Sapere

A farming system is the way in which land, labor, animals, crops, and other resources are organized and used by farmers to produce food, fiber, or other agricultural products.

It includes everything from:

• How crops and animals are raised
• The tools and methods used
• The purpose of the farm (for profit or survival)
• The impact on the environment

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🧠 Key Components of a Farming System

Component	Description
Inputs	Things added to the system (e.g., seeds, water, fertilizers, machinery, labor)
Processes	Activities done on the farm (e.g., ploughing, planting, irrigating, harvesting)
Outputs	Products produced (e.g., crops, meat, milk, wool, waste)
Feedback	Profit, environmental effects, or yields that influence future decisions

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🌍 Types of Farming Systems

Type	Description	Example
Subsistence farming	Producing just enough for the farmer’s family	A small rice farm in rural Nepal
Commercial farming	Producing large amounts for sale and profit	A wheat farm in the USA exporting crops
Intensive farming	High input, high output, often using chemicals or machinery	Poultry farm with thousands of chickens
Extensive farming	Low input, large land area, fewer outputs	Cattle grazing on rangeland in Australia
Monoculture	Growing only one type of crop	A large banana plantation
Polyculture	Growing multiple crops together	A farm growing maize, beans, and squash together
Organic farming	Avoids synthetic chemicals; uses natural methods	Certified organic vegetable farms in Europe

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🌿 Environmental Impact of Farming Systems

Farming can:

• Use lots of water and energy
• Cause soil erosion and loss of biodiversity
• Lead to pollution (e.g., fertilizers and pesticides in rivers)
• Contribute to climate change through methane (livestock) and carbon emissions (machinery)

But sustainable farming systems can:

• Conserve soil and water
• Reduce chemical use
• Support biodiversity