Question

5. What are the advantages of mixed
cropping?​

Answer 1

this are the advantage of mixed cropping

any more are there

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

Mixed Farming

A system of farming which involves the growing of crops as well as the raising of livestock.

Have a look at this illustration for a clearer picture.

img: Information Kit on Farmer-proven Integrated Agriculture-aquaculture Technologies

Advantage: Diversification Reduces Risk

A mixed farming operator, in essence, diversifies his portfolio. Most types of farming tend to be volatile and dependent on market prices. A dairy farmer experiences profitable months when the milk price is high and, in turn, struggles when the price gets inevitably low. Since a mixed farmer has two or more ventures, his risk is spread out. If one operation experiences low profitability, there is a chance the other operation does well. Therefore, the overall income of his farm is more stable.

Advantage: Mixing Encourages Sustainability

Although mixed farming can have higher initial and opportunity costs because of the greater diversity of supplies and equipment needed, there is also the possibility that the resources can be re-utilized between ventures. For example; the manure produced by dairy cows can be spread on crop fields and reduce the amount of fertilizer required. If the same dairy farmer also plants feed corn, he can sell some and reserve some for his own herd. Mixed farmers can rotate their fields, letting cropland rest for several years, which contributes to a farm's sustainability by reducing or eliminating its reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Disadvantage: Limited Capacity

One of the largest disadvantages of mixed farming operations is that they tend to be limited in capacity. An operator must spread his resources, such as time, money, labor and land over two different ventures. For example; a farmer who plants crops and raises beef cattle cannot plant as much corn as the farmer who only grows crops. Therefore, he cannot take advantage of the economies of scale that are inherent to large setups, such as reduced costs and increased efficiency.

Disadvantage: More Resources Required

Mixed farming generally requires more resources, another clear disadvantage. For example; a farmer who only grows wheat needs planting and harvesting equipment, such as plows, disks, planters, sprayers and combines. A farmer who milks dairy cattle in addition to growing wheat requires more equipment, such as a mixer wagon, bucket tractor and skidsteer. As a result, the opportunity costs of mixed farming tends to be higher than single-focus farming.