Over the last few years, there are immense changes observable in farming process. This time isn’t like the ancient times when produced crops following traditional methods. Modern technology in modern farming method changed the production process. Mixed farming is the best example of modern farming technology. In this discussion, we collect information and will guide you with mixed farming images step by step. Let you know mixed farming means, Types, methods, benefits, issues, and processes in India.
#What Is Mixed Farming?
Mixed farming is a type of cultivation method that allows more than one agriculture practice in the same farming field. In simply we can say mixed farming means a market-oriented and relatively risk-free system of agriculture that allows for economic integration between crop production and animal husbandry. Instead of cultivating a single crop, it is necessary to cultivate mixed crops by sowing two types of crops in different lines. In mixed farming, just as crops are produced from the same land at the same time, so can livestock products. As a result, the use of land becomes much more balanced and inclusive.
Judging from the geographical point of view, in all the regions of the world where mixed farming has developed, it is not possible to cultivate all year round due to extreme cold in winter or other climatic constraints. As a result, in order to produce as much food as possible in favorable weather. The land needs to open up for economic activities such as animal husbandry and grain production. That is why mixed farming is a beautiful example of overcoming the limitations of nature.
#Location:
This agricultural system originated in the industrialized densely populated areas of the temperate zone to produce food crops and protein supplements simultaneously. The mixed agricultural countries are-
1. Eurasia Belt:
It begins on the Atlantic coast, crosses the lands of Europe and Asia to the east, and ends on the Pacific coast.
2. United States:
Mixed agriculture practices in about half of the eastern part of the country. In the north, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, Georgia, Tennessee, and other areas use this method of farming.
3. Other regions:
The other regions of the world where this agricultural system has developed are Paraguay, central Mexico, southern Brazil, Argentina, southern Chile, Zimbabwe, south-eastern Austria, etc.
#Types Of Mixed Farming:
Classification of mixed cultivation depends on land availability, land storage, labor inputs, etc. There are three types of mixed farming observable:
1. On-Farm Versus Between-Farm Mixing:
In this type of mixed cultivation, the mixing process is done using the same land and engaged with different farms. Individual farmers are eager to recycle the resources on their own farms. The farmers collect animal dung from the animal farm and use this for the crops farm for better growth of crops.
2. Mixing Within Crops and Animal Systems:
This system refers to the situation where multiple farming practices did. Different types are kept together on the same farm. Another way, is crop cultivation it practices over years. In this method, farmers take advantage of moisture and light.
3. Diversified Versus Integrated Systems:
A diversified system seemed to be independent whereas the integrated system is highly dependent. Poultry, crops, and dairy are cultivated in a diversified way and each crop is used as a resource for another farm.
#Features:
1. Land:
In this farming method, the size of the farming fields is different from each other in different countries. In the USA the land of mixed cropping is big but in Europe, the farming land is not as big as the USA. Depending on the land density and population the size of mixed cultivation land is prepared. Though the land size of animal husbandry and crop production is different in each country, the crop farming land size is always big than animal husbandry.
2. Crops Rotation:
Crop rotation occupies a special place in mixed agriculture. This is because proper planning is required to use the same land for different crops or works at different times of the year. According to Alexander and Gibson (1989), the four components of crop rotation in mixed agriculture, such–
A) Food production for humans and animals, such as – maize, potatoes, turnips, etc.
B) Cultivation of various types of grasses and herbaceous plants for animal feed, especially those plants which help in increasing the supply of nitrogen in the soil, such as – Clover, Alfalfa, Timothy, etc.
C) Use of land as pasture.
D) Cultivation of market-oriented cash crops, such as wheat, rye, etc.
3. Crops Production:
- In the agricultural system, three main crops are cultivated.
- Crops suitable for human consumption, such as corn, wheat, soybeans, beets, potatoes, peas, turnips, cabbage, spinach, etc.
- Financial crops suitable for sale in the market, such as wheat, soybean, oat, etc.
- Suitable grains for animal feed, such as maize, potatoes, turnips, beets, oats, alfalfa, etc.
- Some of the grain produced is used by the farmer for his own needs, some as animal feed. By selling the remaining surplus in the market, the farmer makes a profit.
- This type of agriculture is a mixture of subsistence and commercial production.
4. Technology:
In mixed farming, a lot of organic manure is used on the land. Organic manure is easily available as there is an animal husbandry facility on the same land. In addition, the use of organic fertilizers in allied agricultural areas has been going on for a long time due to the continuous production of different crops from the same land to maintain the fertility of the land.
The use of various types of small agricultural implements or farming tools, such as plows, harrows, spades, etc., as well as heavy machinery, such as tractors, can be observed in mixed agriculture. That is, like large-scale commercial farming, mixed farming is not just about technologically advanced heavy machinery.
5. Marketing:
There is a difference from one region to another in the amount of surplus grain to be sold in the market. As in large-scale commercial agriculture, almost all of the grain produced is marketable, but not in mixed agriculture. Here food is stored for the family’s own needs.
6. Other Features:
- Among agricultural products and animal products, livestock and animal products are much more profitable to the farmer. Farmers make a good income from cattle, sheep farming, pigs, poultry farming, dairy farming, butter, eggs, animal skins, etc.
- In mixed farming the total income of the farmer depends on different agricultural inputs. As a result, even if the market price of a particular product falls, the farmer does not suffer much.
- As different crops are produced at different times of the year, the demand for agricultural labor is maintained throughout the year.
- In order to maintain soil fertility, alternative cropping practices are followed to maintain soil fertility by following the method of cropping in a scientific manner in mixed farming methods.
- Lots of machinery, fertilizers, and high-quality seeds are used in the land, resulting in higher productivity of the land.
#Advantages:
- In mixed agriculture, the land is always used for cultivation, so the grain density of the land increases.
- In the case of mixed farming, as different types of crops and poultry and cattle are rearing at the same time; the amount of risk to the farmers is reduced.
- This method of farming increases the profit of the farmers.
- In mixed agriculture, the fertility of the land is maintained as the crop rotation system is applied. In addition, the use of chemical fertilizers has been reduced due to the use of livestock wastes as organic fertilizers.
- Mixed Agriculture Farmers in conventional areas are educated in modern education and are able to produce large quantities of crops as they work in agriculture through the use of advanced modern technology and scientific methods.
- In this agriculture, an agricultural farm produces a variety of crops, vegetables, fruits, and livestock at the same time, which creates job opportunities throughout the year.
#Disadvantages:
- At the same time, due to agriculture and animal husbandry, lack limited capacity. It is not possible to take proper care of each side and the amount of production decreases.
- Mixed agriculture is a type of capital-intensive agriculture. Because at the same time cultivation of different crops and cattle farming requires a lot of money. Which is not possible for underdeveloped or developing countries.
- Mixed agriculture is mainly developed in countries with temperate climates. So it is not possible to develop this agricultural system in countries with warm humid climates without this region.
- An agricultural farm cultivates different crops at the same time. For which it is often difficult to apply fertilizers and pesticides in different ways for each crop.
- As the farmers of developing countries are unable to use modern scientific methods. It is not possible to introduce mixed agriculture in these countries.
- Extensive or large-scale farms required in the mixed farming systems are not available in many countries.