Basic knowledge in Agriculture #35

WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY FARMING?

Farming is a practice or set of practices which are carried out for the production of food for man's consumption and as a source of income.
This food could come in form of crops or livestock which have been well bred and grown on the farm or other place of farming. This place of farming is not necessarily an acre or plots of land, it also could be somewhere beside our home.
Farming could be mechanized or not (local); it could require more labor than the other but they have a common purpose which is food production.

Source: flyermaker

DISCUSS ON THE TYPES OF FARMING AND IMPORTANCE OF EACH

Farming is made up of different types which I would be making mention of the ones I know and familiar with. Below are the few.

1. SUBSISTENCE FARMING: this type of farming deals with growing crops and raising livestock at low rate for personal consumption only.
   Subsistent farmers are families most of the time, and the harvest from farming later on are not taken to market for sale but eaten within them.
   Importance: it requires low capital and the harvest is not divided. It is recommendable for beginners in farming;as they could learn from the low scale farmers.
2. COMMERCIAL FARMING: this type of farming is opposite to subsistent as the crops are grown and harvested to be sold. Of course it requires large capital and enough labour as it is always large scaled. Livestocks and crops are taken to market upon reaching maturity
   importance: it is mechanized leading to bountiful output and more income after sale.
3. LIVESTOCK FARMING: not all farmers grow crops. Some prefer and are specialized in rearing farm animals; these are the livestock farmers. It could be birds(popular farming), herd of sheeps, cattle, piggery or fishery. Beekeeping for honey production is also involved.
   Importance: livestock farming helps in the provision of diary products and some materials needed by manufacturers e.g wool, leather, egg, bones, milk, cheese.
4. PLANTATION FRAMING: this is the opposite of livestock farming in the sense that it involves crops rather than animals. In plantation farming, plants in form of trees and crops are grown. Through this, beans vegetables, palm trees, fruits trees, corn, sugarcane and lots more except farm animals are grown for human consumption.
   Importance: plantation farming helps to promote the soil fertility when they are put into the action of crop rotation. It also help in producing material needed by manufacturers e.g cocoa, cotton, palm fruit and fronds etc.
5. MIXED FARMING: this type of farming does not exempt anything. Crops are grown, livestock are reared also on the farm used for mixed farming. That is, this farming involves cultivation of crops and breeding farm animals at the same time for consumption and source of income.
   Importance: it is diversified. It creates a relationship of mutualism on the farm where the crops and animals benefits from each other. The animals produce manures which fertilizes the crops, which in turn produce food for the animals. This reduces the farmers stress.

Inviting: @maryamanwer @lisflore @lupega

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