Different Types of Farming: Chart, Meaning, Examples & Complete Guide

Farming is the backbone of many economies, especially in a country like India, where nearly 54% of the population depends on agriculture for livelihood. However, farming is not a one-size-fits-all activity. It varies depending on climate, geography, resources, technology, and objectives. In this article, we will break down the types of farming in a simple and easy-to-understand way, with a types of farming chart, examples, and business relevance in India.

Types of Farming Chart

Here’s a quick visual summary of the major types of farming:

Type of Farming

1. Subsistence Farming

This is the oldest and most traditional form of farming, where farmers grow food mainly to meet the needs of their own family. Surplus, if any, is sold in the local market.

Features:

• Small land holdings
• Manual tools like sickles, bullock ploughs
• Minimal or no use of chemical fertilizers or technology

Example in India: A small farmer in Bihar growing rice, pulses, and vegetables to feed his household.

Benefits:

• Low-cost, sustainable
• Promotes food security at family level
  

Challenges:

• Low productivity
• No surplus to generate income
• Vulnerable to climate change

2. Commercial Farming

Farming with the aim of selling produce in markets for profit. This form uses advanced technologies, high-yielding seeds, chemical fertilisers, and modern irrigation.

Features:

• Large-scale land use
• Mechanized equipment
• Crop selection based on market demand

Example in India: Sugarcane and cotton cultivation in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Benefits:

• High profits
• Supports agribusiness

Challenges:

• Expensive inputs
• Dependency on market fluctuations and middlemen

3. Plantation Farming

Definition: Plantation farming involves the cultivation of a single cash crop on a large estate, usually for export. It is capital-intensive and often company-owned.

Features:

• One crop grown extensively
• Requires skilled labour and high capital
• Long gestation period before profit
  

Example in India:

• Tea estates in Assam and Darjeeling
• Coffee plantations in Coorg (Karnataka)
  

Benefits:

• High export value
• Job creation in rural areas
  

Challenges:

• Monoculture is risky during price crashes
• Vulnerable to pests/diseases

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4. Mixed Farming

Definition: A system where farmers simultaneously grow crops and raise livestock. This ensures income throughout the year and better utilisation of land and resources.

Features:

• Crop and animal farming on the same land
• Cattle manure used as fertiliser
• Diversifies income streams
  

Example in India: Farmers in Punjab growing wheat and maintaining dairy cows for milk supply.

Benefits:

• Reduces dependency on one source of income
• Sustainable practice with efficient resource recycling
  

Challenges:

• Requires knowledge in both agriculture and animal husbandry
• Needs better infrastructure for animal care
  

5. Organic Farming

Definition: Farming method that avoids synthetic inputs such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Focus is on natural growth processes.

Features:

• Use of compost, green manure, biological pest control
• Crop rotation for soil health
• Certification needed to sell as “organic”
  

Example in India:

• Sikkim became India’s first fully organic state
• Organic vegetable farming in Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh
  

Benefits:

• Healthier food
• Environmentally sustainable
• Increasing market demand
  

Challenges:

• Lower initial yields
• Requires certification and time to build soil quality
  

6. Shifting Cultivation (Jhum Cultivation)

Definition: Traditional method where a patch of forest is cleared, cultivated for a few years, and then abandoned to let it regenerate.

Features:

• Slash-and-burn technique
• Short-term use, long-term soil degradation
• Practised in tribal belts
  

Example in India: Tribes in Nagaland and Mizoram practice Jhum cultivation

Benefits:

• Easy to practice in forested areas
• Suited to low-density population
  

Challenges:

• Not eco-friendly due to deforestation
• Soil fertility depletes quickly
• Not viable for large-scale food production
  

7. Intensive Farming

Definition: A farming method that involves high inputs (fertilizers, labor, capital) to get maximum yield from a small piece of land.

Features:

Focus on high productivity per hectare
Relies on irrigation and fertilisers
Suitable for high population density areas

Example in India: Vegetable cultivation around urban areas like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai

Benefits:

• Meets local demand
• High yield from small areas
  

Challenges:

• Can lead to soil degradation
• High cost of fertilisers and irrigation
  

8. Extensive Farming

Definition: Farming on a large area of land with lower input and lower output per hectare. Generally practised in areas with low population density.

Features:

• Large land holdings
• Less labor-intensive
• Usually rain-fed
  

Example in India: Groundnut and bajra cultivation in semi-arid areas of Rajasthan

Benefits:

• Cost-effective
• Minimal investment
  

Challenges:

• Lower productivity
• Vulnerable to droughts
  

9. Dryland Farming

Definition: Cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions where rainfall is less than 75 cm per year. Focus is on drought-resistant crops.

Features:

• Crops like jowar, bajra, and pulses
• No irrigation available
• Soil conservation methods used
  

Example in India: Farmers in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and western Rajasthan

Benefits:

• Makes use of otherwise unproductive land
• Helps ensure food in dry zones
  

Challenges:
Risky during long dry spells
Needs better access to technology and insurance

ALSO READ | Agricultural Equipments: 10 Must-Have Farming Tools in India

10. Wetland Farming

Definition: Cultivation in regions with high rainfall or waterlogging. The main crop is usually rice.

Features:

• Requires bunding, puddling, and transplanting
• Heavy use of manual labour

Example in India: Rice farming in West Bengal, Kerala, and Assam

Benefit: Ideal for high-yield rice varieties

Challenges:

• Labor-intensive
• Prone to flooding and waterborne diseases
  

11. Terrace Farming

Definition: Step-like terraces are carved into hillsides to create flat land for farming. Prevents soil erosion and water runoff.

Features:

• Used in mountainous regions
• Excellent for paddy and vegetables
  

Example in India: Farmers in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

Benefits

• Maximises hilly land usage
• Conserves water
  

Challenges:

• High labour cost
• Infrastructure required
  

12. Hydroponics & Aquaponics (Soilless Farming)

Definition:

• Hydroponics: Growing plants in water with added nutrients.
  
• Aquaponics: A mix of hydroponics and aquaculture where fish waste is used to fertilise plants.
  

Features:

• Controlled environments
• Zero soil usage
• Mostly urban or peri-urban
  

Example in India: Urban farming startups in Bengaluru and Delhi growing lettuce, spinach, basil

Benefits:

• Ideal for limited space (e.g., rooftops)
• Saves 90% of water
• Pesticide-free
  

Challenges:

• Expensive setup
• Needs technical know-how

ALSO READ | What is Integrated Farming System (IFS)? A Complete Guide

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Conclusion

Farming in India is not limited to just ploughing the field and sowing seeds. It includes a variety of practices, each suited to different conditions and economic goals. Understanding the types of farming helps farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, students, and policymakers make better decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the main types of farming in India?

Subsistence, Commercial, Plantation, Mixed, Organic, Shifting, Intensive, Extensive, Dryland, Wetland, Terrace, and Modern (Hydroponics).

2. What is the most common type of farming in India?

Subsistence farming is the most widely practised.

3. What is organic farming and why is it important?

It’s a chemical-free method using natural inputs. It improves soil health and is in demand due to health-conscious consumers.

4. What is the difference between intensive and extensive farming?

Intensive: high input per area. Extensive: large area, low input.

5. What crops are grown in plantation farming?

Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, spices.

6. Can I start hydroponic farming in India with low investment?

Yes, even ₹1-2 lakhs can start a small hydroponic unit. Government schemes and startups are supporting it.

7. What is the government doing to promote organic farming?

Schemes like PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana) support organic farming with subsidies.

8. How is climate change affecting Indian farming types?

It’s pushing farmers towards drought-resistant crops and climate-smart techniques like drip irrigation and organic farming.