FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

THE TERM FARMING SYSTEMS refers to an ordered combination of crops grown, livestock produced, husbandry methods and cultural practices followed.

CLASSIFICATION TREE CROPS –fruit, nuts, beverage crop, rubber, pharmaceuticals, oil, lumber, paper, sweeteners, ornamentals, fuel, etc.

CLASSIFICATION (continued) TILLAGE CROPS –cereal grains, oilseeds, vegetable crops, sugar crops, fiber crops, small fruits, coarse grains, etc.

CLASSIFICATION (continued) ALTERNATING TILLAGE CROPS –hay crops, silage, green chop, “fodder”, etc. (i.e. sorghums, millet, alfalfa, small grains, grass, etc.)

CLASSIFICATION (continued) GRASSLAND/GRAZING LAND –native range/grass, forbs, sage, shrubs, legumes, etc.

FARMING SYSTEMS The particular Farming System found in a country or region is the result of a unique combination of factors, many of which are causative or associative in nature (i.e. Bananas and Wheat).

FACTORS/CONDITIONS Influencing/impacting the development of specific Farming Systems. –Climate, Elevation, Soil, Moisture, Soil stability, Pests, Technological adaptation & feasibility, Economic infrastructure and Social Infrastructure.

FACTORS IMPACTING FARMING SYSTEMS Climate - temperature & rainfall Elevation - temperature Soil - fertility, pH & organic matter Land (physical) - soil type, texture, depth, permeability & slope. Moisture - natural rainfall, irrigation, drainage, flood control, etc.

FACTORS IMPACTING FARMING SYSTEMS (continued) Soil stability - erosion & salinity Pests - weeds, insects, diseases & predators. Technological adaptation and feasibility - equipment, cultural practices, chemicals, new cultivars, etc.

FACTORS IMPACTING FARMING SYSTEMS (continued) Economic infrastructure - market access, government regulations, transportation system & processing industry. Social infrastructure - work ethic, class/caste system, land tenure, education, diet, culture & dissemination of information.

MAJOR FACTORS IMPACTING THE CLASSIFICATION OF FARMING SYSTEMS Climate Level of Technology Infrastructure Production Incentives Political Constraints Human Resources

SUB - CLASSIFICATION Very Extensive - broad, much variation, inter cropping, strip cropping, involving several different different crops or livestock species. Extensive Intensive Very Intensive - double cropping, crop rotation, crop residue management, erosion control.

NATURE & EXTENT OF FARMING SYSTEMS Subsistence farming - produces only enough food and fiber for individual or family needs. 1) Involves the gathering/collection of food, fuel & building materials, 2) Rarely ventures into situations involving commercial production, 3) Requires little in the way of inputs, market access, monetary exchange, etc.

SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE (continued) Hunter/Gathers Nomads/Bedouins Slash & Burn

NATURE & EXTENT (continued) Commercial Farming Systems - characterized by the commercial production of agricultural commodities for specific markets and capital intensive.

TYPES OF COMMERCIAL FARMING SYSTEMS Tropical & sub-tropical plantations Temperate zone grain production Vegetable & fruit production Livestock production Mixed crop & livestock production

Sustainable Agriculture Protects soil fertility Optimizes management & resources Reduces the use of nonrenewable resources Promotes opportunities in family farming Achieves integration of natural biological cycles & controls

COLLECTIVE FARMING SYSTEMS Agricultural operations in nations with centrally planned economies. Usually operates under a rigid system of collective or state farms.