Farming Methods for Sustainable Agriculture

With its diverse agro-climatic conditions, India is the home of agriculture. It plays host to different types of farming methods. These farming practices have evolved over centuries and are primarily influenced by the landscape, availability of resources, climate and socio-economic conditions. This, in turn, affects the crops cultivated and the livestock produced. Ultimately, all these different forms of farming aim to maximise the use of natural resources without depleting them to ensure sustainable and eco-conscious farming practices. 

1. Dairy Farming

Dairy farming is one of the most vital types of agriculture in India’s agricultural landscape. In this practice, we breed and rear dairy animals such as cows, buffaloes, and goats for milk production. As the world’s largest milk producer, India highly depends on dairy farming. In fact, it is one of the main contributors to the Indian economy as it provides livelihoods and sustains millions of farmers, particularly women farmers.

Different forms of farming have different features. The critical characteristics of dairy farming include the following: 

• Livestock Management
• Milk Production and Processing

1. Commercial Farming

Commercial farming is the most popular among the different types of farming methods in India. Here, we focus on producing crops and livestock for sale in the market rather than for personal consumption. 

Due to India’s vast green belt and the green revolution, regions such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have emerged as leading producers of food crops such as rice, wheat, pulses and millet. Many farmers also cultivate commercial crops such as jute, cotton, sugar cane, tobacco and oilseeds. South India, in particular, produces plantation crops like rubber, coffee, tea and coconut on a large scale, creating a sustainable agrarian economy.  

The key features of commercial farming include the following:

• Market-Driven Crop Production
• Modern Technology and Farming Tools/Machinery
• Vast Irrigation Networks
• Use of HYV Seeds
• Use of Fertilisers and Pesticides

1. Plantation Farming

Plantation farming is one of the most prevalent forms of farming wherein we cultivate a single crop on a large scale over an extended area. This type of farming is practised chiefly in tropical regions, particularly in the southern and northeastern states. Tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, coconut, and oil palm are some of the most common plantation crops grown in India.

This farming practice is characterised by

• Monoculture
• Sustained Livelihoods for Labourers 
• Export-Driven Production 

1. Commercial Grain Farming

In commercial grain farming, we produce food grains such as wheat, rice, maize, and barley on a large scale. This is mainly seen along the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains of India, encompassing Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

The marquee features of such different forms of farming are:

• High Productivity and Magnanimous Yield
• Use of Technology developed during the Green Revolution 
• Wide Scale Mechanisation
• Increased Food Security and Self Reliance

1. Commercial Mixed Farming

Commercial mixed farming ranks as one of the most commonly seen farming practices, particularly in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and parts of Andhra Pradesh. In these methods, we simultaneously cultivate crops and raise livestock on the same land. This is one of the best among the different types of farming as it maximises land use and helps us maintain a region’s biodiversity. 

It is characterised by

• Diversified Production
• Resource Efficiency
• Sustainability
• Resilience Against Market Fluctuations

1. Primitive Subsistence Farming

Primitive subsistence farming is one of the oldest and most basic versions of the different forms of farming practised in India. It is mostly seen in remote areas, particularly along indigenous lands and tribal regions in north-east and central India. Here, we rely on traditional methods such as slash and burn and use hand tools only. 

The key features of this type of farming are:

• Reliance on Traditional Methods
• Low Input Farming
• Vulnerable Livelihoods
• Unstable Outputs
• Lack of Food Security 

1. Intensive Subsistence Farming

Intensive subsistence farming is when we cultivate small landholdings to produce crops. It uses a high degree of labour input. In this practice, we rely on organic fertilisers to ensure maximum land utilisation without resource destruction. This is the motivating ideology of managed farmlands wherein local farmers cultivate and manage farms or plots near cities. 

This is characterised by

• High Labour Input
• Diverse Crop Production
• Sustainable and Organic Agricultural Practices
• Food Security for Stakeholders

Embracing Sustainable Farming Practises for A Green, Cleaner Future

As we continue to modernise and expand farming in India, it is increasingly important to take a step back and invest in organic agriculture practices to ensure we can create a sustainable framework. 

This is where managed farmlands come into the picture. Not only do such projects bring greenery closer to the urban landscape, but they also create diversified investment opportunities for many. 

If you want to know how you can contribute to creating sustainable livelihoods while having access to organically produced food, look at all the projects and undertakings we offer at our home, Sanctity Ferme. 

Join our community as we integrate our organic living practices with your modern lifestyles.