1. Subsistence agriculture: Small-scale farmers who grow crops and rear livestock for their own consumption are most likely to engage in this sort of agriculture. Traditional agricultural techniques are frequently used by subsistence farmers, who also rely on family labor for farming tasks. Typically, they keep goats, sheep, and chickens in addition to growing crops including maize, beans, cassava, and yams. Since it is primarily for self-sustenance, subsistence farming is typically not profitable.
2. Commercial Cultivation: This method of farming is used by large-scale farmers who raise animals and develop crops for local or global markets. Commercial farmers carry out their farming operations using cutting-edge farming techniques and technologies, and they frequently make use of hired personnel. Commercial livestock includes cattle, pigs, and poultry, whereas commercial crops include rice, wheat, maize, and soybeans. Given that commercial farming is done to make money, it is typically profitable.
3. Intensive Cultivation: In order to increase yields, this style of cultivation uses high-input farming techniques, such as the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and motorized equipment. The goal of intensive cultivation is to produce large yields, and it is typically carried out on tiny parcels of land. Vegetables, fruits, and flowers are cultivated as part of intensive cultivation. Although intensive farming is typically lucrative, it necessitates a substantial investment in inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
4. Extensive Cultivation: This style of farming uses low-input techniques such using organic fertilizers and little to no pesticides. On large plots of land, extensive cultivation is typically conducted in order to raise livestock and grow crops with the least amount of inputs possible. Cereals and oilseeds are among the crops grown in extensive farming, and sheep and cattle are among the reared animals. Generally speaking, extensive cultivation is less profitable than intense cultivation, but it uses less inputs.
5. Aquaculture Cultivation: In this sort of cultivation, aquatic species including fish, shrimp, and oysters are raised. Aquaculture farming often takes place in ponds, tanks, or cages and calls for specialized knowledge of the behavior, diet, and health of aquatic animals. Catfish is one of the most often cultivated fish in Nigeria, where fish farming is very popular. The average growth period for catfish is 6 to 8 months, depending on nutrition and water temperature. Although it involves a substantial investment in inputs like feed and pond building, catfish farming can be successful.
In conclusion, a variety of factors, including the style of farming, the size of the operation, and the input investment, affect how profitable a crop is to grow. Catfish require six to eight months to reach maturity, making fish farming viable in Nigeria. However, factors like the market demand for fish and the price of inputs have an impact on how profitable fish farming is. Farmers can make more educated decisions regarding their farming activities by being aware of the various forms of cropping.