Primary farming method in India! This question or topic is interesting to know because there are many statements and myths on this. We are not just looking back to history, but we are looking to know the system that still exists in many villages but in slightly evolved form. The first farming method in India was subsistence farming. The simple meaning is farmers grow food only for their family, not for selling.
How did it work? Let’s take an example, if a farmer has 1 acre of land and a small family, what he does, grow rice, pulses and wheat. He uses rainwater because during that time there was no irrigation system and farmers in ancient times used basic tools and or animals. All family members help with farming. The agenda was to feed his family first and selling was not the main goal.
Case Study – Multi-crop farming idea
Rain is uncertain and money is limited! What was the farmer’s decision in that case? Instead of growing only one crop he grows: wheat, some vegetables, and some pulses. If one crop fails, others survive and family still gets food. This is a smart farming idea and not complicated farming.
Case Study 2 – No money to buy fertilizers
It was another problem for the farmers in ancient times that they didn’t have money to buy fertilizers. In this case, they use cow dung as fertilizer and use animals for ploughing. Farming cost was very low and soil stays healthy.
Why did this method work?
Low risk
No big investment
Family survival ensured
Easy to manage
What was the problem?
Dependency on rain
No big profit
Less production
What can we learn today?
Even today, this method teaches important things like growing smart, and just more. Don’t depend on only one crop and keep costs low and use available resources.
Bottom Line
The first farming method in India was simple and show us “grow what you need, with what you have”. Bonhoeffer & Mechnova supports farmers on this farming journey with advanced machines and tools.