Overview of the Types of Agriculture
Agriculture remains the most reliable occupation providing food, income, raw materials, and rural development. It is one the largest employers of labor across the globe employing men, women, youths, and children. These types of occupations are practiced in different ways in different countries.
The definition of agriculture as the growing of crops and rearing of animals means that we have two main types of agriculture that is’ animal, and crop farming. However, these may be due to practice as we cannot solely agree that they are the only types of agriculture. Others such as forestry, Arable crops, cash crops, snails, and fish farming will be grouped according to the types of agriculture practiced.
Conventional Subsistence agriculture and Commercial agriculture are two types of agriculture that can be classified as types of agriculture according to nature and scope. However, knowledge is dynamic, and various authors have emerged with various concepts of the types of agriculture practice in different countries.
The Four Types of Agriculture
From the above definition of agriculture and from the ways agriculture is practiced, the four main types of agriculture that are widely practiced across the globe are namely:
- Subsistence agriculture,
- Commercial agriculture,
- Crop farming,
- Animal farming.
Classification of the Types of Agriculture
These types of agriculture are grouped into two, they are according to the nature of production and scope of production and according to practice.
According to the nature and scope of production
- Subsistence agriculture
- Commercial agriculture
According to the type of Agricultural Practice
- Crop farming, or agriculture
- Animal farming or agriculture
According to the Nature and Scope of the Production
(a) Subsistence Agriculture
Subsistence agriculture is also called peasant agriculture in most countries, It is mostly done on a small scale. This type of agriculture involves the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals in a small area using primitive technologies. Subsistence agriculture is most commonly practiced in developing countries where land acquisition is difficult.
(b) Commercial Agriculture
It is mostly done on a large scale. This type of agriculture involves the cultivation of crops and rearing animals in small areas using modern technologies. Commercial agriculture is mostly practiced in the developed countries or by rich and where land is abundant.
Differences between Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture
| S/no | Subsistence Agriculture | Commercial Agriculture |
| 1 | A small area of land is mainly cultivated | A large area of land is mainly cultivated |
| 2 | Production is mainly for family consumption | Production is mainly for sales |
| 3 | Disease is controlled | farm machine and implements are used |
| 4 | Family labour is mostly used | hired labour is mostly used |
| 5 | Unskilled labour is mostly used | Skilled labour is mostly used |
| 6 | Yield is low | Yield is high |
| 7 | It requires little capital to start | It requires high capital to start |
| 8 | There is no specialization of operation | It encourages specialization of operation |
| 9 | Pests are not control | Pests are control |
| 10 | disease is not controlled | disease is well controlled |
| 11 | It require little or no formal education to operate | Mostly practiced by rich farmers |
| 12 | It involves simple storage facilities | modern storage facilities are used |
| 13 | It involves simple processing facilities | modern processing facilities are used |
| 14 | Mostly practices poor farmers | Mostly practices by rich farmers |
| 15 | Usually leaves the environment free of pollution | It leads to an environment free of pollution |
| 16 | Low environmental degradation | high environmental degradation |
| 17 | Fertilizers are rarely use | Fertilizers are commonly use |
| 18 | Mixed cropping system is usually practices | Mono cropping system is usually practiced |
| 19 | Use of local species crops and breed of farm animals. | Use of improved species of crops and breeds of farm animals |
| 20 | Farm records are rarely kept | Farm record are kept |
| 21 | Heavy reliance on natural rainfall | Irrigation are mostly practice |
According to the type of Agricultural Practice
(A). Crop production or Farming
This is also referred to as agronomy. Crop farming is a type of farming that involves the production of crops on the farm for man and industrial uses. The cultivation of staple food on the farm is very essential in making food available for man’s use without plants man and animals cannot survive. The crop is so vital that both the roots, stems, shoots, and leaves can be consumed either fresh or cooked. Crop farming can be sub-group into the following heading:
- Arable crop or Food crop farming
- Cash crop or plantation farming
- Fruits and nuts farming
- Fiber farming, and
- Forestry
Arable crop or Food Crop Farming
This is the growing of food crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam, rice, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpea, millet, and more. These crops serve as the most staple food crops cultivated across the globe. Crop production serves as the oldest type of farming or agriculture practice. They are usually annual and biennial crops cultivated by farmers majorly for food consumption. These crops require fertile soil and adequate land perpetration for effective growth and productivity
Cash Crop Farming
Just as the name implies these crops are cultivated to provide cash (money) for the farmers. They are crop are crops cultivated to provide the raw material for agro-based industries members these members of the group are usually tree crops and few arable crops examples are rubber, cotton, cashew, cocoa, coffee, tea, and soybeans and they form the major export and import commodities of many counters and serve as the only means through which country earned foreign exchange.
Fruits and Nuts
This type of agriculture involves the cultivation of crops such as bananas, mangoes, pineapples, groundnuts, Bambara nuts, and more for food and industrial uses. These crops are rich in vitamins and proteins. Some members of these groups such as bananas, mangoes, and pineapples are used in the industries for the manufacturing of fruit juice while groundnut and Bambara nuts are used in making using making of ground nut cake and solid food consumed locally.
Fibre Farming
This type of agriculture involves the production of fiber for making clothes and bags. They serve as major raw materials in the textile industry. Examples of crops under these categories are cotton, jute, flax, hemp, kenaf, and more.
Forestry
This is a type of agriculture in which the cultivation of trees, and shrubs in large expanses of land. It involves the production of timber for the roofing of houses, paper making, and woodwork. These types of farming provide employment opportunities and serve as a good source of income for the farmers.
(B). Animal Farming
This type of agriculture involves the rearing or the domestication of farm Animals for the benefit of man. It is a type of farming that involves the raising of farm animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, rabbits, and horses for the importance of man. These farm animals are reared either in an intensive or extensive system. The farming categories are:
- Livestock farming
- Dairy farming
- Poultry farming
- Fishing
Livestock Farming
This type of farming involves the rearing of farm animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, and more for meat, hide, and skin. These provide the farmers with the protein needed by the body for the growth and repair of worn-out tissues. The leather industries and canny industries depend on these farm animals to supply the skin and meat needed for the production of canned meat and leather. The animal farming is on the raised due to the global demand of animal products.
Dairy Farming
This type of farming involves the rearing of farm animals purposely for the production of milk. Dairy animals such as cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats have well-developed udder for the production of large quantities of milk. Apart from the production of milk these animals are excellent in meat, hide, and skin production.
Poultry Farming
This involves the domestication of birds. Poultry birds such as turkeys, pigeons, ducks, geese, chickens, and more are domesticated for the purpose of meat, and egg production. Various breeds or strains of higher quality of these breeds of birds exist for better egg and meat production.
Fish Farming or aquaculture.
Fish farming is the rearing of fish in an enclosed body of water. It involves the domestication of aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish, prawns, and more in water.