Lecture 2: Farming System Components, Maintenance, and Factors Affecting Farming

Types
Three Working Hypotheses of Farming Systems
1. Farming is practiced in a particular way due to specific reasons, often economic but
not always.
2. Changes in the system's environment can create discrepancies between current
farming methods and the optimal solutions available to farmers.
3. Farmers tend to adapt their practices to changing circumstances if these changes
provide additional benefits.
Objectives of Farming Systems
 Increase total farm income
 Improve farmers' standard of living
 Promote effective recycling of farm products and by-products
 Reduce dependency on external inputs (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture -
LEISA)
 Sustain productivity levels and maintain soil health
 Enhance employment opportunities
 Ensure a regular cash flow throughout the year
Farming System Framework
Environment
Farming operates within an environment that includes natural, socio-economic, and political
factors.
Resources
These encompass physical and material inputs sourced internally or externally.
Constraints
Limitations and challenges arising from the availability of natural and artificial resources.
Components
Key activities such as crop production, dairy, poultry, and other farming practices.
Interactions
Competitive and complementary interactions among various farming components.
Definition of a Farming System
Farming involves harnessing solar energy to produce economic plant and animal products. A
"system" refers to a structured set of interrelated processes functioning as a unit, transforming
inputs into outputs. A farming system is a decision-making unit that includes farm
households, cropping systems, and livestock management, utilizing land, capital, and labor to
generate products for consumption and sale.
Need for Sustainable Farming Systems
The rapid increase in population, particularly in tropical countries, necessitates higher food
production from limited cultivable land. Achieving food security amid shrinking agricultural
land and environmental degradation is a significant challenge. India, for instance, needs to
produce an additional 100 million tonnes of food grains by 2030 and 160 million tonnes by
2050 to feed its growing population.
India's population, currently around 1,003 million, is projected to reach 1,370 million by
2030 and 1,600 million by 2050. Food grain production reached 218 million tonnes in 2000-
01, but future demands require increases to 289 million tonnes by 2030 and 349 million
tonnes by 2050. With net cultivable land decreasing from 142.8 million hectares to an
estimated 137 million hectares by 2050, productivity per unit area must double.
To achieve this, both irrigated and rainfed lands must undergo intensive cultivation. Most
Indian states receive abundant solar energy, enabling year-round cropping. Enhanced
agricultural productivity depends on improved cropping systems, superior genotypes,
efficient planting geometry, and advanced management practices. The goal is to maximize
resource use and stabilize yields.
Challenges in Farming Systems
Farm sizes in India are decreasing, with over 80% of operational holdings below one hectare
(Mahapatra & Bapat, 1992). Given rising population and shrinking farmland due to
urbanization and industrialization, increasing farm size is not feasible. Instead, vertical
expansion through integrated farming systems (IFS) is essential. IFS ensures:
 Effective farm resource management
 Increased productivity
 Reduced environmental degradation
 Improved livelihood for resource-poor farmers
 Sustainability of agricultural practices
Principles of Farming Systems
 Identify constraints affecting farm productivity
 Provide technological interventions for improved farming practices through farmer-
participatory research
 Conduct participatory research to refine farming technologies and provide feedback to
researchers
 Monitor the impact of farming system technologies on sustainability and address
equity and gender issues
Factors Governing Choice and Size of Enterprises
A farming system includes both crop and allied enterprises, each interacting uniquely within
the system. The selection and scale of enterprises depend on:
1. Environmental Factors
Natural Factors
 High rainfall areas: Suitable for rice-fish or rice-homestead gardening systems.
 Moderate rainfall areas: Require supplementary irrigation; suitable combinations
include cotton, millets, oilseeds, pulses + dairy, or cotton, millets, pulses + poultry.
 Dryland farming: Suitable integrations include:
o Cotton + dryland horticulture + goat farming
o Cotton + forage crops with agroforestry + dairy farming
o In degraded soils, agroforestry should be integrated.
Soil fertility and moisture storage capacity influence enterprise size. For example:
 High soil fertility supports increased fodder production, enabling larger poultry/dairy
enterprises.
 Larger paddy fields can accommodate expanded mushroom production.
 Wasteland areas in drylands are ideal for sheep farming.
2. Social Factors
Cultural beliefs, food habits, community decisions, and social acceptance influence enterprise
choices.
 Example: If native poultry eggs are preferred, exotic poultry breeds may not succeed.
 Example: In regions where beef is not consumed, pig farming may fail.
 Example: Japanese quail farming faced social resistance, affecting its success.
3. Economic Factors
 The cost of inputs, market prices, and government price support policies impact
enterprise profitability and selection.
4. Political Factors
Government policies and international regulations shape farming decisions.
 Example: Prawn farming was previously promoted but later restricted due to
environmental concerns.
Resources and Enterprise Selection
Resources available within and outside the farm determine enterprise selection and scale.
Resource
Internal Sources External Sources
Type

Land Area, well water Water from tanks, canals

Labor Family labour, farm animals Hired labour

Advanced implements (sickle, ridger, bund

Machinery Power tillers, sprayers Hired tractors, threshers

Own seeds, farmyard manure,

The availability, quality, and sufficiency of these resources significantly influence enterprise
selection and size.
Farmer-Related Factors
Even with similar environments and resources, enterprise selection varies among farmers
based on:
 Knowledge of allied enterprises
 Skillset required for implementation
 Attitude and objectives toward farming systems
Impact of Technology on Farming Systems
The successful adoption of farming components depends on:
 Availability of technology
 Strength of extension services
 Innovations and new concepts in agriculture
Technology plays a vital role in enhancing farming efficiency and sustainability, ensuring
food security for a growing population.