👨‍👨‍👧‍👦Types of Farming — Classification by Enterprise Composition

Opening Example

Consider two neighbouring farmers in Uttar Pradesh. Farmer A grows wheat, mustard, keeps two buffaloes, and sells vegetables — no single enterprise earns him more than 40% of his income. Farmer B grows only sugarcane near a sugar mill, and sugarcane alone provides 80% of his income. Farmer A practises diversified farming; Farmer B practises specialised farming. The way we classify farms based on what they produce and in what proportions is called the type of farming.

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Definition

According to Johnson:

“When farms in a group are quite similar in the kinds and proportions of the crops and livestock that are produced and in the methods and practices followed in production, that group is described as a Type of Farming.”

Understanding the type of farming helps in agricultural planning, policy-making, and designing targeted extension services for each farming group.

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Factors Affecting Type of Farming

Several factors shape what a farmer grows and how the farm is organized:

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Five Types of Farming

Based on methods, practices, and the proportion of crops and livestock, farming is classified into five types:

1. Diversified Farming
2. Specialised Farming
3. Mixed Farming
4. Dry Farming
5. Ranching

Mnemonic — “DSMDR”: Don’t Stop Making Daily Runs (Diversified, Specialised, Mixed, Dry, Ranching)

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1. Diversified Farming

A farm where no single enterprise contributes 50% or more of total farm income is called a diversified (or general) farm.

Agricultural example: A farmer in Bihar grows rice (30% income), wheat (25% income), keeps a cow for milk (20%), and grows vegetables (25%). No single enterprise dominates.

“A good farmer is one who does not put all the eggs in one basket.” — This proverb captures the core philosophy of diversification.

Subsistence farming and marginal farming are forms of diversified farming where the primary goal is household food security rather than commercial profit.

Advantages

Disadvantages

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2. Specialised Farming

A farm where a single enterprise contributes 50% or more of total farm income is called a specialised farm.

Agricultural examples:

• A sugarcane farm near a sugar mill where sugarcane provides 70% of income
• A tea garden in Assam where tea is the dominant enterprise
• A potato farm in Punjab where potato contributes over 60% of income

The farm is named after its dominant enterprise — tea garden, sugarcane farm, potato farm, etc.

Conditions Favouring Specialisation

1. Special market outlets nearby (e.g., sugar mill, tea auction centre)
2. Stable economic conditions over a long period
3. Climate highly suited to one particular crop

Advantages

Disadvantages

Key Distinction: Diversified = no single enterprise ≥ 50% of income. Specialised = one enterprise ≥ 50% of income.

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3. Mixed Farming

In mixed farming, crop production is combined with livestock raising or dairying. The livestock enterprise is complementary to crops — animals provide draught power and manure for crops, while crops provide feed and fodder for animals. This creates a self-sustaining cycle.

Agricultural example: A farmer in Haryana grows wheat and rice while maintaining 4-5 dairy buffaloes. Wheat straw feeds the buffaloes; buffalo dung manures the wheat fields.

Key rules:

• The subsidiary (livestock) enterprise should not exceed 10% of total income
• The subsidiary enterprise should utilise by-products of the main enterprise
• When livestock begins to compete with crops for the same resources, the relationship shifts from complementary to competitive

Note: Mixed farming is a type of diversified farming where crops and livestock are specifically interdependent. Diversified farming may involve multiple crop enterprises without any livestock.

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4. Dry Farming

Cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall of less than 750 mm.

Agricultural example: Bajra and jowar cultivation in the arid zones of Rajasthan where annual rainfall is around 300-500 mm. Farmers use moisture conservation techniques to survive on limited rain.

Key Features

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5. Ranching

Land where no crops are cultivated and natural vegetation is used for grazing livestock is called ranch land. The person who manages such livestock is a rancher.

Agricultural example: Sheep grazing on natural pastures in the hilly tracts of Bikaner (Rajasthan) and Jammu & Kashmir. Australia’s sheep ranching is world-famous.

Key Features

Exam Fact: The practice of grazing animals on public land is called ranching. (AFO 2021)

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Exam Tips

• 50% rule is the dividing line between diversified and specialised farming — memorise this threshold.
• Mixed farming always involves crops + livestock together, not just multiple crops.
• Dry farming threshold: rainfall < 750 mm. Do not confuse with rainfed farming (which includes areas up to 1150 mm).
• Ranching = no crops at all; only natural grazing on public land.

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Summary Comparison Table

Quick Comparison: Five Types of Farming

Type	Key Feature	Income / Defining Criterion	Indian Example
Diversified	Multiple enterprises, no single dominance	No single enterprise ≥ 50% of income	Small farmer in Bihar growing rice, wheat, vegetables, and keeping a cow
Specialised	One dominant enterprise	Single enterprise ≥ 50% of income	Sugarcane farm near a sugar mill in UP
Mixed	Crops + Livestock interdependent	Livestock subsidiary ≤ 10% of income	Wheat-buffalo farming in Haryana
Dry	Low rainfall, moisture conservation	Rainfall < 750 mm	Bajra-jowar in Rajasthan
Ranching	Grazing on natural pastures	No crop cultivation; public land	Sheep grazing in Bikaner

Summary Cheat Sheet