Farming

Farming

Farming refers the combination of products that a farmer may chose to produce during a particular crop season or over a long time as a regular practice. The types of farming also refer to the methods of farming and to different practices that are used in carrying out the farming operations. The important problems which the farmer has to solve is related to the decision regarding the type of farming. The Economic problem behind this problem involves the decision whether to concentrate on the production of one or two production or whether to produce many products.

The main types of farming which are commonly practiced are listed below:

1.Specialized and diversified farming

2. Single-crop farming and Multi-crop farming.

3. Mixed farming.

4. Dry and irrigated farming.

5. Ranching.

1. Specialised and Diversified Farming ;

In a general sense, when only few enterprises are run by the farmer, in which he has acquired special knowledge, it is known as specialized farming. On the other hand, when a farmer is engaged in a multitude of farm enterprises, it is referred to as diversified farming. Specialized farming refers to one kind of farm business such as raising of food crops, or rearing sheep Or raising a dairy cattle. 

Against this, if a large number of crop enterprises, with or without number of non-crop enterprises, are run by a single farmer, it is referred to as diversified faming. The motive behind specialized farming is profit and the motive behind diversified farming is self-sufficiency. 

It may also be noted that agriculturally advanced countries have more of specialized farming compared to developing countries where there is more of diversified farming .

Merits of Specialized Farming

I. Marketing Advantages:- Specialized farming always takes place on a larger scale, giving rise to bulk production. This large-scale production of a homogeneous nature attracts wholesale trading activity at a single place. This leads to better marketing and convenient buying and selling of the agricultural produce.

II. Efficiency Advantages:- Specialization leads to formation of skills which make work less bothersome, improve speed and spare drudgery to the farmers to optimum utilization of farm resources and strengthens the standard efficiency.

III. Capital Advantages: -Specialized farming can be started with a smaller amount of capital, a smaller amount of fixed charge and a smaller number of equipment. The farmer can afford better machines and equipment and can natural manage his enterprise more, efficiently.

IV. Other Advantages:- Among other advantages that specialized farmer enjoys are a smaller requirement of labour and some cases, a smaller requirement of land as well. The management of the form can be more efficient and leakages can be kept at a minimum. The farmer may also be left with more leisure and time for enjoyment.

Demerits of Specialized Farming

I. Market Uncertainties:- As already stated, specialized farming leads to Large-scale production and hence greater dependence on the market. If the market fails to clear the volume of production, the farmer may suffer heavy losses and may, at times, become bankrupt. Such situations have occurred in the USA when specialized farmers suffered heavy losses due to uncertainties of the market. The cotton-growers of America have been facing problems owing to the market not generating enough demand for their produce. As such, specialized farming may bring heavy losses and defeat the purpose of profit maximization.

II. International Relations:- It has often been noted that the specialized farmer, consciously or unconsciously, gets involved in international trade. He does not provide for the national market alone but for international market as well.

During abnormal times, international trade suffers a set-back and makes trading across the national frontiers more difficult. In such situations, the farner is rendered helpless. In the international market, the terms of trade may also not be always favourable and the farmer's bargaining position may become weak in such situations.

III. Uncertain Crop Conditions and Irregular Investment Flow:- The success of specialized farming depends upon the crop conditions and if a crop fails, it brings disaster to the farmer. He has nothing to fall back upon. At times of falling prices, the farmer is hit hard. Since the crops are harvested once or atleast twice a year, the farmer gets his income at distant points of time and can think of investment only at such times. This does not ensure continuous flow of investment in the farm enterprise.

IV. Other Disadvantages: - Specialized farming may not be conducive to the maintenance of soil fertility. Raising the same crop repeatedly over a long period of time reduces the soil fertility and this may result in soil losing its fertility irreparably . It has been seen that crop rotation helps in replenishing soil fertility.

Limited use of land labour and machinery may leave a part of these previous resources unutilized or under-utilized. This defeats the purpose of efficiency and optimization. Specialized farming also makes the farmer considerably dependent on the market for a large number of his requirements and he often faces trade risks to meet his necessities even when he might have been a bulk producer of as specialized item.

Merits of Diversified Farming

I. Better Resource Utilization:- Because of the very nature of farming spread over the crop year, the farmer can use his resources optimally, and reduce the extent of under-utilization of his resources such as equipment, land and labour, etc.It ensures steady utilization of farm labour throughout the year.

II. Better Product Utilization:- Under diversified farming, different enterprises can be run on the same holding. For example, a farmer may raise crops and at the same time, may also keep a dairy farm. Some of the crop by-products can useful be employed in feeding the dairy cattle and hence waste can be avoided.

III.Other Advantages:- Those farmers who lack adequate training and experience in agriculture can safely start diversified farming because a pursuit may not necessitate specialized training as required for specialized farming. There is every chance that under diversified farming, even a beginners an untrained and an in experienced farmer may find some enterprises clicking and yield him a return to stimulate his interest and generate confidence in hinto stay in the farming enterprise.

Demerits of Diversified Farming

i. Too much of diversification may lead to mismanagement. When to many enterprises shall be competing for the use of limited resources and supervision, it is likely that some of the enterprises might get neglected.

ii. Diversified farming means a busy and exacting schedule of work throughout the year so that the farmer is left with no time for leisure and enjoyment which are so important to keep him fit for subsequent work schedules.

ii. A variety of machines and equipment required for varied purposes may not find optimum employment owing to limited requirement by the enterprises which are run on a small-scale. This leads to under-utilization of resources, 0n the one hand, and mounting maintenance costs, on the other.

iv. A farmer shall be playing safe if he engages himself in a few enterprises rather than specializing in a big way in any single enterprise.

2. Single-crop Farming and Multi-crop Farming

Single-crop farming is a form of specialized farming, If a farmer specialized in crop enterprise, it is left to him to produce a single-crop or a multiplicity of crops. Producing a large variety of crops may not make a farmer a specialising in the strict sense of the term, although he will acquire varied experience in crop enterprises.

If a farmer wishes to specialize in crop cultivation, he will often choose more than one crop to safeguard against market uncertainties and also to ensure the optimum utilization of his resources.By producing a single-crop he will be incurring a great risk it the crop fails or the price fluctuates and at the same time, he may not good able to use his labour, machinery and land optimally.

A large multiplicity of crops is also not good. It creates problems of management.The farmer may not be able to supervise all the operations and some of these crop enterprises may suffer from the farmer's neglect. Multiplicity of crops would also imply the distribution of farm inputs over a large number of uses which may result in small-scale production and pose marketing problems. 

3. Mixed Farming

Mixed farming refers to the combining of two independent agricultural enterprises on the same farm. A typical case of mixed farming is the combination of crop enterprise with dairy farming or in more general terms, crop cultivation with livestock farming. It may be defined variously but the essence is of combining several enterprises. Mixed farming may be treated as a special case of diversified farming. As such, it is more prevalent in the developing countries.In a majority of cases, mixed farming manifests itself in the combination of crops and livestock and that is why this combination is almost treated as synonymous with mixed farming. This particular combination of enterprises is important in the sense that it supports each other and adds to the farmers profitability.

4. Dry and irrigated Farming

Farming in those areas which are deficient in rainfall and which have no assured source of artificial irrigation, is referred to as dry farming. On the other hand, farming with assured water supply from artificial sources of; irrigations known as irrigated farming. Dry farming is difficult in the sense that starved of water is hard and poor in soil fertility. The yields are low whereas the effort required is quite substantial. The possibility of introducing new technology is limited and crop seasons are rigidly time-bound corresponding to the distribution of rainfall. On the other hand, irrigated farming is easier and more remunerative. It is flexible and adaptable to changing technology.

5. Ranching

Ranching refers to the practice of grazing animals on the public lands.Some public lands may also be used for raising livestock. This practice is common in Australia and Tibet. In our country, ranching is prevalent in Some measure in the hill regions which are rich in pastures and grazing lands. But ranching is slowly dying out in our country because of the growing pressure on public lands. Those farmers who have been all along subsisting on ranching are now seeking new avenues of employment. Owing, to reckless decimation of forests in the country over the decades, grazing lands and pastures have been dwindling in size, forcing the ranchers to seek new avenues of employment.

Factors   Determining   the   type   of   Farming:

There are a number of factors that determine the type of farming. These may-be physical as well as economic.

a) Physical Factors

Physical factors cause the type of farming to vary from area to area .Important factors under this category are: (i) climate (ii) soil and (iii) topography.

I. Climate: - Climate is one of the most important factors determining type of farming. The distribution of rainfall, sun-shine, temperature and other climatic conditions greatly determine which enterprise the farmer should choose Climatic conditions of the hill regions and plains differ greatly and correspondingly, the nature and scope of different types of farming also differ significantly.

II, Soil: - The quality of soil is also important for determining the type Of Farming. All soil may not be suitable for crop cultivation or for raising livestock or poultry or any other farm enterprise. Different soil suits different enterprises,depending upon the different qualities possessed by them. For example, clayish soils and sandy soil support different crop enterprises.

III. Topography:- Topography is equally important in determining the type of farming. It greatly tells upon the temperature and soil fertility and hence it has a significant bearing upon the choice of farming that is practiced.It is due to topography that the cropping pattern generally followed in the plains differs from the cropping pattern followed at higher altitudes.

(b) Economic Factors

The physical factors discussed above, demarcate the feasibility of various type farming in a particular area, but before making the final decision about the type of farming to be adopted. The former are mostly led by the considerations of profitability. If, for example, livestock is more profitable than crop cultivation, the farmer will certainly opt for the former. Some of the important economic factors which influence the farmer's decision regarding the type of farming are discussed below:

I. Comparative Advantage:- Guided by economic considerations, the farmer will produce those commodities in which he has an advantage.

II. Marketing Cost:- The cost of marketing the produce is an important consideration in deciding the type of farming. If the nearby market promotes a particular enterprise, the farmer will prefer that than the one for which the market may be distantly located and involve heavy transport cost.

III. Location of Processing Plants:- The cultivation particularly of cash crops in a particular area is influenced by the presence or otherwise of processing plants. For example, most cotton mills in India are in Gujarat and Maharashtra and most of the area around these mills continues to be under the cotton crop.

IV. Availability of Capital and Labour:- The availability of capital and labour is of vital importance for determining the type of farming. The available capital and labour may force a choice, keeping in view the tradition and training of labour and the nature of capital. The adoption of new agricultural technology requires a huge amount of capital. The availablity of capital, therefore would determine the type of technology to be used by the farmer and also affects the selection of enterprise and hence the type of farming. Similarly, before starting a particular type of farming, the farmer will have to be sure about the availability of labour trained to handle that particular enterprise.