CONTENT
– Mixed Farming
– Bush Fallowing or Shifting Cultivation
– Pastoral Farming
FARMING SYSTEM
Farming system is a given method for the production of crops and animals. Soil, climate and availability of land can influence the choice of any system.
A) MIXED FARMING
This is a farming system where the farmer grows crops and rears animals on the same farm.
ADVANTAGES OF MIXED FARMING
1. Animal droppings and dungs can be used as manure to improve soil fertility, and invariably increase crop yield.
2. Crop residue from crop production can serve as feeding materials for ruminant animals (i.e. corn cobs and rice bran etc.)
3. Large animals like cattle can be used to till the ground for crop production.
4. If either crop or animal sector of the farm fails, the farmer has the other to fall back on.
DISADVANTAGES OF MIXED FARMING
1. The farmer has a divided attention and he may not function well.
2. If the animals are not properly managed, they can graze on the planted crops and destroy them.
B) BUSH FALLOWING OR SHIFTING CULTIVATION
Bush fallowing is a system of farming whereby a farmer abandons unproductive land for a productive one and allows the unproductive land to fallow or rest for some period of years (i.e. 3-5 years) before returning to it. This type of farming system is also known asland rotation. In shifting cultivation, the farmer never returns to the previous land.
ADVANTAGES OF BUSH FALLOWING
1. It is very cheap and simple to practice.
2. If the fallowing years are long enough, it is less injurious to the soil.
3. If the fallow period is not enough the soil quickly loses its fertility and becomes useless for further crop production.
DISADVANTAGES OF BUSH FALLOWING
1. A very large piece of land is needed for an effective practice of bush fallowing.
2. Bush fallowing is the main practice for land clearing, in bush fallowing the land clearing results in reduced organic matter of the soil.
3. If the fallow period is not enough the soil quickly loses its fertility and becomes useless for further crop production.
EVALUATION
- What is farming system?
- State two advantages and disadvantages of bush fallowing
C) PASTORAL FARMING
This is an extensive system of livestock production where the animals are unrestrictedly left to roam and graze in the fields.
TYPES OF PASTORAL FARMING
There are three types of pastoral farming, these are:
1. Nomadic farming
2. Ley farming
3. Ranching
Nomadic Farming: The farmer moves his animals from one place to another in search of food and water.
Ley Farming: This is the system of combining pasture with crop production in alternation. The planting of pasture can follow the harvest of arable crops e.g. cereal. The planted pasture is usually a mixture of grasses and legumes with different grazing characteristics. It is also known as rotation pasture.
Ranching: It’s the semi-intensive system of animal production. The animals are kept on a large but enclosed expanse of land.
ADVANTAGES OF PASTORAL FARMING
1. Livestock kept on pasture are more comfortable and sanitary than those kept indoors in feed lots.
2. The livestock harvest the pasture crops by grazingthereby saving labour cost.
3. It does not require large financial investment for building and equipment.
4. The soil fertility is improved on through the manure they drop.
5. Animals raised on pasture tend to produce more milk than those kept indoors in feed lots.
DISADVANTAGES OF PASTORAL FARMING
1. It requires a large piece of land to be successfully practiced.
2. Animals in the open as well as their herdsmen are exposed to various hazards.
3. Unplanned breeding which leads to the production of poor quality animals.
4. Irregular supply of feed to animals and this result in slow weight gain.
5. High incidence of disease, pest and death of both young and old animals.
GENERAL EVALUATION
1. Define farming system.
2. Differentiate between mixed farming and mixed cropping.
3. Mention two advantages of mixed farming.
4. What is the difference between bush fallowing and shifting cultivation?
5. Define pastoral farming and explain its types.
READING ASSIGNMENT
Junior Secondary Agricultural Science for Nigerian Schools Bk 3.by A Youdeovei. Pages 2-6
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
1. Which of these farming systems involve crops production?
(a) ley farming (b) ranching (c) mixed farming (d) nomadic farming
2. The land is left for ……….. to ………… years to rest in bush fallowing.
(a) 3 – 5 years (b) 7 – 10 years (c) 15 – 20 years (d) 20 – 30 years
3. Which of these farming systems involves the production of crops and the rearing of animals?(a) mixed farming (b) pastoral farming (c) bush fallowing (d) ranching
4. Ranching is a form of ……….. animal production system.
(a) extensive (b) semi-intensive (c) intensive (d) semi-extensive
5. In which of these farming systems is pasture grown for farm animals?
(a) ley farming (b) mixed farming (c) bush fallowing (d) shifting cultivation
THEORY
1. State two disadvantages of mixed farming.
2. What is nomadic farming?
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