Module 1 Lesson 3

Ag. Econ.1- Philippine and Asian Agriculture

Nature of Farming

TIME FRAME:

Students are expected to complete this lesson for 1 week.

Learning Objectives:

In this lesson, you will be able to;

1. Identify the different characteristics of farming;

2. Differentiate the similarities of farming to other business;

3. Appreciate the types of farming and its advantages and disadvantages.

INTRODUCTION

You are now in lesson 3 of Module 1 Nature of farming! In this lesson, you will get to
know the different characteristics of farming, and what are those similarities of
farming to other business, and it is also included the qualifications of a good farmer.
Moreover, in studying Philippine and Asian Agriculture, one of the topics there is
types of farming. Get ready to take this new lesson. Take your pen if you wish to
record these important events and have fun learning this lesson.
Activity Concept web

Direction: Supply the diagram with the phrase or a sentence that would answer the
question below.

What are the

characteristics or traits
that a person should
possess to called as good
farmer?

Analysis

Direction: Please read the questions below and write your answer in the space
provided.

1. What is the importance of farming?

2. What are the advantages of farming?

3. What are the disadvantages of farming?

Content: 10
Organization of Ideas: 15
Total: 15 points /no. x 3 = 45 pts.
ABSTRACT
 Characteristics of Farming
The crops and livestock in
commercial farming are produced on a
large scale, and grown in huge farms,
using machinery, irrigation methods,
chemical fertilizers, and other
technologies.

The basic point of producing such

products large scale is to have them
exported to other regions or countries,
where their demand is high.

For instance, most Gulf nations rely on food imports since the climate in such
countries cannot support agriculture. In other nations, mass imports are used as raw
materials in industries. The following are the precise characteristics in detail.

1.Large-scale Production

Commercial farming sees livestock and crops produced in large numbers. For
this reason, it requires a lot of land, advanced technology, and expertise to meet the
expected production targets or goals.

2. It is Capital-intensive

Since the practice requires a lot of investment before it is started it, therefore,
implies that it requires a lot of capital to get it up and running.

The capital is used to purchase farm materials such as seedlings or seeds, fertilizers
and pesticides, machinery, the farm itself, and in paying for the expenses incurred
such as water and electricity bills, and in paying for labor, and expertise.

3. The Use of High Yielding Varieties (HYV)

The practice of commercial farming uses high doses of modern inputs and
high yielding varieties of seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weed killers, and
insecticides. This is done to obtain higher production but has detrimental effects
on environmental sustainability.

4. It is produced for Sale

As opposed to other forms of agriculture where people farm for their use,
commercial farming is done for sale only.

Under commercial agriculture, the thousands of acres of products such as

millet, cocoa, bananas, rice, sugarcane, tea, and other products are harvested and
sold, mainly as exports to other countries.
5. Heavy Machinery and Human Labor

Commercial farming requires large supplies of both skilled and unskilled labor.
While skilled labor in commercial labor comes from professionals, unskilled labor
tends to exploit immigrants and persons who live in absolute poverty.

It also requires heavy machinery such as diggers, trailed sprayers, plows,

harvesters, and planters just to mention a few to meet the targets and goals in time,
as well as meet the skills of the system of production.

6. In Most Cases, One Type of Agricultural Practice is done in a Large Area

As much as commercial farming may involve different agricultural practices

within the same parcel of land or region, it mainly involves large scale farming of
one type of agricultural practice such as aquaponics, beef farming, dairy farming,
chicken farming, coffee farming, sugarcane farming, specialized fruit plantation,
flower farming, and tea farming among many others in one region or large piece of
land.

Examples include the vast farms of tea in India and Kenya, the coffee plantations in
Brazil and India, banana production in Uganda, beef farming in the United States,
and sugarcane farms in Indonesia and Mexico. The degree of area coverage may
vary from one region to the other.

7. The Practice is traditionally done all Year Round

Commercial agriculture is unique as the farmers can irrigate the land or keep
the farm systems under operation all year round.

They do not rely on the rains or natural supplies as ordinary farmers do since
they have advanced technologies, machines, and artificial growth enhancers to have
their crops or animals sustained throughout.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FARMING

As humans made their big transition into farming, they had to adapt to many qualities
of farming life. This transition came with advantages and disadvantages. 

Advantages of farming:
-Humans now had a reliable and renewable food source. 

-Humans now had sedentary lives. 

-Lives became more complex (i.e. monuments, buildings, etc.)

-The characteristics of a civilization became more defined.

Disadvantages of farming:
-Diseases became more common amongst people. 

-Humans' diets became less healthy.

-Gender inequality began to be defined and more common. 

-Humans had less leisure time. 

-More labour was required in order to keep up with farming.

-Weather at certain times hindered the ability of the plants to grow. 

Similarities of Farming to other business

1. Both farms and business need resources to grow

Example:

Greenhouse is important structures for farmers to grow plants. While capital

and funding help businesses grow.

2. Tools are essential to the growing process

Example:

A gardening hoe helps farmers remove unwanted weeds. While some engine
and tools needed for some other business for faster operations or work.

3. The more helping hands, the faster the growth

Example:

The more people harvesting the produce, the faster the farmers can sell.
Similarly, the more people following a company/business the more work will be done
in the short of time.

4. Both can potentially cultivate a community around them

Example:

Farmer’s market creates a sense of community in their local town. While

customers discussing products on a Facebook page with other customers create an
online community for businesses.

5. If everything goes according to plan, you can reap the benefits from your
resources

Example:

Farmers can sell their produce, and businesses can gain major cash and
customers with the aid of marketing.

Quality of a good farmer

-Good at planning

-Able to analyse and solve problems

-Good organisational and supervisory skills

-Good communication skills

-Responsible approach and attitude

-Enjoy working outdoors in all kinds of weather

-Able to work both in a team and with limited social contact

-Able to handle animals with confidence and patience

-Mechanical aptitude

-Aptitude for working with computers

-Able to work independently

Top 10 Types of Farming Practiced Across the World

1. Arable Farming

Arable farming involves growing of

crops only in warm climate. It is practiced
on gently sloping or flat land with deep,
fertile soil. It is important that the land is
neither too wet nor dry. Land ideal for
growing crops should be fairly sheltered
and suitable for use of machinery. In the
UK, this type of farming is mainly adopted
in the east and south.

2. Pastoral Farming

Pastoral farming is the practice of rearing animals only in cold and wet
climates not ideal for growing crops. Land with steep slopes and poor soils cannot
support the use of machinery nor provide the nutrients crops need to grow. Only
heather and grasses can grow on that kind of land.
 Stronger winds on the steep slopes can also easily damage crops. Therefore,
they are ideal for rearing animals such as sheep. In the UK, highland areas in the
west and north allow for pastoral farming. Sheep can easily graze on hilly areas and
feed on the kind of grass growing in such areas.

However, dairy animals need flat land with enough pasture to feed on. Dairy
farming is also practiced near markets because dairy products are highly perishable.

3. Mixed Farming

Mixed farming involves growing of

crops and rearing of animals on the same
piece of land. The two types of farming,
pastoral and arable, support each other
and increase farm yield. This type of
farming reduces the risk of making losses
due to poor weather conditions. For
instance, if the crops are not doing well,
animals on the farm are still a good source
of food and money.

Furthermore, animals provide the

manure farmers need to improve soil
fertility for crops to grow and increase
yield.

4. Subsistence Farming

Subsistence farming is the practice of growing crops and rearing animals for
personal use. It is done on a small-scale with the focus of feeding the farmer’s
family. It can be labor-intensive in terms of manpower in use, but little to no
machinery or technology is used. Subsistence farmers are determined to be self-
sufficient.

5. Commercial Farming

Commercial farming is practiced for the purpose of making a profit. It involves

the rearing of animals and or growing of crops on a large scale to increase
production and profits. Technology and machinery are used with a few workers to
operate them. This type of farming often involves monoculture, the growing of a
single type of cash crop such as flowers or coffee.

6. Extensive and Intensive Farming

Extensive farming or cultivation involves land tillage with an aim of increasing

output. Farmers increase the size of land for cultivation to improve yield without
changing other factors. On the other hand, intensive farming involves increasing
capital and labor on the same piece of land being cultivated to increase yield

7. Nomadic Farming

Nomadic farming involves farmers moving

with their animals from one place to another
in search of pasture and water. It is similar
to pastoral farming and often practiced in
arid and semi-arid areas.

Different regions across the world

rear different animals under this type of
farming. They include camels, sheep,
cattle, donkeys, goats and horses. As a
type of subsistence farming, it provides
families with food.

8. Sedentary Farming

Sedentary farming involves tilling the same piece of land for many years.
Unlike nomadic farming, land is used permanently for growing crops or rearing
animals. With its origins in the Americas and Eurasia, the practice is believed to have
started in 10,000 B.C.E.

Hunters and foragers first settled in America in 20,000 B.C.E. and by 7,000
B.C.E, agriculture had spread to South America. This type of farming fostered the
development of early civilizations.

9. Poultry Farming

Poultry farming involves the rearing

of turkeys and chickens for meat and
eggs. According to the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the
U.S exports about 18% of all its poultry
meat. It can be practiced in large or small
scale farms. However, there is increasing
demand for local poultry fed on natural
pasture.

10. Fish Farming

Fish farming is also known as aquaculture. It is the practice of raising fish in

large numbers in large tanks or fish ponds. Although farmed fish, according to Grist,
have a bad reputation, properly managed fish farms are clean, sustainable and yield
protein of high quality.

APPLICATION

Task: Draw your own farm!

Direction: In a clean bond paper draw one example of Types of Farming and
explain what kind of farming it symbolized.

YOUR DRAWING

Content/Creativity: 10
Organization of Ideas: 15
Total: 25 pts.

POST ASSESSMENT

Direction: Write the correct answer in the blank provided.

 1. It involves tilling the same piece of land for many
years.

2. It involves the rearing of turkeys and chickens for meat

and eggs.

3. It involves the rearing of animals and or growing of

crops on a large scale to increase production and profits.

4. It is done on a small-scale with the focus of feeding the

farmer’s family.

5. It is the practice of rearing animals only in cold and wet

climates not ideal for growing crops.

6.It is practiced on gently sloping or flat land with deep,

fertile soil.

7. It involves growing of crops and rearing of animals on

the same piece of land.

8. A practice of raising fish in large numbers in large

tanks or fish ponds.

9. It involves farmers moving with their animals from one

place to another in search of pasture and water.

10. Type of farming reduces the risk of making losses

due to poor weather conditions.

Post assessment Answer key:

1 Sedentary Farming
2 Poultry Farming
3 Commercial Farming
4 Subsistence Farming
5 Pastoral Farming
6 Arable Farming
7 Mixed Farming
8 Fish Farming
9 Nomadic Farming
10 Mixed Farming

CLOSURE

Congratulations! You have completed the Lesson 3. More likely you

have gained knowledge, and you are now ready to turn the page in the
next Lesson of this module. Keep studying for wonderful future!
REFERENCES:

https://www.consVerve-energy-future.com/commercial-farming.php

https://geography-revision.co.uk/gcse/agriculture/types-of-farming

https://huntergatherersandfarming.weebly.com/advantages-and-
disadvantages-of-farming.html