Family farming is the practice of cultivating land that is owned by the family. This mode of cultivation is prevalent in almost all the developing countries in the world. An alternative way of family farming includes factory farming or collective farming.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Family Farming: The Present Condition
Family farming is encouraged in the developed countries like United States, Japan and France. The agricultural sector is gradually prospering because of the introduction of modern technologies. Experts opine that family farming need to be conserved for the existence of rural society and social stability.
Family farms: Statistics
Family farms can be categorized as large family farms and small family farms. According to a report by the Department of Agriculture, United States, it is observed that almost 90% of farms in U.S. are family farms and out of those family farms, 90% percent are small family farms.
Family farming: Factors
- Scale of production: The scale of production through family farming varies according to the size and type of family farms. Normally large family farms gain more profit by producing more competitive products than smaller family farms.
- Cost of inputs: It is seen that the cost of various inputs (fertilizers and agro-chemicals) that promote fertility and productivity of the soil, sometimes fluctuate in a dramatic manner from season to season. For instance, the cost of inputs may be influenced by the variation in oil prices in the global market.
- Availability of funds: These days, almost all the family farms, particularly the large family farms need to be dependent on the lines of credit, specifically from banks to buy fertilizers or other necessary substances. The quality and amount of production is largely affected by the availability of funds.
- Economic assistance by the Government: In most of the developed countries, Government encourages family farming by providing subsidies to the farmers.