What is Commercial Farming? Features, forms and advantages | Tractorgyan

06 May, 2022

Commercial Farming is a type of farming where crops are grown, and animals are reared for raw materials.

So, the purpose of the farmer is to maximize the profit margin, commercial farming must be exceedingly efficient and done on a big scale to achieve the economy of scale.

The crops over commercial farming are high in demand because they are exported to other countries it is used as a raw material in industries to make food products. The marketing strategy of commercial agriculture does vary from region to region.

Commercial farming has a few different characteristics.

Farmers raise crops for commerce in this system. Farmers cultivate crops or cattle to sell for a profit, which is referred to as agribusiness.

Farmers must therefore invest a significant amount of money in this farming.

In this farming, farmers typically boost agricultural production by using large doses of manure or other contemporary inputs such as fertilizers, high-yielding variety seeds, insecticides, herbicides, and other chemicals.

Farmworkers in commercial agriculture must use a variety of modern technologies to boost agricultural output. In this farming, they mostly raise cash crops and cereals.

In India, crops are being grown over large-scale plantations and are shipped to other countries for earning profit.

Commercial farming is mainly practiced in the states of Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.

Commercial crops which are mainly grown in India are Wheat, Maize, Tea, Coffee, Sugarcane, Cashew, Rubber, Corn, Banana, and Cotton are harvested.

Commercial Farming Involves the use of modern technology mainly heavy machinery, irrigation methods, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.

Under commercial Farming crops which are high in demand, means are the crops that need to be exported out to other countries or must be used as a raw material in industries.

As a result, modern commercial farming concentrates primarily on the production of crops and farm animals for sale, employing the most advanced, efficient, and up-to-date technologies.

As more individuals see it as a successful commercial enterprise, the technique, also known as agriculture, is gradually being taken up and practiced.

As a result, a significant amount of capital, people, and land is involved in commercial farming, making it the primary driver and influencer of the global agriculture business.

Commercial farming, on the other hand, is concerning to some extent, despite its favorable outcomes. Fertilizers, insecticides, weed killers, and pesticides, for example, are widely utilized in agriculture.

It also makes extensive use of large stretches of land and a lot of water. These practices concern individuals battling for a sustainable environment on a globe where the population is predicted to exceed 9 billion by 2050.

Features of Commercial Farming.

1. Large Scaled Production.

One of the primary features of commercial farming is large-scale production. In this feature, the livestock and the crops are grown in large numbers. Commercial farming needs a good amount of land, advanced equipment, and expertise to meet the production goals.

The amount of land under agriculture is enormous. While some farmers have thousands of acres under cultivation, others have only a few hundred or a few tens.

2. Commercial Farming is Capital Intensive

Commercial farming requires a lot of investment before it started. The capital is used to purchase some farm materials like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.

It requires a significant financial investment. The farmer must plow and harrow the soil, as well as purchase seedlings or seeds, and apply pesticides and fertilizers. Because this would be done on a big tract of land, it would necessitate a significant financial investment.

3. It is mainly produced for sale.

Commercial Farming is mainly carried out for sale and a thousand acres of land is used for cultivating wheat, maize, barley, sugarcane, etc. is harvested, cultivated, and are exported for earning maximum profits.

4. High Yielding a variety of seeds (HYVs)

In commercial farming a high-yielding variety of seeds are used for boosting up the inputs it is mainly done to achieve higher crop productivity but on the other hand, it destroys the sustainability of the soil.

5. Use of Heavy machinery

As the size of the scale of the farm, he needs to use tractors, harrows, planters, and combine harvesters. As a result, he will be able to clear more land and increase his income.

6. Requires High Human Labor

Commercial farming makes use of highly skilled and unskilled labor. Skilled laborers become professionals as they make use of technologies and some of the farm tools while unskilled laborers are more likely to work in fields that involve less technology and more human work.

To accomplish the targets and goals on time, as well as satisfy the skills of the production system, heavy machinery such as diggers, trailed sprayers, plows, harvesters, and planters are required.

7. Commercial Farming is 365 days of farming.

Farmers in commercial agriculture can water their land or keep their agricultural systems running all year. They don't rely on rain or natural resources like most farmers do because they have modern technologies, equipment, and artificial growth enhancers to keep their crops or animals alive throughout the year.

Different forms of commercial Farming.

1. Plantation Farming

Planting farming is a form of commercial farming which is practiced across vast are of land and is labor-intensive farming that often uses the latest technology for yielding, sustaining, and cultivating the land. Plantation farming is done in tropical and subtropical regions of India crops are mainly grown for sale and it a is mixture of agriculture and industry.

2. Grain Farming

Grains like corn, barley, and wheat are farmed for human consumption and exported under this sort of commercial farming. Grain cultivation is highly mechanized, necessitating ample area, machinery, equipment, and farmers. Farmers are extremely busy during the planting and harvesting seasons because the farming is done outside and is seasonal.

3. Livestock Farming

This is the process of growing livestock animals to produce meat. Cattle and sheep are the most regularly reared animals, while pigs and chickens are also commonly reared in considerable numbers.

In most major metropolitan markets, livestock ranching is the primary supplier of beef, chicken, and pork meat. The top beef producers in the world are the United States, Brazil, and the European Union.

4. Mixed Farming

Under mixed farming, a single crop or animal is raised. However, both crops and cattle are grown on the same area of land in this sort of commercial farming.

As a result, crops can be planted to feed the animals, and the animals can be sold to make money. Furthermore, animal manure can be used to cultivate crops. Throughout the year, the two coexist and are cultivated together.

Advantages of Commercial Farming

1. Commercial farming boosts the power supply to areas in the suburbs of farmed land since it uses machinery and electricity. It contributes to the improvement of local infrastructure. Roads are paved to facilitate the transit of goods and equipment quickly and comfortably.

2. One of the benefits of commercial farming is that it helps in the establishment and/or improvement of the area's infrastructure. Electricity is provided to the community by commercial farms that rely on it. Farmers build roadways to facilitate the transportation of commodities and equipment. Governments in developing countries construct roads and trains, as well as extend water to areas where it is not yet available.

3. Provides the lowest cost of production

Commercial farmers also contribute to lower agricultural product costs. This is because more crops are produced, resulting in reduced commodity prices because of supply and demand pressures.

4. Create employment opportunities for people around

Commercial farming provides a lot of work for people in the surrounding region and even further away from where the specific knowledge required isn't readily available. The money obtained from working on the farm is used to provide food for the inhabitants. To put it another way, commercial farming can help to boost the local economy.

5. Boosts the economy of the country.

As commercial farming is mainly practiced for profit earning it helps in foreign exchange policies. Cocoa, coffee, and other non-traditional agricultural export commodities in West Africa generate foreign exchange for their countries.

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