To produce high quality and quantity produce out of farming, we have to practice certain agricultural practices. The kind of agricultural practices will vary according to the soil, climate, and the kind of crops that are being grown. The weather of a particular area also influences what kind of crop is to be grown during a particular season of the year. Agricultural practices refer to particular steps taken by farmers to grow crops. These practices also change according to the types of agriculture practiced; for one own consumption – subsistence or to sell in the market-  commercial purpose.

Agricultural Practices

1. Soil preparation-The first step in agricultural practice is to prepare the soil depending on the type of crop that needs to be raised. Framers decide on what crop to grow based on the kind of soil and weather in their location. For example, some crops may require nutrient-rich or black soil, while others might need soil that can contain larger amounts of water in it. Preparing soil means plowing, manuring, and leveling the soil. Plowing loosens soil and helps to penetrate air into it. Manure is added to soil to improve its nutrient quality and make it fertile. Leveling of soil is done to distribute soil evenly.
2. Sowing -good quality seeds of required crops are chosen. These seeds are then dispersed into the soil that has been prepared. Sowing is a labor-intensive process if done manually. However, it can also be done using machines. Some seeds might need to be grown into a seedling before being sowed into the prepared soil.
3. Manuring- to produce a high yield out of the crops good quantity of manure needs to be given to the crops. This manure may be organic like cow dung or artificial like Ammonium Nitrate. Farmers resort to other methods as well to maintain the fertility of the soil. These methods include crop rotation, growing leguminous plants, Vermicompost, etc. Organic agricultural practices are more sustainable in the long run.
4. Irrigation-This means giving the crops the kind of water supply it needs. The source of water can be a lake, river, wells, ponds, etc. Irrigation needs to be done carefully, too much water or too little water can harm the crops.
5. Weeding- It refers to the removal of weeds, which are unwanted plants that are growing among the crops. They are removed either manually or by using chemicals like weedicides.
6. Harvesting-This is one of the most important steps of agricultural practices since the whole purpose is to produce food. Harvesting is the process of cutting and gathering crops once they have matured. This process too can be done either by machines or by hand, manually.
7. Storage- The harvested produce is stored in warehouses before being transported to market and sold there. Produce like grains are separated from the chaff and packed properly before reaching the market.

Challenges In Agricultural Practices

One of the major challenges faced by farmers in India is the lack of access to modern technology. India has a large number of small-scale farmers around the country, who heavily depend on government subsidies and minimum support prices. Farming employs around half of India’s working population, however, most of them work as farm laborers and do not own the land they work on. These laborers work on daily wages and have very little support beyond that.

Conclusion

To produce high quality and quantity produce out of farming, we have to practice certain agricultural practices. Agricultural practices refer to particular steps taken by farmers to grow crops. These practices also change according to the types of agriculture practiced; for one own consumption – subsistence or to sell in the market-  commercial purpose. The steps in agricultural practices include soil preparation, sowing, manuring, irrigation, weeding, harvesting, and storage. There are major challenges in agricultural practice in India.