We have evolved in our ways of producing food over time from living like a nomad hunting and gathering food to settling down along the river banks to produce our own food. Different terrains and climates have challenged human minds to develop innovative methods of farming which are vastly used till date.
It has taken centuries to develop the farming methods and tools that farmers continue to use around the world today. Two of the agricultural practices we will be discussing here are Subsistence Farming and Terrace Farming. Both practices continue to hold their significance till now mostly in terrain where it is difficult for modernization to reach.
What is Subsistence Farming ?
The practice of Subsistence farming aims to produce food which is self sufficient for a family to sustain on. Generally, farmers grow crops to meet their own needs or those of their local communities. Recently there has been an increase in health awareness among people, which has made subsistence farming even more popular as it lets them control the quality of fruits and vegetables they are consuming. In most cases, farmers tend to use conventional tools rather than modern expensive ones because their farms are small.
Importance of Subsistence Farming
Subsistence farming is important mainly for rural and economically marginalized communities. One of the major importance of subsistence farming is it serves as a source of primary livelihood in many families and communities for their existence without depending on any external source. In addition to livelihood, a minimum amount of pesticides and other chemicals used during crop cultivation ensures the quality of food. Many individuals in the modern times also practice subsistence farming to live a natural and healthy lifestyle .
What is terrace Farming ?
Terrace Farming is a very specialized agricultural technique practiced to overcome the challenges of farming on mountainous terrain. By cutting small steps into the mountain, more arable land can be grown, which also prevents soil erosion. In hilly areas, the steps also solve the problem of irrigation because the water is retained on the terrace during rain or irrigation, reducing wastage. In spite of terrace farming having many advantages, one of the biggest disadvantages is the amount of labor it requires to cut the steps in the mountains.
Importance of Terrace Farming
It is very expensive and labor intensive to transport food to mountainous terrain so by practicing terrace farming the local individual is capable of growing as well as selling the produce for a livelihood. Along with livelihood terrace farming also helps in preventing soil erosion by reducing the flow of water during a water runoff also reducing a chance of a flash flood.
Challenges Faced during growing crops
Unpredictable weather patterns are among the greatest challenges faced by a farmer , recently there has been a rise in extreme weather conditions like drought and flood which leave the land in a condition where no crops can be grown. In addition to these, rise in temperature and uneven rainfall pattern are also affecting crops and yield. Apart from weather, soil erosion has also been a great factor affecting crops.
To maximize the yield from a piece of land, commercial farmers use pesticides and chemical fertilizers that, in the long run, affect the nutrient-rich layer of soil, making it difficult to grow crops. Farming is a very labor intensive work especially for a commercial farmer which create a entry barrier in farming as buying machine and technologies could cost a lot on individuals pocket.
Conclusion
In conclusion both of the traditional methods subsistence farming and terrace farming still hold their importance in the modern world as subsistence farming helps in becoming a farmer self-sufficient using only a small piece of land and traditional farming tools. Whereas on the other hand terrace farming makes land capable of growing crops in a challenging terrain of mountains.
However there are many challenges a farmer needs to overcome in order to bring food to our plates such as extreme weather, changing weather patterns and uneven rain distribution over the year . But both of these ancient techniques combined with advanced knowledge and modern tools could enhance the yield of a land maximizing profits.