Components of Farming System / Farming-based Livelihood Systems

Focus: Crops and Cropping Systems

1. Introduction

• A farming system refers to the complex and interrelated set of resources, enterprises, and management practices that a farm household uses to produce and sustain a livelihood.
  It integrates crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and other allied activities in a manner that ensures maximum productivity, profitability, and sustainability.
• In a farming-based livelihood system, crops and cropping systems form the core component, as they provide food, feed, fodder, fiber, and raw materials for industries.

2. Major Components of Farming Systems

The main components of a farming system include:

1. Crops and Cropping Systems
2. Livestock and Dairy Farming
3. Horticulture (Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, Spices)
4. Agroforestry and Forestry
5. Fisheries and Aquaculture
6. Poultry, Pig, Goat, and Sheep Rearing
7. Sericulture, Beekeeping, Mushroom Cultivation
8. Agro-processing and Value Addition
9. Off-farm and Non-farm Activities (wage labor, handicrafts, etc.)

Among these, crops and cropping systems are the foundation of most Indian farming systems.

Crops and cropping systems

3. Crops – Definition and Classification; Crop: A plant that is grown by humans for food, fiber, fodder, fuel, or other economic purposes.

3.1 Classification of Crops (Based on Different Criteria)

4. Cropping System – Concept and Meaning

• A cropping system refers to the order and arrangement in which different crops are grown on a given piece of land over a period of time, considering the resources and climatic conditions.
• Definition (FAO, 1977): “The cropping system is the cropping pattern used on a farm and its interaction with farm resources, other farm enterprises, and available technology.”
• In simple terms: It includes all aspects of crop production — what, when, and how crops are grown and managed within a farming system.

5. Types of Cropping Systems

(1) Monocropping (Sole Cropping)

• The same crop is grown year after year on the same land.
• Example: Rice–Rice in Tamil Nadu; Wheat–Wheat in Punjab.
• Advantages: Simplicity, specialization.
• Disadvantages: Pest and disease buildup, soil nutrient depletion, low biodiversity.

(2) Multiple Cropping

• More than one crop is grown on the same field within a year.
• Types include:
• a) Sequential Cropping:
  • Crops grown one after another on the same land in sequence.
  • Example: Rice → Wheat → Mungbean.
• b) Intercropping:
  • Two or more crops grown simultaneously on the same field with distinct row arrangements.
  • Example: Maize + Cowpea; Sugarcane + Onion.
• c) Mixed Cropping:
  • Two or more crops grown together without any specific row arrangement.
  • Example: Sorghum + Pigeon pea; Groundnut + Sunflower.
• d) Relay Cropping:
  • Second crop sown before the first is harvested.
  • Example: Urdbean sown in standing rice crop before harvest.

(3) Crop Rotation; The systematic succession of different crops on the same field in a defined order over years to maintain soil fertility and productivity.

Example:

• • Maize → Mustard → Moong
  • Cotton → Wheat → Fodder Maize

Principles of Crop Rotation:

• 1. Deep-rooted crops followed by shallow-rooted crops.
  2. Legumes should be included to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
  3. Crops with different nutrient demands should follow each other.
  4. Crops of different families to avoid pest/disease buildup.

6. Important Cropping Systems in India

7. Integrated Cropping Systems

• Integration of crops with livestock, fisheries, forestry, and horticulture for better utilization of resources and risk diversification.
• Examples:
  • Rice–Fish–Duck system (Assam, West Bengal)
  • Agri-Horti System: Mango + Vegetables
  • Agri-Silvi-Pastoral System: Trees + Crops + Livestock

8. Factors Affecting Cropping Systems

• Climate: Rainfall, temperature, and length of growing season.
• Soil Type and Fertility: Clayey soils favor rice; loamy soils favor pulses and oilseeds.
• Water Availability: Determines single, double, or triple cropping.
• Socioeconomic Factors: Labor availability, capital, and market demand.
• Technology Adoption: Use of HYVs, irrigation, fertilizers, and mechanization.
• Government Policies: Minimum Support Prices, subsidies, and crop insurance.

9. Role of Crops and Cropping Systems in Farming-based Livelihoods

• Provide food and nutritional security.
• Generate income and employment for rural households.
• Support livestock and allied enterprises (fodder, residues).
• Maintain soil fertility and ecological balance.
• Act as the foundation for diversification and sustainable agriculture.

10. Key Facts for Competitive Exams

• India has 20 agro-ecological zones and 15 agro-climatic zones (Planning Commission).
• Rice–Wheat system occupies ~10 million hectares in India.
• Multiple Cropping Index (MCI) = (Gross Cropped Area / Net Sown Area) × 100
• Highest MCI in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab.
• Intercropping helps in risk reduction and efficient resource use.
• Legume-based rotations improve soil nitrogen and reduce fertilizer needs.