Major Farming Systems Research Articles

Future Strategies for Sustainable Livelihood of small and marginal farmers in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir

The aim of the contribution was to determine the Future strategies for sustainable livelihood of small and marginal farmers in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. There are 160 Gram panchayats, 385 villages and 4 towns viz. Rajouri, Thanamandi, Nowshera and Sunderbani. The district constitutes 8.81 percent of the geographical area of the state. There are 7 revenue tehsils viz; Rajouri, Thanamandi, Nowshera, Sunderbani, Budhal and Darhal with a total of 9 revenue blocks. The study based on the primary data in Rajouri district covering equal samples under major farming systems was elicited through survey method for the period 2014–15. It was observed that there is a need to focus on sustaining the productivity gains in the irrigated agriculture, the major emphasis should, however, be on the development of rainfed agriculture, promotion of integrated farming, high value agriculture, transfer of technology, secondary and specialty agriculture need to be accorded high priority. Since the Rajouri district has focused on the organic production in the proposed plan so the high priority is to be given for the action research and extension relating to the organic cultivation. Organic cost/produce certification and marketing of farmers produce at reasonable prices is another crucial issues affecting farm profitability which need immediate attention.

Livelihood security of farm households under different farming systems in Kolar district of Karnataka-An economic analysis

The study was undertaken in Kolar district of Karnataka state to assess the outcomes of livelihood security like Economic security, Food security, Educational security, Health security, Habitat security and Social network security. Four farming systems viz. Crop+Dairy, Crop+Sericulture, Crop+Dairy+Sericulture and Crop+Sheep were identified as major farming systems based on preliminary survey and previous studies in the area. The study based on the primary data from 120 farmers covering equal samples under major farming systems was elicited through survey method for the period 2010–11. The data was analyzed using Garrett ranking technique, Gini co-efficient and Conventional economic and simple statistical tools like ratios, percentage and indices etc. The result revealed that net annual income realized by a household was highest in C+D+S ( 3, 58, 880/-) farming system of which 43.78 per cent was from sericulture enterprise alone and least in C+Sh ( 46, 281/-) farming system of which 59.95 per cent was from non-farm activities. When compared to Farm households of rainfed based farming systems (Crop+Sheep) irrigation based farming system (Crop+Dairy, Crop+Sericulture, Crop+Dairy+Sericulture) households are on par with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) norms in cereal consumption. Public Distribution System (PDS) playing an important role in food security of farm households of rainfed farming systems through supplying food grains at cheaper prices. The overall livelihood security is high in case of C+D+S farm households.

GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY

Growing plants is both an art and a science. About 95% of plants, either food crops or cash crops are grown in open field. Since time immemorial, man has learnt how to grow plants under natural environmental conditions. In some of the temperate regions where the climatic conditions are extremely adverse and no crops can be grown, man has developed methods of growing some high. Value crop continuously by providing protection from the excessive cold, which is called as Greenhouse Technology. So, Greenhouse Technology is the technique of providing favorable environment condition to the plants. It is rather used to protect the plants from the adverse climatic conditions such as wind, cold, precipitation, excessive radiation, extreme temperature, insects and diseases. It is also of vital importance to create an ideal micro climate around the plants.
 Greenhouses are framed or inflated structures covered with transparent or translucent material large enough to grow crops under partial or fully controlled environmental conditions to get optimum growth and productivity.
 Agriculture is the backbone of India's economic activity and our experience during the last 50 years has demonstrated the strong correlation between agricultural growth and economic prosperity. The present agricultural scenario is a mix of outstanding achievements and missed opportunities. If India has to emerge as an economic power in the world, our agricultural productivity should equal those countries, which are currently rated as economic power of the world. We need a new and effective technology which can improve continuously the productivity, profitability, sustainability of our major farming systems. One such technology is the greenhouse technology. Although it is centuries old, it is new to India.

Phosphorus Adsorption Isotherm: A Key Aspect for Soil Phosphorus Fertility Management

Characterization of soils in terms of phosphorus adsorption capacity is fundamental for effective soil phosphorus fertility management and for efficient utilization of phosphorus fertilizers. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the phosphorus adsorption characteristics of soils of two farms and to elucidate the implication of soil phosphorus adsorption isotherm studies for soil phosphorus fertility management. The two farms, representing the major farming systems of the respective districts, were selected from Adele village in Haramaya district and Bala Langey village in Kersa district in eastern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from the crop fields at Adele and Bala Langey farms. Two different P-bearing sources, potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) and diammonium phosphate (DAP-(NH4)2HPO4), were used for the adsorption isotherm studies. The adsorption data were fitted to the linear and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Both models revealed that soils of both farms had different P adsorption capacity from the two P sources. Amount of P adsorbed from DAP solution was higher than the amount of P adsorbed Original Research Article Wogi et al.; AJEA, 6(2): 74-82, 2015; Article no.AJEA.2015.066 75 from KH2PO4 solution in soils of both farms. Phosphorus adsorption capacity of Adele farm soils was higher than that of Bala Langey farm soils. Therefore, soils of the two farms should be managed differently for P fertility. Percentages of P adsorbed (% Pa) and P remained in the equilibrium solution (% EC) were also calculated. By plotting the two percentages i.e. % Pa and % EC against the initial concentration of P (IC), two regions were observed. The two regions were described as P intensity and quantity factor windows. Based on the intensity and quantity factor windows, at currently existing soil condition, between 200 and 500 kgha -1 P should be applied as fertilizer to soils of Adele at 0-30 cm depth for immediate benefits and soil P fertility maintenance.

Sustainable development through farming system approach: A study of tribal region in Central Gujarat

In this study cost and returns, income and employment generation under different farming system has been analyzed. Major farming systems identified in the study area was FS-I (crop enterprises), FS-II (crop enterprises and animal husbandry), FS-III (crop enterprises and poultry) and FS-IV (crop enterprises, animal husbandry and poultry). The per farm results of the study indicated that the gross returns and net returns was found highest in FS-IV while least in FS-I. In case of employment generation, FS-IV generated higher employment (448.53 man days and 21.36 bullock pair days) followed by FS-II, FS-III and FS-I.

Assessment on Major Health Constraints of Livestock Development in Eastern Zone of Tigray: The Case of “Gantaafeshum Woreda” Northern Ethiopia

A study was conducted to identify major health constraints of livestock, giving emphasis to cattle, sheep, goats and poultry in GantaAfeshum district, Eastern Zone of Tigray from March 2013 to June 2013. Questionnaire survey and case observational study methods were carried out for data collection. In the questionnaire survey, 120 livestock owners were interviewed and respondents indicated that the major farming system practiced in the area were mixed crop livestock production. Respondents view towards the major constraints of livestock production in the locality indicated that lack of adequate veterinary services were considered to be the dominant production challenges in the area. On the health aspect, they also confirmed that the most important diseases affecting cattle’s were FMD (17.7%), Pneumonic Pasteurelosis (15.5%), Ectoparasitic/tick infection (14.9%), Anthrax and GIT Parasitism (each with equal response of 11.5%). In sheep and goats GIT-Parasitism (16.1%), pneumonic-pasteurelosis (15.9%), coenuruses (15.8%) and Ectoparasite infection (15.4%) were regarded as the most important diseases. Furthermore, Newcastle disease (79.1%) followed by foul pox (11.6 %) and Coccidiosis (6.7%) were considered as the most important diseases in poultry. Case observational studies were also conducted at the district veterinary clinics (Bizet and Adigrat) and a total of 465 diseased animals were tentatively diagnosed based on history and clinical signs. Among the diseases which were diagnosed, Ectoparasitism (35.55%), endoparasitic problems (25.4%), Mastitis (8.6 %), Pneumonic Pasteurelosis (7%), and FMD (6.64%) were the most frequently observed diseases (cases) in cattle. In sheep and goats, Pneumonic Pasteurelosis (28.85%), endoparasitic problems (22.8%), Ectoparasitism (16.78%), FMD (7.4%), Bloat (4.7%) and sheep and Goat pox (4.7%) were commonly encountered diseases. In Poultry, Newcastle Disease (60%), foul pox (18.3%) and Coccidiosis (11.7%) were found to be commonly encountered health problems. Overall results indicated that shortage of animal feeds, poor management practices, lack of adequate veterinary services and livestock health problems (diseases) were the major constraints existing for livestock development in the area and hence there is a need to expand the veterinary services in terms of quality and quantity in order to tackle the problems associated with livestock health and to boost the awareness of the livestock producers of the community.

Future IPM in Europe – The Pure Project's First Stakeholder Congress

The first stakeholder congress of the EU PURE project was held on the picturesque shores of Lake Garda, at Riva del Garda, Italy, from 19-21 March 2013, surrounded by sundrenched cliffs and impressive snow-capped peaks. Two years into this project, which aims to provide practical integrated pest management (IPM) solutions to reduce dependence on pesticides in selected major farming systems in Europe, this congress was open to all stakeholders interested in IPM in addition to providing the annual meeting for project members. PURE members presented research conducted during the first two-years of the project, future plans and practical solutions in IPM that have been identified already. The congress was attended by over 600 people (scientists from academia and industry, advisors, farmers and policy makers) and comprised plenary sessions on 19 and 21st March, four concurrent parallel sessions on the 20th, evening workshops and poster presentations.

English

Food insecurity is an overriding problem of most developing countries like Ethiopia, which requires empirical evidence pertinent to food security policy formulation and implementation. This paper investigates food security situation of households by surveying 260 farm households randomly and proportionately sampled from the major farming systems in Ethiopia. Households’ daily calorie availability and dietary diversity were measured to capture the diet quantity and quality dimensions of food security of households. A seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model results of the two measures suggested that the mean daily calorie intake per adult equivalent and dietary diversity level of households were about 1871 kcal and 6.8, respectively, with significant differences in farming systems and household idiosyncratic characteristics. The univariate probit model results show that the likelihood of households to be food security was 42.3%, while their probability to have semi-diversified diet was 37.2%. However, food security status and dietary diversity status were weakly interdependent and their determinant factors were significantly different. The major contribution of this paper is that it employs econometric estimation of dietary diversity scores and status and measures their interactions with diet quantity scales and food security status at household level. Key words: Food security, dietary diversity, seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model, bivariate probit.

Extractable soil nutrient effects on feed quality traits of crop residues in the semiarid rainfed mixed crop–livestock farming systems of Southern India

In the mixed crop–livestock systems, while general relation among feed quality, productivity and soil nutrient management have been reported, information on the effects of extractable soil nutrients on crop residue (CR) feed quality traits is scarce (e.g. in semiarid regions of Karnataka, India). In view of the increasingly important role of CR as feed components, in these farming systems, generating such information is a relevant research issue for sustainable development. Here, we report the occurrence and strength of relationships among extractable nutrients in soils and CR feed quality traits, and the effects of improved nutrients input on feed availability and feed quality of CR. Soil samples were collected from farmers’ fields in the semiarid zone of Karnataka and analyzed for available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) using standard laboratory methods. Soil test results were clustered as low, medium or high based on the level of nutrient concentration. Four major farming systems involving nine crops and 419 farms were selected for on-farm trials. Under every sample farm, a plot with farmer’s practice (control) and improved fertilizer inputs (combined application of nutrients found deficient by soil testing) were laid. Performance of crops was recorded. Samples were collected for CR feed quality trait analysis using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy. The result showed that for cereal and oil crops, extractable soil S was significantly negatively associated with anti-feed quality traits such as neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (P < 0.01), but significantly positively related to metabolizable energy (ME) and in vitro digestibility (P < 0.01). Extractable B and K levels were associated positively and significantly with NDF, ADF and ADL for oil crops and cereals. Crop level associations, for most crops, showed similar trend. Improved fertilizer inputs affected CR yield much more than it did the quality. It increased ME productivity (ME ha−1) and thereof the potential milk yield ha−1 by as high as 40 % over the control. Therefore, balanced nutrient inputs on crop land positively impact productivity of the livestock compartment of mixed crop–livestock farming system, and this knowledge can build on the currently perceived need and benefits of balanced nutrient replenishment in crop–livestock system.

Gene diversity, agroecological structure and introgression patterns among village chicken populations across North, West and Central Africa

BackgroundChickens represent an important animal genetic resource for improving farmers’ income in Africa. The present study provides a comparative analysis of the genetic diversity of village chickens across a subset of African countries. Four hundred seventy-two chickens were sampled in 23 administrative provinces across Cameroon, Benin, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Morocco. Geographical coordinates were recorded to analyze the relationships between geographic distribution and genetic diversity. Molecular characterization was performed with a set of 22 microsatellite markers. Five commercial lines, broilers and layers, were also genotyped to investigate potential gene flow. A genetic diversity analysis was conducted both within and between populations.ResultsHigh heterozygosity levels, ranging from 0.51 to 0.67, were reported for all local populations, corresponding to the values usually found in scavenging populations worldwide. Allelic richness varied from 2.04 for a commercial line to 4.84 for one population from Côte d’Ivoire. Evidence of gene flow between commercial and local populations was observed in Morocco and in Cameroon, which could be related to long-term improvement programs with the distribution of crossbred chicks. The impact of such introgressions seemed rather limited, probably because of poor adaptation of exotic birds to village conditions, and because of the consumers’ preference for local chickens. No such gene flow was observed in Benin, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, where improvement programs are also less developed. The clustering approach revealed an interesting similarity between local populations found in regions sharing high levels of precipitation, from Cameroon to Côte d’Ivoire. Restricting the study to Benin, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, did not result in a typical breed structure but a south-west to north-east gradient was observed. Three genetically differentiated areas (P < 0.01) were identified, matching with Major Farming Systems (namely Tree Crop, Cereal-Root Crop, and Root Crop) described by the FAO.ConclusionsLocal chickens form a highly variable gene pool constituting a valuable resource for human populations. Climatic conditions, farming systems, and cultural practices may influence the genetic diversity of village chickens in Africa. A higher density of markers would be needed to identify more precisely the relative importance of these factors.

Variability of African farming systems from phenological analysis of NDVI time series

Food security exists when people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at all times to meet their dietary needs. The natural resource base is one of the many factors affecting food security. Its variability and decline creates problems for local food production. In this study we characterize for sub-Saharan Africa vegetation phenology and assess variability and trends of phenological indicators based on NDVI time series from 1982 to 2006. We focus on cumulated NDVI over the season (cumNDVI) which is a proxy for net primary productivity. Results are aggregated at the level of major farming systems, while determining also spatial variability within farming systems. High temporal variability of cumNDVI occurs in semiarid and subhumid regions. The results show a large area of positive cumNDVI trends between Senegal and South Sudan. These correspond to positive CRU rainfall trends found and relate to recovery after the 1980’s droughts. We find significant negative cumNDVI trends near the south-coast of West Africa (Guinea coast) and in Tanzania. For each farming system, causes of change and variability are discussed based on available literature (Appendix A). Although food security comprises more than the local natural resource base, our results can perform an input for food security analysis by identifying zones of high variability or downward trends. Farming systems are found to be a useful level of analysis. Diversity and trends found within farming system boundaries underline that farming systems are dynamic.

Factors Contributing to Sustainable Livelihoods in Different Farming Systems in the Coastal Areas of Tamil Nadu, India

Coastal farmers follow different enterprise combinations according to the resources available to them. A study conducted in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu revealed that the major farming systems practised by the farmers were: crop + dairy, crop + dairy + poultry, crop + dairy + poultry + fisheries, crop + dairy + poultry + sheep/goats, crop + dairy + poultry + horticulture, and crop + dairy + poultry + sheep/goats + horticulture. Livestock holdings, landholding, marketing behaviour, the perception of integrated farming systems and communication behaviour were the important contributing factors to sustainable livelihoods in the farming systems found. Broad-based extension systems would be the ideal extension approach to promote integrated farming systems for developing sustainable livelihoods. Appropriate institutional and infrastructure support could also facilitate the adoption of profitable and sustainable farming systems in the coastal region.

Agroforestry Potential for Combating Forest and Environmental Degradation: Reflections on Southeastern Nigeria

Growing deforestation and environmental degradation in parts of Southeastern Nigeria have shifted attention to agricultural production systems that are environmentally sustainable, socially acceptable and economically appropriate. Agroforestry is one major sustainable farming system that has been the centre of theoretical and empirical attention, over the recent years. This paper examines the potential of agroforestry system to promote sustainable land use and ameliorate risks from deforestation, forest degradation and environmental damage. The paper is divided into sections. Section one is the introduction and background of the analysis. Section two reviews the various agroforestry systems and practices that hold potential for promoting sustainable land use and alleviating environmental risks. Section three expounds these potentials which cut across the social, economic, ecological, religious and cultural aspects of rural life. Section four highlights and discusses the imperatives for realizing agroforestry potential in the sustainable development of natural resources in rural Southeastern Nigeria. Section five contains the conclusion and policy agenda for action in order to enhance forest conservation and environmental sustainability. Key Words : Agro forestry, Environmental damage, Sustainability, Conservation

Getting the focus right: production constraints for six major food crops in Asian and African farming systems

To determine the most important production constraints and associated yield losses for six major food crops in 13 farming systems with high poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and East Asia, surveys were conducted with 672 experts representing a diversity of backgrounds and experience. Respondents reported large gaps between highest achieved crop yield on smallholder farms and average yield on farm. Yield gaps were smallest for rice (about 60% of current average smallholder farm grain yields), mid size for wheat and cassava, and larger (sometimes double current farm yields) for sorghum, cowpea and chickpea. Gaps were also smaller in the high input and yield farming systems of East Asia and largest in the marginal, drier systems, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Four categories of production constraint (abiotic, biotic, management and socio-economic) were considered important contributors to yield gaps. A diversity of specific constraints was reported for the crops in the different systems. The most severe and widespread specific constraints for wheat involved the deficiency, high cost and poor management of N fertilizer, and problems associated with drought stress at grain filling, mid season drought and irrigation management. Those for rice included N fertilizer problems, soil fertility depletion, various leaf, stem and head pests and diseases, weed competition and inadequate water management. Striga and weed competition, soil resource degradation, poor soil fertility management, and drought were the most severe specific constraints for sorghum. Insect pests of pod, leaf, stem and flower and the high cost of their control dominated the constraint set for cowpea. Helicoverpa pod borer, Botrytis grey mould and control costs were the most severe for chickpea. Unsuitable varieties/poor seed, soil infertility and fertilizer constraints were also widespread with the legumes. Marketing problems and lack of finance were concerns for cassava along with weed competition, African cassava mosaic virus and poor varieties/planting materials. The findings can help to inform priority setting for international agricultural research and development activities on important food crops in major farming systems occupying areas of high poverty.

Strategic approaches to targeting technology generation: Assessing the coincidence of poverty and drought-prone crop production

The world’s poorest and most vulnerable farmers on the whole have not benefited from international agricultural research and development. Past efforts have tried to increase the production of countries in more favourable environments; farmers with relatively higher potential for improvement benefited most from these advances. Current and future crop improvement efforts will focus more on marginal environments, especially those prone to drought. The objective of this research is to guide crop improvement efforts by prioritizing areas of high poverty, the key problem of high drought risk and the crops grown and consumed in these areas. Global spatial data on crop production, climate and poverty (as proxied by child stunting) were used to identify geographic areas of high priority for crop improvement. The analysis employed spatial overlay, drought modelling and descriptive statistics to identify where best to target technology generation to achieve its intended human welfare goals. Analysis showed that drought coincides with high levels of poverty in 15 major farming systems, especially in South Asia, the Sahel and eastern and southern Africa, where high diversity in drought frequency characterizes the environments. Thirteen crops make up the bulk of food production in these areas. A database was developed for use in agricultural research and development targeting and priority setting to raise the productivity of crops on which the poor in marginal environments depend.

Mapping out Gender Dynamics of Farming Systems of Haryana

KEYWORDS Gender; farming systems; time utilization pattern; technology usage; wage differentials ABSTRACT The study was conducted on the three major farming systems of Haryana viz. wheat-cotton, vegetable and dairy farming system. After appropriate selection of districts and villages, 120 families were selected from different land holding categories with 40 each per system. Both male and female farmers were interviewed. Majority of men and women in wheat-cotton and vegetable farming system were older compared with dairy farming system, majority had low educational profile, married, Hindus, jats by caste in wheat-cotton and dairy farming system and from backward caste in vegetable farming system, income varied between the farming systems depending on size of landholding or number of animals. Land was largely owned by men. Daily time spent pattern revealed wide gender differentials and during peak season men spent 8.5 hours and 7.0 hours in wheat-cotton and vegetable farming system in productive field activities and women 6.30 hours and 7.35 hours, respectively while in dairy farming system men spent 8.78 hours and women 3.42 hours. Migrant labour was involved in dairying by few. In all farming system, women spent more hours then men in reproductive work involving various household tasks and had a much longer working day with multiple tasked jobs. On the wage front women got 2/3 rd of the wage paid to men. On the technology front they rarely used improved tools and equipment while men often used tractor for varied tasks. The gender dynamics reveals subordinate position of women and was mainly based on sex, land holding size and nature of farming system.

The Economic Importance of Crop Residues in Afghanistan Wheat-Based Farming Systems

Wheat, the dominant food crop of Afghanistan, is grown in all the major farming systems prevailing in the country, in most of which crops and livestock are closely related. Important inputs for the crops, chiefly manure and draught animals, come from the livestock sector, whilst a significant part of the crop revenue comes from the use or sale of crop residues, chiefly as fodder but also as building materials and fuel. Calculations based on a nationwide 2003 farm survey suggest that not considering crop residues as part of the crop revenue (a regrettably common practice) would lead to a gross underestimation of the crop's profitability. In fact, even in years of high production and relatively low prices, and with very conservative cost-calculation assumptions, growing wheat for grain and residues is still a profitable operation. It is therefore strongly recommended that cost/benefit calculations in this kind of farming systems take always the value of residues into account.

Government Policy on Agricultural Research Coordination In Nigeria From 1960-2003

A retrospective survey of government policies on agricultural research coordination in Nigeria from 1960-2003 was carried out. The National Agricultural Research Project (NARP), Ibadan and six Research Institutes purposively selected to cover all the sectors of Agriculture and to represent three of the five major farming system zones in the country were used for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Four critical inadequacies of government polices were identified. Majority (80.0% ) of the respondents confirmed failure of Nigerian agricultural policies to address autonomy of the coordinating agency, 66.7% indicated absence of policies for involvement of mostly experts in agricultural policy formulation and administration, 93.3% opined that intervention of government policies on research priorities setting debars demand- driven agricultural research which would enhance rate of technology adoption and 93.3% accused government policies of favoring reformations of the coordinating agency, without recognition of risk of potential catastrophes in dynamic systems. The study further revealed that while the process for the development of research coordination has been very slow and painful to Research Institutes, no one seemed to be questioning the need for policy or economic reforms to salvage the ailing coordinating agency. It suggested a need for stabilization of Agricultural Research coordination through the creation of an autonomous Directorate of Agricultural Research and Development under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resource. Key words: Government policies, Agricultural Research Coordination, Agriculture. Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol.2(1) 2004: 11-23

Use of cluster analysis for identification and classification of farming systems in Qingyang County, Central North China

Cluster analysis by the average linkage method was used for the identification and classification of farming systems in Qingyang County on the Loess Plateau of Central North China. Data from 26 townships describing soci-agricultural parameters of farm households were standardised and a Pearson correlation matrix was constructed. Parameters with the highest correlation coefficients and largest standards of deviation were selected for cluster analysis. These were: proportion of slopeland, proportion of valley land, proportion of autumn sown crops per household, autumn sown crop yield (kg ha −1), grain yield (kg ha −1), number of draught animals per unit area and number of sheep per household. The resulting dendrogram identified three major farming system groups comprising three, one and three subsystems for groups I, II and III, respectively. Topography was the principal component for discerning the major groups and identified: hilly slopelands, hilly slopelands with valley and tablelands for farming system groups I, II and III, respectively. Subsequent farm surveys confirmed differences between two of the major farming system groups (I & III). Examination of labour input to crops, livestock and house activities between households in groups I and III revealed that unutilised manpower was 2·4 times higher in group III than in group I, thus confirming differences in the two farming systems. The classification method was useful in determining farming system boundaries and for selecting areas appropriate for the introduction of new technologies. It also showed potential for the introduction of a taxonomy system for identification of different farming systems.