Question

Your uncle, who lives in Punjab, is a farmer involved in the cultivation of crops and livestock rearing. He sells the crops and dairy products in the market. Name the type of agriculture practised by him, the crops he grows and the main features of the agriculture practised by him. Why is this type of agriculture not popular throughout the country?

Answer 1

My uncle in Punjab practices commercial farming, which combines crop cultivation and livestock breeding for market sale. His principal crops include rice, sugarcane, tobacco, fibre crops, and oilseeds. Your uncle's commercial agriculture activities exemplify the following crucial features:

1. Crops Grown for Sale: Cultivation is primarily focused on producing crops and livestock for market transactions.
2. Requirement of Large Farms: Commercial farming requires large land holdings to obtain economies of scale.
3. Mechanized Farming: Using machinery and mechanised equipment enhances efficiency and productivity.
4. Use of HYV Seeds and Agrochemicals: HYV seeds, coupled with chemical fertilisers, insecticides, and herbicides, are used to increase productivity.

Commercial agriculture is not widely popular due to the prevalence of tiny landholdings in several states. Large land requirements provide a substantial hurdle to widespread implementation of this sort of agriculture. Furthermore, not all regions have the required economic and infrastructure circumstances for commercial farming to thrive.