Farming is the art and science of cultivating the soil[1], growing crops, and raising livestock. It includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution to markets. Its role to economic development[2] is quite unique, with it not only generating foreign currency for its people, but it also rids the country of poverty through employment in various sectors of the country.
- According to Kostov and Lingard, (2002), Subsistence farming is the form of farming in which nearly all of the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and the farmers family, leaving little, if any, surplus for sale or trade.
Intensive subsistence farming[3] is common in densely populated areas of Asia, particularly in countries like China, India, and Bangladesh. Due to limited land availability, farmers practice intensive cultivation methods to achieve higher crop yields.
- Commercial farming is a method where the crops and livestock are raised to sell products in order to make money. To ensure this, large land sizes, chemicals etc. (Smalley, 2013).
Commercial grain farming[4]– Just as the name suggests, in this method, farmers grow grains and trade them in the market. Wheat and maize are the most common crops of commercial grain farming. Farmers of Asia, Europe, temperate grasslands of North America generally practice this type of farming.
Maize field near Hullavington Plantation farming[5]– Plantation farming is a mix of agriculture and industry and is practiced across a vast area of land. Plantation owners usually grow a single crop like banana, coffee, tea etc. in a plantation and use technological support to process the crop on the farm itself or a factory attached to it. The end product also works as a raw material for industries. For example, the rubber industry uses the rubber produced from its plantation as raw material.
Intensive farming
- Intensive farming[6] or intensive agriculture is a way of producing large amounts of crops or animals by using a lot of machinery, labor, chemicals, fertilizer, pesticides, and capital in relation to the size of the land area being farmed.
De Corato (2020), defined some important characteristics of intensive farming in the points below:
Thier research states that commercial farming[5] involves raising animals and crops. Unlike subsistence farming, commercial agriculture cultivates crops and raises animals for profit rather than for domestic consumption.
In order to meet the demand, the land is continuously used. As a result of small plots, they use labor-intensive technology.[7]
This system uses fertilizers to ensure higher crop yields. Thus by using modern and scientific farming methods results in high yields per unit area. This results in commercial farming[4] being practiced in areas with high population pressure or limited land.
Animal feed is supplied by factories to livestock (factory farming). Due to the aim of profit, intensive commercial farming uses factory food to increase cattle yields and ultimately profits.
A significant amount of capital is invested[1] in intensive commercial farming to facilitate high yields and productivity.
Extensive Farming
Crop field
- Extensive farming or extensive agriculture[8] is an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labour[9], fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land area being farmed.
Farmers are physically/economically unable to invest the required resources necessary to make intensive agriculture feasible ( Sulfiar et, al,n.d.)
There is economic/social demand for agricultural products produced through extensive agriculture; not all agriculture can be practiced intensively.
Cultural tradition favors extensive agricultural methods.
Mixed Farming
" Mixed farming is a type of agriculture that involves both crop cultivation and animal rearing", (Conyers et, al, 2019).
Mixed farming
This farming method involves cultivation of crops, rearing livestock and growing their fodder. It is a common practice in parts of USA, Australia, and New Zealand, Europe, and South Africa to do mixed farming for a living.
Shifting Agriculture farming
- Shifting agriculture[10] is a system of farming that involves clearing and cultivating[11] a plot of land for a short period, then leaving it to be regenerated by natural vegetation.
An example of slash and burn agriculture practice in Thailand
Shifting agriculture, commonly known as slash-and-burn farming, is practiced in many tropical regions, including parts of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. In this method, farmers clear small plots of land by cutting down vegetation and burning it[12]. The ashes provide temporary fertility to the soil, allowing farmers to grow crops for a few seasons until the soil’s nutrients are depleted. Then, they move to a new plot and repeat the process. This cyclical practice allows the previously used land to regenerate over time (Conklin, 2022).
How different types of Farming contribute to the Economic development of a country.
Klerkx and Labarthe (2019), highlighted some important aspects as to why and how farming contributes to a country's economic development.
Commercial farming
- They stated in their research that large scale commercial farming, especially in regions with more favorable climates and access to water, contributes significantly to Namibia's economy[13]( Klerkx and Labathe, 2019).
Subsistence farming
-While subsistence farming is prevalent in rural areas, its contribution to the economy is limited. However, it does provide food security for Rural populations and reduces their dependency on external sources for substance.
Livestock Grazing
- Given Namibia's landscape, extensive livestock grazing is an important economic activity. It allows the use of land that may not be suitable for intensive cultivation. Livestock products contribute to local consumption and can also be sold in regional markets[14].
Tourism and conservation farming
- Namibia's unique landscape and wildlife greatly contribute to its economic growth. Conservation farming practices, including game farming and ecotourism, generate revenue while preserving the country's natural resources.
Traditional Farming Practices
- Some traditional farming practices[15], like the cultivation of indigenous crops[16] and agroforestry, can promote sustainability and local resilience, adding to the overall economic fabric[17].
Investment in Technology
- Modernizing farming techniques through the adaption of technology, such as efficient irrigation systems and advanced machinery, can improve agricultural productivity, reduce wastage, and contribute to economic growth.
Skill development
- Government initiatives and NGO programs that provide training and support for farmers, particularly in rural areas, can enhance farming practice and increase overall agricultural.
Kostov, P., & Lingard, J. (2002). Subsistence farming in transitional economies: lessons from Bulgaria. Journal of rural studies, 18(1), 83-94.
Conklin, H. C. (2022). An Ethnoecolo Gical Approach to Shifting Agriculture. In Man in Adaptation (pp. 167-172). Routledge.
Li, G. D., Conyers, M. K., Helyar, K. R., Lisle, C. J., Poile, G. J., & Cullis, B. R. (2019). Long-term surface application of lime ameliorates subsurface soil acidity in the mixed farming zone of south-eastern Australia. Geoderma, 338, 236-246.
De Corato, U. (2020). Agricultural waste recycling in horticultural intensive farming systems by on-farm composting and compost-based tea application improves soil quality and plant health: A review under the perspective of a circular economy. Science of the Total Environment, 738, 139840.
Smalley, R. (2013). Plantations, contract farming and commercial farming areas in Africa: A comparative review.
Sulfiar, A. E. T., Agustin, C., & Nugroho, T. Profile and Income of Bali Cattle Farmers under Different Farming Systems in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Klerkx, L., Jakku, E., & Labarthe, P. (2019). A review of social science on digital agriculture, smart farming and agriculture 4.0: New contributions and a future research agenda. NJAS-Wageningen journal of life sciences, 90, 100315.
