Farming System in Agriculture, Agricultural systems have been used over the years by farmers to produce foods for humanity.
These systems are affected by climatic conditions, vegetation and crops in different areas. This means that these factors in no small way determine the type of system that could be used in an area for production.
Shifting Cultivation farming system
This is the practice of farming on a piece of land for some years and then abandoning it for another piece of land also known as bush fallowing
It is mainly used under subsistence agriculture and in areas with abundant farmland which is the opposite of land tenure system. Under this practice, the farmer may not return to the Hire land in life.
At times, however, he may return after the land has been left fallow (that is, without cultivation) for several years. The period of no cultivation is termed the fallow period, hence this system is also called bush fallowing.
Advantages of shifting cultivating
- It helps to replenish the fertility of the soil in a natural way.
- It prevents the rapid spread of crop pests and diseases.
- It helps to control soil erosion.
- The system reduces farmers\’ cost of production in terms of erosion control practices and fertilizer usage.
read about pre-planting practices in agriculture here
Disadvantages
- A lot of time and energy is usually spent by farmers in preparing fresh land for planting. 2. It leads to the destruction of valuable forest resources such as wildlife and timber trees. 3. It helps to control soil erosion.
The system reduces farmers\’ cost of production in terms of erosion control practices and fertilizer usage. 2. Land Rotation This is a modified system of shifting cultivation or bush fallowing.
The system involves dividing available farmland into portions. The farmer (then) farms on one portion for some time before moving to the next portion, in a definite order.
This illustrated below: Land Rotation The system is practised in areas where farmlands are limited are where=\” food=\” crops=\” are=\” mainly=\” grown.=\” advantages
1 . it helps to maintain the fertility of the soil. 2. It also helps to reduce the build-up of pests and disease organisms. 3. It reduces soil erosion.
Disadvantages 1. The system does not encourage the production of permanent crops such as cocoa 2. Diseases and pests can spread easily from old plots to new
- Pastoral farming This system involves the rearing of animals that feed on forage crops (grasses and legumes), such as goats, sheep and cattle.
Pastoral farming could take any of these two forms:
(a) Ranching: This is a system of keeping animals in a fenced expanse of land containing forages (grasses and legumes) for them to feed on. Examples are the Obudu cattle ranch, in Cross River State, the Igarra cattle ranch in Edo State.
(b) Nomadic herding:
This involves the movement of grazing animals from one place to another in search of fresh pasture and \’ water. This is mainly practised by the Fulani nomads of northern Nigeria. This system is also called pastoral nomadism or pastoral farming.
Advantages
- It provides a source of animal protein.
The system is not too costly because natural grasses are fed by the animals.
Less labour is required as one man can cater for a large number of animals.
Disadvantages
- It is highly laborious for the herdsmen, particularly the nomads.
- Animals can only be reared in grassland areas where they can have access to feed.
- The productivity of the animals is affected by the availability of pasture crops. The latter is affected by seasonal changes.
Mixed Farming system
This is the combination of crop production with animal production on the same farmland.
This is mainly practised on commercial farms where large units of livestock such as poultry, pigs, etc. are kept alongside the cultivation of crops like maize, rice, and vegetables.
Advantages
1. It ensures a steady supply of income for the farmer.
2. It ensures failure in one of the two enterprises (that is, crop production and animal production.
3. The farmer will be able to replenish the soil for crop cultivation using the manure from the animals.
4. The farmer can also supply feeds to the animals from the crop products.
5. The farmer and his family have access to good food obtained from both his crops and animals.
6. The animals may serve as a source of power on the farm, e.g. bullocks can be used to pull ploughs or harrows.
Disadvantages
1. It requires a great deal of knowledge, skill, time and labour from the farm
2. When animals are reared on the same land where crops are grown without a fence, the animals may damage the crops.
3. It is expensive to operate – especially in respect of the skilled personnel needed.
5.
Ley Farming system
This system of farming is not so common in our communities except in experimental stations.
It involves alternating arable or production with the growing of forage crops on a piece of land, for instance, a farmer may use a piece of land to grow food crops for about two years and then use it for growing forage crops to animals for some other years.
The land is reploughed and planted with food crops again. The farmland is referred to as \’ley’ during the period it is covered with forages.
Advantages of ley farming system
The pastures, especially the legume species help to replenish the soil fertility.
- Soil erosion is controlled through the system because at no point in time is the land exposed completely for too long a time 3. It also helps to reduce the build-up of pests and disease agents on farmland.
It is not easy to practice, hence the system is not popular in farming communities.
forage crops usually become weeds on the farm when they are cropped with food crops and they are often difficult to terminate.
Taungya Farming
This is the system whereby food crops are grown alongside trees.
It involves clearing forest land (forest reserve). and food crops.
Later, tree seedlings are planted in between crops to continue on the land after the food crops have been harvested.
The system is practised in forest reserves in the southern part of Nigeria where the State Governments allow the use of forest reserves for farming.
Advantages of taungya farming system
1. The fertility of the soil is usually high for crops to use for maximum productivity.
2. It is an economic way of replacing unwanted forests with desirable tree species.
3. The land is always protected against erosion.
4. The timber seedlings are protected by the food crops in their early stage of life.
5. The system provides avenue sources of income to the government
Disadvantages of taungya farming
1. It leads to the destruction of natural forests which may result in the loss of many forest resources.
2. At times, the needed forests may not develop because most farmers do not cater for the forest trees as they are left to die under heavy cropping with cassava or plantain.
3. The system does not allow the cultivation of permanent crops such as cocoa, rubber, and oil palm.
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