Definition of Farming System

Meaning:

A Farming System refers to the integrated and interrelated arrangement of farm enterprises managed by a farm family to efficiently utilize available resources for sustainable agricultural production and income generation.

It includes crop production, livestock rearing, poultry, fishery, horticulture, agroforestry, beekeeping, and non-farm activities that together form a system suited to the socio-economic and ecological conditions of the farmer.

Key Definitions:

• FAO (1989): “A farming system is a population of individual farm systems that have broadly similar resource bases, enterprise patterns, household livelihoods, and constraints, for which similar development strategies and interventions would be appropriate.”
• ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research): “Farming System is a resource management strategy to achieve economic and sustained production to meet diverse requirements of farm households while preserving the resource base and maintaining a high level of environmental quality.”
• Simplified Definition:  A farming system is the combination of farm enterprises (crop, livestock, fishery, forestry, etc.) that a farmer manages according to his resources and environment to achieve sustainable livelihood and income.

Core Components of a Farming System:

• Farm enterprises – crops, livestock, poultry, fishery, forestry, etc.
• Inputs – land, labor, water, capital, and management.
• Interactions – among enterprises to maximize resource use (e.g., crop residues for animal feed, manure for crops).
• Outputs – food, income, employment, and environmental sustainability.

2. Definition of Farming-Based Livelihood Systems

Meaning: A Farming-Based Livelihood System (FBLS) refers to the set of livelihood activities in which agriculture and its allied sectors (like livestock, fishery, forestry, and agro-processing) form the main source of income, food, and employment for rural households.

It goes beyond the farm itself — including all the social, economic, institutional, and environmental linkages that influence how people earn their living through agriculture.

Key Definitions:

• Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID, 1999): “A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets, and activities required for a means of living; it is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the next generation.”
• Adapted for Farming-Based Livelihoods:  A farming-based livelihood system is the integration of agricultural production activities and supporting enterprises that provide sustainable means of living to rural households while conserving natural resources and adapting to changing socio-economic and environmental conditions.

Core Components of a Farming-Based Livelihood System:

Difference Between Farming System and Farming-Based Livelihood System