Who doesn’t know that about 60% of people in India work in agriculture? It’s an agricultural nation. Below, we have listed some of the most widely used types of Cultivation in India.
Whether you practice any one of the cultivation practices mentioned below, you must understand the different types of cultivation practices. Understand the various practices and equip yourself with the knowledge to make informed decisions and enhance your agricultural productivity while promoting sustainability.
For your convenience, we have categorized the 11 ways of Cultivation into four categories. Some of the cultivation practices are centuries old and are still followed by Indian farmers. Understand each type in detail and maximize your yields and profits:
Subsistence farming is about growing crops for self-consumption or family consumption without selling any surplus in the market. This is the most ancient farming practice, and till today, small farmers across India practice subsistence farming as their only means of livelihood. You can understand this method as a type of self-reliance that comes from our agricultural tradition.
The complexity of this activity upholds its importance in food security and traditional farming practices. On the other hand, it poses numerous difficulties, including constraints on inputs, sensitivity to climate hazards, and technological backwardness, which can negatively affect the productivity and income of the farmers.
Commercial farming is the opposite of subsistence farming, where farmers grow their crops or livestock for the purpose of selling & generating revenue. Such a procedure usually relies on large-scale manufacturing, deploying advanced technology, and benefiting from reduced production costs.
From the green tea estates of Assam to the vast cotton fields of Punjab, commercial farming makes a significant contribution to the national market both at home and abroad, leaving its cash counterpart in export earnings. Nonetheless, achieving the highest yields is dependent on environmental sustainability and is not compromised by irresponsible commercial farming.
Faced with the problem of rising population and shrinking land area, intensive farming has come to be a significant cultivation system in India. This technique entails the production of high yields through the application of high inputs, including fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation on a limited amount of land. Some farmers actually utilize plant protection equipment such as a duster in agriculture to spray pesticides on their farms.
While intensive farming may increase productivity, it also constitutes environmental risks such as soil erosion and water pollution if not used properly. Farming must be carefully managed, and sustainable technologies should be adopted to prevent possible damage. Intensive agriculture involves a lot of planning, accuracy, and a desire for the environment.
While arid and semiarid landscapes of India are characterized by occasional and limited rainfall, dryland farming has become the only viable agricultural process in these regions. This method depends only on the stored moisture in the soil or minimum irrigation, and therefore, it fits crops like millets, pulses, and oilseeds, which survive in dry land.
Soil moisture management is rated in arid/semiarid farming systems for which water-saving techniques like mulching, rainwater harvesting, and drought-resistant crops are advantageous. Defying the odds of water scarcity, DI has proven to be an indispensable tool for food security and heritage farm conservation in water-limited regions.
In the developed-greened states of India, where water abounds, wetland farming has been well developed, enabling the farmers to crop their fields in underwater or flood conditions. Rice, which is the primary crop for many people, grows more than other crops by the ancient method of planting. Intense emphasis was put on the design of a field for rice growing surrounded by the elaborate linkages of water channels and bunds.
Wetland farming, apart from giving space to contribute to agriculture, also increases biodiversity since it becomes a home for aquatic species. However, such management should be planned carefully, and adequate water and drainage systems should be built in order to prevent soil erosion and maintain ecological balance. In the context of depleted water, wetlands practice that helps to save water and ensure sustainable growth becomes inevitable.
In the undulating districts of the Himalayan ranges and other mountainous landscapes, terrace farming has, in a masterful way, emerged as an effective cultivation method that uses all the limited available land while preventing soil erosion. This practice of terrace formation on the hill slopes lets farmers grow a wide variety of crops ranging from root and tuber crops to cereals for themselves and the community.
The terrace cultivation not only leads to the way of life for the mountain people but also displays their sophisticated engineering as well as agricultural skills. The planning of these purposeful vertical gardens instills retention of moisture and water conservation as they also provide habitats for other species. Terrace farming is a labor-intensive cultivation process, but it’s an excellent example of how human creativity and the rough terrain of nature can coexist together.
The advanced agriculture model, also known as mixed farming, has won wide acceptance in India. In this integrated system, both functions are compatible since crop production and livestock are combined on the same farm, and the result is an interval where one part supports the other. Livestock waste can be used as a natural fertilizer for crops during Cultivation. Meanwhile, crop residues are good feeds for livestock.
Apart from saving external added components, it also offers a complex of nutrient cycling and soil health. Agricoop offers balanced foods and various revenues, hence mitigating mono-cropping risks. It has been a tried and proven approach that is in sync with the agricultural strength of the country and helps in leading a sustainable life.
Mixed farming is one of the widely recognized state-of-the-art types of farming that goes on to the next level and gracefully merges multiple elements into one single system. As for crop agriculture and livestock rearing, the integrated system includes fish ponds, poultry, and biogas production; therefore, this is the circle of sustainability, in other words.
The end waste of one component starts functioning as a valuable input for another, thus creating an industrial cycle that improves resource usage and minimizes waste. Integrated farming represents the cornerstone of circular economic acceptance and takes care of the considerable environment. The most appealing benefit of this method is that it builds symbiotic relationships among various agricultural components so that it optimizes productivity while ensuring minimal dependence on external inputs and strives for food security and environmental sustainability as the main goals.
Moreover, this shift in farming is ancestral in certain indigenous and tribal groups as “jhum” (“jhoom” in the local language). Cultivation is a particular type of shifting Cultivation in which they clear an area of the forest, plant it for a few seasons, and then move on to another already fertile land when soil fertility drops.
Through this cyclical method, land regeneration will be possible and will also help in supporting biodiversity by allowing vegetation transformation into a mosaic of varied stages. However, the population is increasing, and farming land is limited, so shifting cultivation process is facing challenges, but efforts are being made to promote sustainable farming practices while respecting traditional knowledge and indigenous rights.
India’s green spaces are cultivated by expansive plantations that are dedicated to yearly cash crops like tea, coffee, rubber, and various kinds of fruits that grow perennially. Plantation agriculture is based on large pieces of land owned by professionals and managed using systematic cultivating, specialized techniques, and a large workforce. Though the plantation concessions are a significant contributor to developing the economy economically and providing foreign exchange, there are social and environmental implications that must be addressed.
Sustainable agriculture in plantation farming must be linked to both land productivity and biological well-being, provide good working conditions, and contribute to community development. A variety of efforts by plantations involving sustainable methods and ethical standards will enable these plantations to remain viable and yet have a decreased environmental footprint.
Organic farming is one of the most innovative ways of cultivation in India right now. These farming types, instead of using artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, support natural techniques to enhance soil quality and manage pests.
Organic farmers utilize techniques such as ‘crop rotation, composting, and benefit of insects’ to develop a balance between nature and human beings. Consumers are progressively becoming more aware of the health fringe benefits and environmental superiority associated with organic food consumption, reinforcing the perception of organic farming. Therefore, this farming method is gaining massive traction throughout the country, offering a viable, ethical, and sustainable alternative to conventional methods of Cultivation.
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Now that you understand different methods of Cultivation, we must tell you that these practices are constantly evolving to meet the changing demands of agriculture. You must invest in sustainable practices and optimize your farming operations. It’s essential to have a balance of ancient traditions and modern technology & practices to improve the cultivation practices.
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