2.1b. Triple Cropping: Rice- potato-groundnut & Cowpea- mustard- jute.

2.1c. Quadruple cropping: Kharif groundnut- leafy vegetables- wheat- summer green gram.

3. Parallel multiple Cropping: Growing 2-3 crops at a time.

3.1 Intercropping: It refers to growing of two or more dissimilar crops simultaneously on the same piece of land, base crop
necessarily in distinct row arrangement.

3.1 a) Companion Cropping: In companion cropping the yield of one crop is not affected by other, In other words, the yield of both
the crops is equal to their pure crops. That the standard plant population of both crops is maintained. E.g.1) Mustard, wheat, potato,
etc. with sugarcane 2) Wheat, radish, cabbage, sugar beet etc., with potato.
Types of Companion Crop: 1.Guard Crop: Sunflower + Chickpea 2.Agumenting Crop: Jap.Mustard + Barseem

3.1 b) Multistoried Cropping/ Multi-tire cropping: Growing plants of different height in the same field at the same time is termed
as multistoried cropping. It is mostly practiced in orchards and plantation crops for maximum use of solar energy even under high
planting density. e.g. 1) Eucalyptus +Papaya + Berseem 2) Sugarcane + Mustard + Potato. 3) Coconut + Pineapple + Turmeric/Ginger.

3.1 c) Synergetic Cropping: Here the yields of both crops, grown together are found to be higher than yield of their pure crops on
unit area basis. E.g. Sugarcane + Potato. It has 2 types 1.Additive series 2.Replacement series.

3.2 Mixed Cropping: Mixed cropping is growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land without distinct row
arrangement.

4.Alley cropping: Alley cropping is an agro- forestry system in which fast growing N-fixing stubs are planted as hedgerows. Food
crops are grown in alley formed by hedge of trees and shrubs. This system is most suitable for marginal and sub-marginal lands.
Scientists at international for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria has developed this system of agro-forestry in the 1970s. It has
following types:

 Forage alley cropping.

 Forage cum mulch system
 Forage cum pole system.

III. Crop Rotation: Refers to recurrent succession of crop on the same piece of land either in a year or over a longer period of time.

IV .Fallowing

Q.3 Enlist the Components of Farming Systems.

Ans: In the integrated farming system, it is always emphasized to combine cropping with other enterprises/ activities, many
enterprises are available and these includes cattle maintenance sheep or goat rearing, poultry, piggery, rabbit rearing, bee keeping etc.
Any one or more can be combined with the cropping.

1. Crop Husbandary
2. Cow/Mich animal farming
3. Buffalo farming
4. Fishery/Pisciculture
5. Poultry
6. Sheep rearing
7. Goat Farming
8. Piggery
9. Duck farming
10. Sericulture
11. Silviculture
12. Horticulture
13. Mushroom Cultivation
14. Fodder Production
15. Agro-Forestry
16. Rabbit rearing
17. Bio-gas
18. Lac culture.

Collected by Abhishek Patil,Government College of Agriculture, Kolhapur.

Q.3 Write down the scope of Farming System?

Ans: Scope of Farming Systems:

 Farming enterprises include crop, livestock, poultry, fish, sericulture etc.

 A combination of one or more enterprises with cropping when carefully chosen, planned and executed gives greater dividends
than a single enterprise, especially for small and marginal marginal farmers farmers.
 Farm as a unit is to be considered and planned for effective integration of the enterprises to be combined with crop production
activity.
 It helps to producing stable income at higher level.
 Higher use of pesticides, agrochemicals can be utilized.
 Increases economic yield per unit area per unit time.
 Helps to fulfill all domestic as well as business needs.
 Helps to acquire nutritive food by different enterprises.
 Rescue farmer’s economy.
 The end-products and wastes of one enterprise are utilized effectively as inputs in other enterprise. For example the wastes of
dairying viz., dung, urine, refuse etc are used in preparation of FYM or compost which serves as an input in cropping system.
 Sustainability is the objective of the farming system where production process is optimized through efficient utilization of
inputs without infringing on the quality of environment with which it interacts on one hand and attempt to meet the national
goals on the other.
 It is profitable and suitable to adopt in various Agro-climatic Zones.

Q.4 Write down the Principles & Characteristics of farming systems.

Ans: Principles of farming system

• Minimization of risk
• Recycling of wastes and residues
• Integration of two or more enterprises
• Optimum utilization of all resources
• Maximum productivity and profitability
• Ecological balance
• Generation of employment potential
• Increased input use efficiency
• Use of end products from one enterprise as input in other enterprise

Characteristics of farming system

1. Farmer oriented & holistic approach
2. Effective farmers participation
3. Unique problem solving system
4. Dynamic system
5. Gender sensitive
6. Responsible to society
7. Environmental sustainability
8. Location specificity of technology
9. Diversified farming enterprises to avoid risks due to environmental constraints
10.Provides feedback from farmers.
Q.5 What is IFS? Give the objectives of IFS?

Ans: Integrated Farming System: IFS is the type of Farming system which integrates all other allied farming systems and
enterprises.

Objectives of farming system

1. Productivity- Farming system provides on opportunity to increase economic yield per unit area per unit time by virtue of
intensification of crop and allied enterprises. Time concept by crop intensification and space concept by building up of vertical
dimension through crops and allied enterprises.

2. Profitability - The system as a whole provides an opportunity to make use of produce/waste material of one enterprise as an input
in another enterprise at low/no cost. Thus by reducing the cost of production the profitability and benefit cost ratio works out to be
high.

3. Potentiality – Soil health, a key factor for sustainability is getting deteriorated and polluted due to faulty agricultural management
practices viz., excessive use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, high intensity irrigation etc. In farming system, organic
supplementation through effective use of manures and waste recycling is done, thus providing an opportunity to sustain potentiality of
production base for much longer time.

4. Balanced food- In farming system, diverse enterprises are involved and they produce different sources of nutrition namely proteins,
carbohydrates, fats & minerals etc form the same unit land, which helps in solving the malnutrition problem prevalent among the
marginal and sub-marginal farming households.

5. Environmental safety- The very nature of farming system is to make use or conserve the byproduct/waste product of one
component as input in another component and use of bio-control measures for pest & disease control. These eco-friendly practices
bring down the application of huge quantities of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, which pollute the soil water and environment to
an alarming level. Whereas IFS will greatly reduces environmental pollution.

6. Income/cash flow round the year- Unlike conventional single enterprise crop activity where the income is expected only at the
time of disposal of economic produce after several months depending upon the duration of the crop, the IFS enables cash flow round
the year by way of sale of products from different enterprises viz., eggs from poultry, milk from dairy, fish from fisheries, silkworm
cocoons from sericulture, honey from apiculture etc. This not only enhances the purchasing power of the farmer but also provides an
opportunity to invest in improved technologies for enhanced production.

7. Saving energy- Availability of fossil fuel has been declining at a rapid rate leading to a situation where in the whole world may
suffer for want of fossil fuel by 2030 AD. In farming system, effective recycling of organic wastes to generate energy from biogas
plants can mitigate to certain extent this energy crisis.

8. Meeting fodder crises- In IFS every inch of land area is effectively utilized. Alley cropping or growing fodder legume along the
border or water courses,intensification of cropping including fodder legumes in cropping systems helps to produce the required fodder
and greatly relieve the problem of non-availability of fodder to livestock component of the farming system.

9. Solving timber and fuel crises- The current production level of 20 million m3 of fuel wood and 11 million m3 of timber wood is
no match for the demand estimated or 360 m3 of fuel and 64,4 million m3 of timber wood in 2000 AD.Hence the current production
needs to be stepped up several-fold. Afforestation programmes besides introduction of agro-forestry component in farming system
without detrimental effect on crop yield will greatly reduce deforestation, preserving our natural ecosystem.

10.Employment generation- Various farm enterprises viz., crop +livestock or any other allied enterprise in the farming system would
increase labour requirement significantly and would help solve the problem of under employment. An IFS provides enough scope to
employ family labour round the year.

11.Scope for establishment of agro- industries- When once the produce from different components in IFS is increased to a
commercial level there will be surplus for value addition in the region leading to the establishment of agro-industries.

12.Enhancement in input use efficiency – An IFS provides good scope for resource utilization in different components leading to
greater input use efficiency and benefit- cost ratio.
Q.6 Define Sustainable Agriculture. What are the goals of Sustainable Agriculture?

Ans: Sustainable Agriculture: sustainable Agriculture is a system of agriculture that is committed to maintain and preserve the
agriculture base of soil, water , and atmosphere ensuring future generations the capacity to feed themselves with an adequate supply of
safe and wholesome food’(Gracet, 1990).

Sustainable Agriculture: The successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining
or enhancing the (Natural resource- base and avoiding environmental degradation) (TAC-CGIAR).

Goals of sustainable Agriculture: A sustainable Agriculture pursues the following goals:

•Productive and Profitable Conserves Resources and protects the environment Enhances health and safety,Low input methods and
skilled management.

• A more thorough incorporation of natural processes such as nutrient cycling nitrogen fixation and pest-predator relationships into
agricultural production processes.

• A reduction in the use of those off-farm, external and nonrenewable inputs with the greatest potential to damage the environment or
harm the health of farmers and consumers, and more targeted use of the remaining inputs used with a view to minimizing variable
costs:

• The full participation of farmers and rural people in all processes of problem analysis and technology development, adoption and
extension.

• A more equitable access to predictive resources and opportunities, and progress towards more socially just forms of Agriculture.

• A greater productive use of the biological and genetic potential of plant and animal species:

• A greater productive use of local knowledge and practices, including innovation in approaches not yet fully understood by scientists
or widely adopted by farmers:

• An increase in self-reliance among farmers and rural people

• An improvement in the match between cropping patterns and the productive potential and environmental constraints of climate and
landscape to ensure long-term sustainability of current production levels.

• Profitable and efficient production with an emphasis on integrated form management: and the conservation of soil, water, energy and
biological resources.

Q.7 What are the adverse effect of HEIA on Agriculture?

Ans: Adverse effects of high external input agriculture:

• Overuse of natural resources, causing depletion of groundwater, and loss of forests, wild habitats, and of their capacity to absorb
water, causing waterlogging and increased salinity:

• Contamination of the atmosphere by ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane and the products of burning, which play a role in ozone
depletion, global warming and atmospheric pollution:

• Contamination of food and fodder by residues of pesticides, nitrates and antibiotics.

• Contamination of water by pesticides, nitrates, soil and livestock water, causing harm to wildlife, disruption of ecosystems and
possible health problems in drinking water;

• Build up of resistance to pesticides in pests and diseases including herbicide resistance in weeds

• Damage of farm and natural resources by pesticides, causing harm to farm workers and public, disruption of ecosystems and harm to
wildlife.
• Erosion of genetic diversity – the tendency in agriculture to standardize and specialize by focusing on modern varieties, causing the
displacement of traditional varieties and breeds:

• New health hazards for workers in the agrochemical and food processing industries.

Added to the above adverse effects, the increasing human as well as cattle population is imposing intense pressure on available natural
resources.

Q.8 What are the objectives of sustainable agriculture?

Ans: Objectives of Sustainable Agriculture

 Make best use of the resources available

 Minimize use of non-renewable resources
 Protect the health and safety of farm workers, local communities and society
 Protect and enhance the environment and natural resources
 Protect the economic viability of farming operations
 Provide sufficient financial reward to the farmer to enable continued production and contribute to the well-being of the
community
 Produce sufficient high-quality and safe food
 Build on available technology, knowledge and skills in ways that suit local conditions and capacity.

The Specific Objectives are:

1. To identify existing farming systems in specific areas and access their relative viability.
2. To formulate farming system. Model involving main and allied enterprises for different farming situations.
3. To ensure optional utilization and conservation of available resources and effective recycling of farm residues within system.
4. To maintain sustainable production system without damaging resources/environment.
5. To rise over all profitability of farmhouse hold by complementing main/allied enterprises with other.