Different Types of Agriculture in India

Agriculture, the backbone of many societies, covers various methods catering to diverse landscapes and traditions. From traditional subsistence practices to modern commercial ventures, each type of agriculture reflects the unique needs and resources of its region. Understanding these different approaches is crucial for sustainable food production and rural development.

Different Ways of Farming in India

A. Primitive Subsistence Agriculture

• Enhancing Soil Fertility: It involves shifting cultivation, which requires clearing vegetation with fire, which adds soil fertility.
• Tribal Agriculture in Tropical Regions: These types of agriculture are common among tribes in the tropics (Africa, South/Central America, Southeast Asia).

• Relying on Monsoon: This type of farming depends upon monsoon, natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other environmental conditions for the crops grown.
• Shifting Cultivation: It is also known as slash-and-burn farming, which requires clearing vegetation with fire, which adds soil fertility.  
• Technology: It uses primitive tools like sticks and hoes. 
• Shifting Agriculture Cycle: Soil loses fertility after 3-5 years, leading to shifting of plot.
• The table below depicts different names of shifting cultivation in India and the world.

• Global Level: Shifting cultivation is also identified differently at the global level.
  • Example: Milpa in Central America/Mexico, Ladang in Indonesia/Malaysia, Conuco in Venezuela, Roca in Brazil, Masole in Central Africa, Ray in Vietnam, etc. 

B. Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

• The farmer cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour.
• These types of agriculture are practised in a densely populated region. It has two types:
• Wet Paddy Dominated: Characterized by the dominance of rice crops, small land holdings due to high population density, use of family labour and limited use of machinery. 
  • All this leads to extensive use of land. Further, manure is used to maintain soil fertility.
  • In this agriculture, yield per unit area is high, but labour productivity is low.
• Non-Paddy Dominated: This agriculture is practiced in areas unsuitable for rice. 
  • Crops like wheat, soybean, barley, and sorghum are grown. 
    • Millets are cultivated similarly to wet paddy, but they often require irrigation.

C. Commercial Farming

• Commercial farming refers to the types of agriculture  practiced for cultivating crops and/or raising livestock for the primary purpose of selling them for a profit.
• Inputs in Commercial Farming: Commercial farming relies on modern inputs like high-yielding seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides for increased productivity. 
• The degree of commercialization varies by region;
• Example: Rice is commercial in Haryana and Punjab but subsistence in Odisha.

D. Plantation Farming

• It is a type of commercial farming. It means the cultivation of a single crop on a large scale.
• Objective: The primary purpose of plantation farming is to produce crops for sale, and the crops are typically grown for industrial purposes rather than direct consumption. 
• Origin: Europeans introduced other forms of farming that were guided by profit-oriented motives. 
  • Examples: commercial farming, plantation farming, etc.
• The Characteristic of Farming: It includes large estates or plantations, large capital investments, managerial and technical support, scientific methods of cultivation, 
• Monoculture Farming: This involves cultivating a single crop on a large scale. 
• Capital-Intensive Crop Production: Plantations require significant capital and labour, with produce used as raw materials for industries. 
• Crucial Role of Infrastructure: A well-developed transport and communication network is crucial for plantation development and the factories and markets for the export of the products.
• Example: Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and banana

E. Mixed Farming

• It is a system of farming, which involves the growing of crops as well as the raising of livestock.
• Geographical Distribution: Found in highly developed parts of the world, such as North-western Europe, Eastern North America, parts of Eurasia, and temperate latitudes of Southern continents.
• Crops in Mixed Farming: These farms are moderate in size and typically cultivate crops like wheat, barley, oats, rye, maize, fodder, and root crops. 
• Fodder Crops: are vital for mixed farming, and practices like crop rotation and intercropping help maintain soil fertility.
• Balanced Agriculture: These farms balance crop cultivation and animal husbandry, with cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry contributing significantly to income. 
• Resource-Intensive Nature: Mixed farming involves substantial capital investment in farm machinery and 
• Infrastructure, extensive use of chemical fertilizers and green manures, and requires skilled expertise.

F. Co-operative Farming

• This involves farmers forming a society to pool resources for more efficient and profitable agriculture.
• Individual farms remain intact, and this approach promotes cooperation in farming. 
• The Role of Cooperative Societies: Co-op societies help farmers procure essential inputs, sell products on favourable terms, and process quality products at lower costs.
• Growth of the Cooperative: Originating over a century ago, this movement found success in Western European countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, and especially in Denmark, where every farmer is a member of cooperatives.

G. Dryland Farming

• It is practiced in areas with less than 75 cm of rain each year in India.
• Farmers grow tough crops like ragi, bajra, moong, gram, and fodder crops like guar. 
• They also use methods to keep the soil moist and collect rainwater.

H. Wetland

• There is excess rain for the plants, which can lead to floods and soil erosion. 
• Water-intensive crops are grown here like rice, jute, and sugar cane.
• They also raise fish in ponds and lakes.

Conclusion

• People worldwide employ various farming methods to cultivate food, supporting their communities and economies in diverse ways.
• Some methods, like shifting cultivation from long ago, involve moving around to plant crops. Others, like commercial and cooperative farming today, use modern tools and teamwork to grow food more efficiently. 
• As we address the challenges of feeding a growing population and preserving the environment, these farming methods present both problems and opportunities for improving agriculture in the future.

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