Written by Peter Otieno
Taking a look at the history of agriculture to what it is currently in the twenty first century, we find that many new farming practices have come up but there are still traditional farming methods in use today, which enhance food production.
Agriculture is a major sector in many countries as it is a source of livelihood to millions of people and we human beings need food daily and for our general health.
Over the years there has been increased growth in economies as well as use of modern agricultural methods although not many farmers fully implement these methods.
Its a fifty fifty kind of a situation whereby a farmer uses both traditional and modern farming methods whether in large scale or small farming.
Furthermore, with the current environmental problems such as climate change there is need for continuous application of some traditional farming methods.
In this post I share the methods that we can and still use and their benefits too.
1. Crop Rotation - This is one of the traditional farming methods still popular today.
It is the practice of cultivating different types of crops on the same farm and in different seasons. For example, you grow maize in a piece of land during long rains season and when short rains season sets in, you plant soya beans which is after you've harvested maize.
What this does is that it reduces pests and diseases that affect a particular crop, it prevents usurping of nutrients from soil by one plant and allow for more nutrient fixation like soya bean which fixes nitrogen.
This increases soil fertility.
Crop rotation help maintain a balanced soil structure as opposed to growing one type of crop from time to time.
Crop rotation can be done by replacing crops that make their own food underground such as sweet potatoes, groundnuts and cassava, with those that bear fruits or make food above soil like tomatoes, sorghum and maize.
Crops with tap roots can also be replaced with fibrous root plants thereby preserving the productivity of soil.
2. Agro forestry - It is a sustainable land use practice that involves growing and maintaining of trees and crops on the same land.
Trees to grow are fruit trees, timber trees, medicinal trees and shrubs. They can be planted along a fence or along trenches within a farm.
As a traditional farming method, Agro forestry brings an array of benefits which include:
- Trees take in carbon dioxide ( a toxic gas ) from the atmosphere and release oxygen that we breathe as human beings.
- Agro forestry promotes biodiversity moreover trees regulate temperature and help reduce excessive sunlight within our environment.
- Agro forestry is a source of food for people and animals. The food comes from crops, fruit trees, fodder trees and shrubs.
-By acting as wind breakers and natural rain filters, trees help reduce excessive wind and rain which may damage crops.
- Agro forestry provides a seem less integration and dependency. When there is excessive rain trees prevent soil erosion hence maintain top soil that is key for growth of plants.
Agro forestry Tips
- Ensure you provide enough spacing (two to three meters) between trees so that your crops may receive enough sunlight for growth.
- When planting trees among your crops choose a preferred species. For instance, a Blue Gum tree is suitable for growth along the fence because it tends to occupy more space, evident on its size when its matures and its fibrous roots that do spread in search for water.
A better species would be a Nile Tulip Tree.
- For maximum profits and productivity, you need to maintain both crops and trees by weeding, pruning, adding fertilizer, irrigating and managing pests and diseases. More on how-to-start-fruit-garden-7-step-guide.
3. Inter cropping - This is growing two or more crops at the same time, on the same piece of land,during a certain season.
The crops you can inter crop are maize and beans, tomatoes and green onions, banana and groundnuts.
There are two major types of inter cropping:
a) Mixed Inter cropping - this is where you sow different kinds of crops on the same row of a piece of land, such as maize and soya bean.
On the same row you can either dig holes or make furrows for planting.
b) Row Inter cropping - In this type, you plant two crops in different rows on the same land and you alternate the crops in rows.
Inter cropping has these advantages:
- Proper Land Utilization - unlike mono cropping, which is planting one crop on the same land every season, inter cropping enhances maximum and efficient usage of land.
- Increased Yield - two or more crops bring more produce and even when one doesn't do well the other crops will give you profits.
- Addition of Nutrients to Main Crop - in Kenya, farmers love to intercrop maize and beans and since bean is a legume it fixes nitrogen in the soil therefore boosting maize yield.
- Reduction in Weeds - with inter cropping you can weed your farm once especially when you plant once and considering the fact that a plant like soya bean becomes bushy as it matures hence minimizing weed growth.
- Inter cropping enhances efficient use of natural resources such as sun and rain as a result of planting different plant species.
Inter cropping Tips
- Plant crops that do not belong to the same family to avoid common pests and diseases like growing tomatoes and Irish potatoes which belong to the night shade family.
- Ensure your plants do not compete for sunlight hence a combination of crops like banana and groundnuts, sorghum and beans is great.
- Check maturity of your crops, one should be harvested earlier before the other to reduce labor costs in harvesting together and enough space for development of your main crop.
4. Mixed Farming - This is a traditional farming method which never seems to die. Its still in practice across the world.
It is basically the cultivation of crops and rearing of livestock. A farmer can rear goats, poultry, rabbits, cows and still grow crops such as banana, cassava, beans, tomatoes and millet.
Some of the pros of mixed farming include:
- A mixed farmer will enhance proper land use as land can be used for growing crops and grazing goats and cattle.
- Mixed farming is a source of food to the farmer that is milk, eggs, meat from livestock and crops from the farm.
- It increases profits if the farmer sells farm produce and animal products.
- Animals and crops complement each other. Maize, sweet potatoes and legumes are a source of food for goats, cows and rabbits. When you apply animal manure to your farm it increases quality and quantity of crop yield.
Mixed farming is a great agribusiness and when done well it can boost overall productivity of farm by increasing profits to a farmer.
5. Use of Compost Manure - It refers to the application of farm waste, kitchen waste and animal manure on a farm land to add necessary nutrients for plant growth.
The practice of applying compost manure on farms has been ongoing since the early days to now, the 21st century thus makes it a traditional farming method.
Nonetheless, this method continues to increase and gain popularity among individuals and farmers as a result of people being more concerned about their health, what they eat and the growing organic farming.
To understand more on the advantages of using compost manure do check out my post on how-to-make-compost-manure-
Compost manure is a great alternative if you you are in short of funds to purchase inorganic fertilizer or you have a small farm.
Conclusion
A good number of farmers, I would say 60%, have shifted from traditional farming methods to modern agricultural methods due to increased technology such as mechanized farming, use of hybrid seeds and application of artificial fertilizers.
This has facilitated increased profits and reduction in farm work.
However, besides modern farming methods skyrocketing food production, it has created and accelerated environmental challenges like climate change, environmental pollution and loss of biodiversity.
This definitely makes traditional farming methods still vital for use so that we can safeguard our environment.
I know that traditional farming methods too, have their disadvantages, a sure fact of two sides of a coin but in order to understand why they are still popular in today's world, the advantages are worth the mention.
What is your take from this? Please do comment below.
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