LESSON NOTES

FORM 2 SOUTH

24 January 2024

TOPIC : FARMING SYSTEMS

 Farming systems are the ways in which production is carried out on a farm as a
unit

 A farmer can grow a single crop on the entire farm , can grow mixed crops in the
same field and devide the farm into units for livestock production and cop
producing all depending on the farming systems the farmer wants to follow

TYPES OF FARMING SYSTEMS

 Mixed farming

 Monoculture farming

 Intercroping farming

MIXED FARMING

 Mixed farming is a system which involve the rearing of animals and growing of
crops on the same farm.

 An example of mixed farm with different enterprise is that a farm raising broilers,
dairy cattle and growing tobbaco and wheat

ADVANTAGES OF MIXED FARMING

 There is little wastage and value addition when crop residues are fed to farm
animals.

 Manure from livestock are applied to cropping lands

  A more stable income based is created as income is earned from both animals
and crops

 More diversified ( different types) food is produced leading to a balanced and

improved nutrition

 Mixed farming allows reducing the impact of unforeseen harzards that results in
production loses.

 Disasters of natural harzards such as drought may affect some crops or

livestock, so if a farmer is growing different types of crops and rearing different
types of livestock not all the crops and livestock may suffer the impact of natural
disasters and the farmer will rely on those enterprises that survive.

DISADVANTAGES OF MIXED FARMING

 It is labour intensive.,this means it requires more skilled labour

 More capital is needed to invest in production infrastructure and specialized

equipment for different enterprises

 It requires methodical , scientific and proper management

MONOCULTURE

 Is the practice of growing the same crop on the same piece of land for several
years until the plants have lost productivity and then replaced

 Monoculture is mainly practiced in plantation tree crops for timber , fruits and
sugarcane

 Plantation crops include citrus fruits, apples peachand bananas

 The plant will occupy the same piece of land during production for several years
being managed by pruning , irrigation fertilizer application,weeding , diseases and
 pest control to lengthen productive years of the plantation trees

ADVANTAGES OF MONOCULTURE

 Supplies crops on high and constant demand

 Works well under limited land use in small holder farming

DISADVANTAGES OF MONOCULTURE

 Lead to high levels of pests and disease build up which may be difficult to control

 High risk of income loses , if natural disaster occurs

 The same nutrients are exploited to depletion levels by the established plants
and some nutrients not required by plants are never used

 May weaken the soil and lead to soil erosion if land is occupied with little leaf
foliage

INTERCROPING

 Involves growing or planting of more than one crop at the same time on the
same piece of land .

 A farmer can grow field beans and maize at the same time in the same field

ADVANTAGES OF INTERCROPING

 Pest build up is reduced as some plants may chase away pest for other crop

 Reduces the spread of disease if a beneficial combination is established

 Intercroping produces a high total yields per unit area

 Provides an improved diet

 Reduces soil erosion through provision of ground cover.

  Reduces risk of total failure in the event of natural disasters, one crop may
survive the disaster

 Pollination is enhanced as beneficial insect are attracted by presence of assorted

choice of flowering structures from the different mixed crops.

DISADVANTAGES OF INTERCROPING

 Some crops may be compatible, resulting in reduced productivity

 Can be expensive as specialized equipment may be required for the different

crops

 Bushy crops may harbor pests that's may affect other cropin the intercroping

 Some crops may have different nutritional requirements which might be

expensive for the farmer

 Cause problems with selective herbicides use , as crops may be of different

families and one crop.may be affected by the herbicide.