The Relevance of the Farm-System Approach

The importance of farming systems relies on the farming and farming system being
practiced by the farmer. The following are some of the importance of farming systems:
i. Farming system serves as a source of livelihood to many people in the country,
Nigeria, and the continent (Africa)
ii. It also serves as a business opportunity in the agricultural sector where many
people earn their livelihood
iii. The system helps to provide a reliable source of raw materials to the agro-
industries like sugar, coffee, tobacco, beverages, etc industries
iv. The system helps to contribute and improve the Gross Domestic Product of the
economy. Apart from oil, farm system is the second largest contributor to the
economy
v. Farming system also helps to provide employment opportunities to the people
of the country
vi. Farming system could help reduce production cost where there is
interdependence between enterprises
vii. Food and other basic needs of man and animals are provided from farming
systems.
Characteristics of Farms
Farms are operated by the farmers with different motives in mind. It is the farmers
motive that drives his/her sense of action and direction. By and large, every farm has
same or similar characteristics. Some of the characteristics of a farm include:
1. Goal orientation: Every farm is operated or carried out for different purposes.
The purpose however constitutes the goal of the farm. The goals could vary
from farm to farm. However, no matter what enterprise the engages in, be it
crop and or livestock production, one of the most primary goals is profit
generation. On a large scale, that is, commercial farming goal is geared towards
market production and profit whereas for the small-scale farmer, that is
subsistence farming. The primary objective could be multi-dimensional and this
may include provision of food for the household, selling of surplus to make
money, accumulation of wealth and provision of building materials for building
of huts (thatched houses).
2. Boundaries: Every farm has boundaries which separate it from its immediate
environment. Within this confine, the farmer or farm manager exercises his/her
power and control of the resources of the farm. It is assumed that all resources
and processing units as well as accommodation unit in the farm area are seen
as property of the farm. They are therefore seen as property of the farm and so
are supposed to be within the farm manager’s control. The boundaries could
be shown by fencing or survey plan or some natural objects.
3. Activities: Every farm has different activity that goes on in it. The types of
activities depend on the type and method of farming being undertaken by the

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 farm or the farmers. This goes to say that activities of crop production differ
from activities undertaken in livestock production. The production process
which involves conversion of resources to products as well differs. In the same
manner, the processing of farm products into acceptable finished forms as well
as the storage and marketing process activities also differs. Most importantly, it
is settled that activities take place in all farms and these activities differs from
farm to farm.
In a more detailed form, some special farm characteristics that are worthy of note are:
a. Personal details of the farmer: In this particular case, the farmer’s details are
taken and information required here his socio-economic characteristics which
include his age, gender, age, educational level, marital status, etc.
b. Farm geographical location: The geographical location of the farm is taken and
this is done with the use of appropriate survey instruments. It is ideal to take
the coordinates of the corners of the farm. The farm needs to be mapped in
order to show its boundaries, at least to avoid its encroachment.
c. Crop(s) cultivated: The crops that are cultivated in the farm needs to be
recorded or noted. The cropping system, whether mono-cropping or mixed
cropping system, it needs to be recorded. Such recording will enable the farm
to know what the output will likely be at the end of the farming season.
d. Historical land use: this may not be too necessary, but where need be, the
historical information of the farm needs to be taken. This will help to guide the
farmer on how to manage his farm especially in terms of management.
e. Land tenure system: Land tenure system is the ownership and usage of land.
It is important as a characteristic of the farm to know how the land was acquired.
Such knowledge would enable him know which kind of farming system to
practice, if to use it for annual crops or perennial crops and so on and so forth.
f. Land form / slope: This is another characteristic that needs to be observed or
taken into account. This helps to farmer to know how to plan the farm’s use in
line with where to place structures and where to farm his crops or establish his
processing unit. Ideally, level area is good or preferred for planting of crops,
while structures could be constructed across slopes on sloppy or hilly areas.
g. Accessibility: Accessibility as characteristics help to show the entering and exit
points of the farm the farm. This shows the ease or difficulty with which the farm
could be accessed. The easier the access of the farm, the better for the farm
and the farmer.
Classification of Farming Systems
The classification of farming systems in developing countries are based on the
following criteria:
I. Available natural resources base: The available natural resources base include
water, land, grazing area and forest. Other criteria under resource-based

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 consideration include climate, landscape (slope) farm size and organization;
and
II. Dominant farm pattern of farm activities and household livelihoods: Dominant
farm pattern of farm activities and household livelihoods may include field
crops, livestock, trees, aquaculture, hunting and gathering, processing and off-
farm activities, available farm technologies used (which affect production) and
integration of crops, livestock and other activities.
Going further in a more specific and detailed form, farming system has been classified
based on different considerations. These classifications are:
A. Classification according to type of rotation: This kind of classification is carried
out on the basis on how the different types of crops are rotated with each other.
Deep rooted crops should be rotated with shallow rooted crops, how planted
fields are rotated with fallowing fields, etc.
B. Classification according to intensity of rotation between cropping and fallow
period: This has to do with the period a piece of land is allowed to grow crops
and then allowed to fallow for a particular period of time before it is allowed to
grow crops again.
C. Classification according to water supply: This classification of the farming
system is based on the consideration of whether the farm is irrigated or rain-
fed. Where the farm is irrigated, the type of irrigation is also taken into
consideration. This is where a farm is classed as an irrigated farm or a non-
irrigated farm.
D. Classification according to the cropping pattern and animal activities: This
classification is mostly based on the leading crop and animal activities in the
farm. Each activity is assumed to require different climate, soil, inputs, market,
and so on. Hence, we may have mono-cropping or mixed cropping farm,
ruminant or pig farm, dairy farm, etc.
E. Classification according to implements used for cultivation: This type of
classification has to do with the type of implements used for cultivation of the
soil. The implements may be simple farm tools like cutlass, hoe, spade, etc, or
animal-drawn implements. Other implements may include the use of farm
machines that has to do with the use of ploughs, harrows, combined planters
and harvesters.
F. Classification according to degree of commercialization: The classification on
this note is based on the destination of the farm output. On this consideration,
farms are classified into three groups. The groups are:
▪ Subsistence farming: this is a situation where the farmer produces with no
intention of making sales to the public
▪ Partly commercialized farming: this consideration applies to those farmers
that have more than 50% of the value of their produce for home
consumption
▪ Commercialized farming: this is a type of farming system where more than
50% of the value of the farm produce is for sale.
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