Agriculture » Agricultural systems and farming types

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Different agricultural systems around the world
Characteristics of subsistence and commercial farming
Intensive and extensive farming methods
Key farming types: pastoral, arable and mixed farming
Modern agricultural developments and sustainable practices
Case studies of farming systems in different regions

Introduction to Agricultural Systems

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and rearing animals to produce food, feed, fibre and other products. It's one of humanity's oldest and most important activities, feeding the world's population and providing livelihoods for billions of people. Different regions have developed unique agricultural systems based on their climate, terrain, available technology and cultural practices.

Key Definitions:

Agricultural system: The way in which farming is organised, including the types of crops grown, animals raised and methods used.
Farming type: A specific approach to agriculture, such as arable, pastoral, or mixed farming.
Yield: The amount of crops produced per unit of land.
Inputs: Resources put into farming, including seeds, fertilisers, labour and machinery.

Major Agricultural Systems

🌾 Subsistence Farming

Farming where crops and livestock are produced primarily to feed the farmer's family, with little or no surplus for sale. This type of farming is common in developing countries.

Characteristics:

Small farm size (typically 1-3 hectares)
Labour-intensive methods using simple tools
Low inputs of fertilisers and pesticides
Limited mechanisation
Focus on staple food crops
High risk from weather events and pests

🏥 Commercial Farming

Farming where crops and livestock are produced primarily for sale. This type of farming dominates in developed countries and increasingly in developing nations.

Characteristics:

Larger farm size (can be hundreds or thousands of hectares)
Capital-intensive with high levels of mechanisation
High inputs of fertilisers, pesticides and technology
Focus on profitable crops and livestock
Often specialised production
Access to markets and transport networks

Farming Intensity

Agricultural systems can also be classified based on how intensively land is used and the level of inputs applied.

💪 Intensive Farming

Farming that maximises output from a relatively small land area through high inputs of labour, capital and technology.

Examples:

Market gardening and horticulture
Factory farming of livestock
Rice cultivation in East Asia
Greenhouse production

Advantages: High yields, efficient land use

Disadvantages: High costs, environmental impacts, animal welfare concerns

🌲 Extensive Farming

Farming that uses large areas of land with lower inputs of labour, capital and technology per unit area.

Examples:

Ranching in North America
Sheep farming in Australia
Cereal production in Ukraine
Nomadic herding in parts of Africa

Advantages: Lower costs, less environmental impact per hectare

Disadvantages: Lower yields per hectare, requires more land

Major Farming Types

🌾 Arable Farming

Growing of crops on ploughed land. Common crops include wheat, rice, maize and vegetables.

Features:

Seasonal planting and harvesting
Requires fertile soil and adequate rainfall
Can be mechanised extensively
Often uses crop rotation to maintain soil fertility

🐄 Pastoral Farming

Rearing of livestock for meat, milk, eggs, wool and other animal products.

Features:

Can occur on land unsuitable for crops
Includes dairy, beef, sheep and poultry farming
Ranges from nomadic herding to intensive factory farming
May involve seasonal movement (transhumance)

🌶 Mixed Farming

Combination of arable and pastoral farming on the same land unit.

Features:

Provides diversification and reduced risk
Animals provide manure for crops
Crop residues can feed livestock
Common in temperate regions like the UK
Allows for more sustainable nutrient cycling

Specialised Farming Systems

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale commercial farming of cash crops, typically in tropical or subtropical regions. Often established during colonial periods to produce crops for export to developed countries.

Key characteristics:

Large estates (often over 100 hectares)
Single crop specialisation (monoculture)
Labour-intensive harvesting, often with seasonal workers
Processing facilities often on-site
Export-oriented production

Common plantation crops: Tea, coffee, rubber, sugar cane, bananas, cocoa, palm oil

Shifting Cultivation

A traditional subsistence farming method where plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned to allow vegetation to regrow while the farmer moves to a new plot.

Key characteristics:

Land is cleared by cutting and burning vegetation (slash and burn)
Crops are grown for 2-3 years until soil fertility declines
Land is then left fallow for 10-20 years to recover
Requires large areas of land relative to population
Common in tropical rainforest regions

Market Gardening

Intensive production of fruits, vegetables and flowers for sale in nearby urban markets.

Key characteristics:

Small land holdings with very intensive production
High inputs of labour, fertilisers and technology
Often uses greenhouses or polytunnels to extend growing seasons
Located close to urban markets to reduce transport costs
Produces high-value, perishable crops

Case Study Focus: Rice Farming in Southeast Asia

Rice cultivation in Southeast Asia represents one of the world's most intensive agricultural systems. In countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, rice is grown using labour-intensive methods on small plots of land.

Key features:

Paddy fields are flooded to create ideal growing conditions
Terracing on hillsides allows farming on steep terrain
Multiple crops per year in some areas (double or triple cropping)
Family labour with simple tools, though mechanisation is increasing
High yields per hectare but small farm sizes (often less than 1 hectare)

The Green Revolution introduced high-yielding rice varieties, fertilisers and pesticides to Southeast Asia from the 1960s onwards, dramatically increasing yields. However, this has also led to environmental challenges including water pollution, soil degradation and loss of biodiversity.

Modern Developments in Agriculture

Precision Farming

The use of technology to optimise inputs and manage variations within fields. This approach aims to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

Technologies include:

GPS-guided tractors and harvesters
Drones for crop monitoring
Sensors to measure soil moisture and nutrient levels
Variable rate application of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides
Yield mapping to identify field variations

Sustainable Farming

Agricultural practices that aim to protect the environment, enhance communities and produce healthy food over the long term.

Key approaches:

Organic farming: Avoids synthetic fertilisers and pesticides
Agroforestry: Integrates trees with crop or livestock production
Conservation agriculture: Minimises soil disturbance and maintains soil cover
Integrated pest management: Uses multiple strategies to control pests while minimising pesticide use
Permaculture: Designs agricultural systems based on natural ecosystems

Case Study Focus: Commercial Farming in the American Midwest

The American Midwest (including states like Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska) represents one of the world's most productive agricultural regions, dominated by large-scale commercial farming.

Key features:

Large farms averaging 180 hectares, with many exceeding 500 hectares
Highly mechanised with minimal labour requirements
Focus on corn (maize) and soybean production
Extensive use of genetically modified crops
High inputs of fertilisers, pesticides and irrigation
Integration with global markets and food processing industries

This system produces enormous quantities of food but faces challenges including soil erosion, water pollution from agricultural chemicals and vulnerability to climate change. Many farmers are now adopting precision agriculture techniques to address these issues while maintaining productivity.

Factors Influencing Agricultural Systems

The type of agricultural system that develops in a region is influenced by a complex mix of physical, economic and social factors:

Physical factors: Climate, soil, terrain, water availability
Economic factors: Market access, capital availability, land prices, labour costs
Social factors: Population density, traditions, land ownership patterns
Political factors: Government policies, subsidies, trade agreements
Technological factors: Available machinery, irrigation systems, crop varieties

Understanding these influences helps explain why particular farming systems develop in specific regions and how they might change over time as conditions evolve.