Continuous rain fed agriculture

This is the type of an agricultural system that depends on rainfall. This agricultural system is meant for both subsistence and cash crops, and it does depend on rainfall.

is practiced in almost all hydro climatic zones, and approaches to water management will vary accordingly. In temperate regions (with relatively reliable rainfall and productive soils) and tropical regions, particularly in sub humid and humid zones, rain fed agriculture can have some of the highest yields. Except for investments in drainage, efforts to improve water management may not result in significant productivity increases in these environments. In contrast, in dry sub humid regions, as well as in temperate and tropical arid and semiarid regions, yields are commonly quite low. Due to highly variable rainfall, dry spells, and recurrent droughts, water management is a key challenge for agricultural production in these regions. 

Rains fed crops are grown during the wetter winter period, while irrigated areas are cultivated year round. The main rain fed crops are wheat, barley, legumes, olives, grapes, fruit and vegetables. A wide range of subtropical crops, including fruit and vegetables, is also grown under irrigation in the summer months. Livestock, mainly sheep and goats, are an important feature of many farming systems and provide key linkages between and within the different systems – from extensive pastoralism to feedlots in peri-urban agriculture

In the more humid areas, tree crops (olives, fruits and nuts) are an important component and may dominate the system. They may be intercropped with cereals and vegetables while the trees are immature, but when mature they may become a monoculture. Wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, sugar beet and faba beans are the main annual crops. Summer crops are grown following a winter fallow. Vegetables, oil crops and flowers may also be grown, often with protection (polythene tunnels).

 

Characteristics of continuous rain fed agriculture are discussed below.

There is the application of composite manure, fertilizers, mulching and other methods of soil conservation. In the continuous rain fed agricultural system the application of fertilizes is meant to increase the yield especially if it a cash crop.

The continuous rain fed agricultural system less adequate fallow period. This is because there is the planting of crop seasons after the seasons on that same piece of land.

There is the rotation of crops rather than the rotation of fields as compared shifting cultivation whereby the rotation of the field’s season after season.

Continuous rain fed agricultural system is also characterized by the appearance of regular crop geometry which refers to raw cropping common. Most of the crops are planted in rows.

There is also increase use of draft animals like the oxen and tractor as well as man power is  also is used in this type of agricultural system.

There is reduced crop diversity and cash crop at any one time.  In this agricultural system one type of crop is planted at each rain seasons e.g. coffee, tea and maize are grown separately.

Increase emphasis on cash crop and export crops. This is very common in large scale areas whereby large areas are planted with crops like coffee, tea and sisal which is meant for commercial purpose.

Small holders are operated by family units. This is whereby the continuous rain fed agricultural system is meant for the subsistence or domestic purpose.

The crops are grown during the rainy seasons. Most of the crops that are crown planted are seasonal crops which are harvesting during dry season.

 

Continuous rain fed agricultural system has several positive and negative impacts on the environment:

Positive impacts of continuous rain fed agricultural system

There is proper utilization of land. This is because the land is used maximum during the rainy season. Most of the available piece of land is occupied most of time.

It also acts as source of food security. This is because it is a source of food if it is meant for subsistence/domestic purpose.

It also acts as a source of employment especially in the large scale areas where this form need plenty of workers and therefore increases in the job opportunity in the farm. For example, milk farm product (they use large scale farming system).

The presence of cash crops meant that there is export of these crops. Therefore the country is able to earn foreign exchange from the export of these crops which in clued, tea. Coffee and pyrethrum.

Improve soil fertility: Due to the planting of different crop of different planting season this helps to improve the soil fertility especially if there is presence of leguminous plants like beans and peas which tend to fix nitrogen into soil in the form of nitrate and nitrates

 

Negative impacts of continuous rain fed agricultural system include;

There is the deterioration in the soil productivity as most of the crop that are planted in the same piece of land. Therefore the nutrients that are needed by one crop is the same that is taken up by the other crops.

Due to continues cultivation, there is reduction in the crop yields. This is because the land is infertile and unable to produce more yields.

Pollution which refers to the increase in harmful substance on water, soil and air. Due to continuous use of pesticides, fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides. This ends up to the pollution of air, water and soil/land. The particulates/particular from the pesticides become airborne which pollutes the air and when this fertilizers are applied and later get in contact with water bodies tend to enrich the water bodies and cause eutrophication.

Leaching of the nutrients- this is very common in areas with high amount of rain fall. This is whereby the nutrients are in the soil become easily dissolved in the water and therefore most of these nutrients are soluble. The water containing the nutrients seep/infiltration down to underground water table. This therefore leads to the lost of nutrients in the soil.

Compaction of the soil- the use of heavy machinery such as the tractors and also the use of the drafted animal tend to increase the chances of the soil becoming compacted. The compaction of this soil leads to the loss of soil structure and also the loss of soil capacity and therefore most of the air and water in the soil loss.

Land fragmentation which refers to the increase subdivision of landholdings due to increased population- increased population leads to the increase in the demand for food and therefore the need increase the population of food. This has also lead to the change in the consumption patterns from the local cereals such as maize, millet and sorghum to wheat and rice.  This makes very had to produce more of this local cereal which are not being consumed by the local people.

Pests and diseases: Due to having the some type of crops on the same piece of land this will favour a high population pests and diseases.  This is because most of these crops are vulnerable to a particular type of the pest and disease. For example, rats, mosaic, 

Soil erosion: Due to having different planting seasons most of the plants have shallow rooting system due to continuous cultivation. This is because the roots are weak and therefore cannot control soil erosion. more to that over grazing can also contribute to the soil erosion as a result of large herds of cattle occupying the same piece of land

 

Solutions to negative impacts of continuous rain fed agriculture

Adaption of suitable and efficient cropping systems (diversification and marked orientation). In order to improve on the soil, farmers need to choose wisely the best and appropriate methods of farming like crop rotation, mixed cropping and application of manure.

Water management: water harvesting, soil and water conservation, flood control. During rainy season water is collected and kept in containers or tanks in order to be used in dry season for domestic use and feeding cattle, for the case of the soil and water conservation mulching is used, further more floods can be controlled through planting cover crops in order to reduce the rate of runoffs and construction of dams.

.Institutional, strategic planning and policy support systems: this can be done through sensitizing and teaching farmers the advantages and disadvantages of poor farming methods by different institutions like universities, colleges, and other concerned government institutions.

Improvement of soil quantities, balanced fertilization, Post- harvest and value addition.

In conclusion, is practiced in almost all hydro climatic zones, and approaches to water management will vary accordingly. In temperate regions (with relatively reliable rainfall and productive soils) and tropical regions, particularly in sub humid and humid zones, rain fed agriculture can have some of the highest yields. It has advantages such as acts as a source of food security, as a source of employment specialy in large scale farms, it improve soil fertility. And it also has dis advantages such as pollution due to continuous use of pesticide, Soil erosion, there is the deterioration in the soil productivity. This kind of agricultural system has got impacts like soil erosion, overgrazing, and others; solutions for these impacts are Adaption of suitable and efficient cropping systems, Institutional, strategic planning and policy support systems and many others