Various types of farming are practised in different parts of the country. 

They are as follows :

1. Primitive subsistence farming 

• Migratory subsistence farming 
• Sedentary subsistence farming 

2. Intensive farming 

3. Commercial farming 

4. Mixed farming 

5. Plantation farming 

6. Dry farming 

7. Humid farming 

8. Irrigation farming

1. Primitive Subsistence Farming : The production of crops for the purpose of domestic consumption and not for commercial use is called “Primitive subsistence farming”. Farmers -used primitive methods of cultivation. This types of farming is widely practiced in hilly regions like North-easterns states, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Primitive subsistence farming can be classified into two types. They are –

(i) Migratory subsistances farming and (ii) Sedentary subsistence farming.

(a) Migratory subsistances farming : It is a primitive method of farming, practised by tribals in the tropical rainy forests. Under this system formers clear patches of forest by cutting and burning the bushes and trees and cultivate land. Later people migrate to another parts of the forest. Along with cultivation of crops, hunting, fishing and collection of forest resource etc are done by the people.

This type of farming is called by different local names-eg- ‘ Jhumming’ in North Eastern regions(Assam), ‘Koman’ in Odisha, ‘Ponam’ in Kerala, and ‘Podu’ in Andhra Pradesh. Yams, Peanuts, beans, bananas, upland rice, buck wheat, maize, millets and sometime vegetables are grown under this farming. This farming is practiced in Assam, Meghalay, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

(b) Sedentary subsistence farming : This is an ancient form of cultivation and practiced by the people living permanetly. Here there is physical factors are favourable for cultivation, of land. The farm lands are not abandoned. They are cultivated through of the year and farmer lived near the land. Hence, this system is called “Sedentary subsistence farming”. Under this system, implements used and the mehtods Of cultivation are primitive. The surplus agricultural produce are sold to neighbouring people or sold in the market. Sedentary subsistence farming also includes the rearing of animals for milk, meat, woo! and hides.

2. Intensive farming : It is found in the areas of dense population and land holdings are small. in this type of farming land in intentively used and 2-3 harvests are obtained in year. It is known as “Intensive farming”.

It is labour and capital Intensive farming. Large amount of labour and capital is used on a small land holding, to get maximum production of crops. The available small piece of land is ised for cultivation with irrigation facilities throughout the year. In this system, farmers try to raise two or more crops, with careful tilling of the soil. Intensive agriculture is characterized by high yields per unit area and farmers try to get the maximum production from small land holdings. It is common in the fertile and irrigated parts of the country. In this type, agricultural operations are carried on by manual labour and draught animals. Rice is the main crop of Intensive farming in India.

3. Commercial farming : Agricultural crops are produced on a large scale.for the purpose of sale and not for domestic consumption, is called ‘Commercial farming’. This type of farming is generally practised in the large areas of sparse population with good transportation facilities. On large scale farms, using small amount of labour, large scale use of machinery, cash crops are growth for scale.

4. Mixed farming: Farming that includes the raising of crops and keeping of livestock is called ‘Mixed farming’. In this system farmers use the land for raising food as well as commercial crops and also used for other purposes such as livestock-raising, poultry farming, sericulture, bee-keeping etc. Farmer get more income from both side. It has been introduced in India since 1951.It is popular in the states like, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu.

5. Plantation farming: A single cash crop is grown on large area or estates is known as ‘Plantation farming’. This is mainly a commercial type of farming. It requires large amount of labour and capital. Manual labour and skilled labour is important. Under this system crops are grown mainly for export. The important plantation crops of India are Tea, Coffee and rubber.

6. Dry farming : The farming system practised in areas which receive scanty rainfall (i.e, less that 50 cms) and irrigation facilities are very limited or absent is called ‘Dry farming’. This type of farming is practiced in Deccan plateau of south India, Western Rajasthan and other arid and semiarid regions. Famines and droughts are common in these regions. Crops are growing with low yield. Only quick maturing and drought resistant crops are cultivated. Jowar, bajra, ragi, oilseeds are the important dry farming crops.

7. Humid farming: Cultivation of crops, where the areas receiveing sufficient rainfall without the help of irrigation is known as Wet farming or Humid farming. If the rainfall is sufficient i.e. 100 to 150 cm throughout the year, double or multiple cropping is practiced in that area. Rice, sugarcane, Jute, tea, coffee, rubber etc, are grown. Sufficient rainfall helps to obtain higher yields and better quality of crops.

8. Irrigation farming: Cultivation of crops with the help of Irrigation is called ‘Irrigation farming’. This type of farming is very essential to India, because monsoon rainfall is seasonal, uncertain and insufficient. The largest area of cultivated land is under irrigation in India. This type of farming is highly concentrated in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and also practiced in many other states of the country.