Taungya Farming system, Advantages And Disadvantages

Taungya farming system is an agroforestry practice that involves the simultaneous cultivation of food crops and forest trees on the same land, especially during the early stages of forest establishment. This system allows farmers to grow crops between young trees until the forest canopy closes, after which farming is phased out. Commonly used in many tropical countries including Nigeria, the Taungya system promotes efficient land use, provides food for local communities, and supports afforestation efforts. It is a practical approach to achieving both agricultural productivity and forest regeneration on the same piece of land.

Table Of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Meaning Of taungya farming system
3. Conditions necessary for the practice of Taungya system.
4. Advantages of Taungya farming
5. Disadvantages of Taungya Farming
6. Revision Questions
7. Conclusion

Meaning Of Taungya Farming system

Taungya farming is defined as the planting of arable crops at early stages of forest establishment and the arable crops are harvested before the trees forms canopies. In order words, taungya farming is a management practice which involves the planting of food crops and some forest trees at the beginning at the same time until the canopies of the trees close up. It is a system which involves the integration of Agriculture with forestry.

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Conditions necessary for the practice of taungya system

The conditions that may favor the practice of taungya system includes:

1. Scarcity of land: Taungya system can easily be practiced where land is scarce.
2. Over population: Land becomes scarce where there is over population which can lead to the practice of the system.
3. Unemployment: Mass under employment or unemployment does leads people to practice taungya system.
4. Government policies: Government can put in place policies which will make people practice taungya system.
5. Low standard of living: This factor does force people to resort to the practice of taungya system as a means of alternative way of increasing their standard of living.
6. Granting of incentive: Incentives such as loans to farmers can help them to take part in additional family.

Advantages of Taungya Farming system

1. Variety of crops are harvested
2. There is the availability of crop produce throughout the year.
3. When the leguminous crops are used, the beneficial effect of root nodules increases soil fertility for the benefit of the forest trees.
4. Where land is scars, the farmer has a piece of land to cultivate.
5. The young forest trees receive direct and indirect attention from the farmer.
6. It increases the income of the farmer.

Farmer’s Benefits

Farmers derive the benefits of:

• Using available fertile land for farming.
• Increased standard of living.
• Accessibility to forest products, e.h, dry wood for fuel, employment of farmers in plantation activities other than initial raising of forest crops.

Foresters derive the benefits of:

• Reduced cost of establishing plantation.
• More land are under Forest cover.
• Weed Control
• Enrichment of soil nutrients when leguminous food crops are planted.

Disadvantages of Taungya Farming System

1. Reluctance in releasing fertile soil: The forestry sector may be reluctant in releasing their fertile land to the agricultural sector for farming.
2. Cultivation of selected crops: The system only allows the farmers to rear animals and cultivate biennial crops in the forest reserves.
3. Competition between crops and trees: Since crops and trees are grown together on the same piece of land, competition for space, water, nutrients, etc will exist between crops and forest trees.
4. Monotony of operations: The practice of taungya Farming system may be monotonous as a farmer performs the same operation every season.
5. Inability of some crops to survive: Most crops cultivated under taungya Farming may not survive due to the invasion of some insects in the forest reserve.

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• Mixed farming, advantages and disadvantages

Conclusion

The Taungya farming system offers a practical and resource-efficient method of combining agriculture with forestry, especially in areas where land is scarce. It provides short-term food security for farmers while contributing to long-term forest regeneration and environmental sustainability.

However, for the system to be truly successful, it requires proper planning, farmer education, and government support to ensure that both agricultural and forestry goals are achieved without land misuse or environmental degradation.

Revision Questions

1. Define the term taungya system
2. State five conditions that favor the practice of taungya Farming system in Nigeria.
3. State two advantages of taungya Farming system to farmers and to foresters.
4. State four disadvantages of taungya Farming system