What is Intensive Agriculture?
Intense agriculture, commonly referred to as “intensive agriculture,” is a farming technique that uses a variety of techniques to get the most out of the soil. Intensive farming employs contemporary, scientific, and technical techniques. Extensive agriculture, which requires minimal investment and work, is the reverse of it.
Implementation of Intensive Agriculture
All agricultural practices that are contemporary and technology are used in intensive agriculture. Consequently, maximizing yield is the main goal. The largest amount of product from the unit area and the highest amount of meat and milk from the animals are produced based on the soil’s potential. This farming approach makes use of a wide range of practices, including animal and seed breeding, irrigation, fertilization, spraying, and agricultural technology. Agribusiness marketing strategies and agricultural processing facilities are required for improved outcomes. Manpower is replaced by machinery in intensive agriculture. All of these raise the yield from a given unit area. Fallow cultivation is either minimized or not desired, which is one of the most significant characteristics of intensive agriculture.
As a result, many crops are produced each year. After the 1960s, intensive agriculture grew throughout many nations and encouraged less fallow land use, which resulted to the remarkable yield boost known as the “Green Revolution.” Since then, it has been established that intensive agriculture has expanded to many nations.
Advantages of Intensive Agriculture
In developed nations where there is a shortage of agricultural land relative to population, intensive agriculture is frequently practiced and has several benefits. They could be listed as follows:
-Agriculture is practiced using contemporary techniques.
-Since a sizable amount of the production is exported abroad, income from international commerce have increased.
-Manpower is not as needed. because machines with cutting-edge technology perform human workers’ tasks.
-Spraying is a simple way to get rid of pests.
-The best seeds are used to generate high-quality crops.
-More productive than other agricultural practices.
Methods Used to Increase Yield in Intensive Agriculture
Irrigation: Various systems and techniques are used to apply water to the soil. It is preferred to use less water and labor. Systems that improve quality and production while preventing salinity and drainage issues are used. The methods of surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and micro irrigation are increasingly frequently chosen.
Fertilization: The usage of organic fertilizers protects both people and the environment. Instead of being done by hand, machines carry out the fertilization procedure.
Seed Breeding : Seeds that will boost output are chosen, taking into account the soil and climate of the area to be farmed.
Machine Use : Modern agriculture requires the use of machinery to ensure timely planting, harvesting, and high yields.
Agricultural Control : Pesticides are sprayed on the soil to get rid of pests and insects and to protect both human and environmental health.
Soil Care : The best defense against erosion is timely soil weeding and plowing.
