Explain Terrace Farming.

Answer: 

The process of rearranging farmlands or turning the hills into farmlands by building specific ridged platforms called terraces.

The major advantage of terrace farming is moving or excavating topsoil to form farmed areas. In this technique, the water flows down the lower platforms when the upper ones are full. The water is distributed uniformly.

Types of terrace farming-

1. Bench terracing- It resembles a bench or steps across the slope with flat farmed platforms built at regular intervals.
2. Contour terracing- Also called strip farming, this system follows relief contour and consists of point rows and grassed waterways.
3. Parallel terracing- This technique is easy for farming. If the slope does not support the parallel way, then they are arranged through land-levelling operations.

Benefits of terrace farming-

• Increases land productivity and farm ability.
• Promotes water conservation, improves rainwater harvesting and decreases water runoff
• Reduces rill formations and prevents soil erosion.
• Improves soil conservation.