Terrace farming in India

Farmers living in mountain regions face numerous problems in cultivation of crops and serving a better livelihood, there are multitude of challenges that impact agricultural productivity such as soil erosion, limited water resources, Inappropriate land and infrastructure.

But as we all know that every problem has a solution and this problem is also solved by the method of terrace farming. 

Terrace farming presents a viable solution for addressing the myriad challenges faced by farmers in mountainous regions.

That helps the agricultural productivity and increases the economy of farmers that are living in mountain regions; Lets understand terrace farming more deeply. 

What is terrace farming ?

Terrace farming is an agricultural method of cultivating crops in steep and rugged terrains into productive farmland by creating flat, levelled steps or terraces. 

It is practice from ancient times that was used by the different cultures around the world to maximize arable lands into limited flat terrains.

This technique is mostly practiced in the hilly regions and mountainous regions, where traditional farming methods would be challenging due to the slope of the land. 

By effective water source and manageable land terrace farming set a bar for human ingenuity in adapting agriculture to challenging landscapes. 

Also Read: Mixed farming in India: Examples, Types and Features

Types of terrace farming 

Terrace farming always supports soil health and reduces soil erosion and the most efficient way for water conservation, there 3 main types of terrace farming is practised in India. 

1. Bench terracing: it is an important agricultural method that is designed to cultivate slope land creating a series of flat, level platforms or "benches." This mainly practices in hilly and mountain areas where the traditional farming is challenging due titled terrains.

• The main purpose of the bench terrace is to support soil moisture and enhance fertility, by controlling runoff by breaking the lands into small slopes. This can be practised on moderate and deep soil type with the slope range of 12% to 30%.

• There are many types of bench terracing 

1. Level bench terracing: It is designed to hold the water for the soil moisture for the crops like rice mainly used in highly rainfall areas or where there is  adequate irrigation system.
2. Inward sloping terracing: It is constructed to maintain proper drainage for excess water from the inner side to prevent the waterlogging and enhance the crop sensitivity like potatoes.
3. Upland bench terrace: The main motive of making the upper bench terrace is to facilitate drainage while conserving moisture and used for rain-fed crops.
4. Conversion bench terracing: Also known as irrigation or level bench terraces, these are designed for flood irrigation and water storage.

       2.  Contour farming: Contour farming is also called contour plowing, which is a crucial agricultural practice for soil conservation and water management on the slopes.  This generally includes ploughing and planting across the slope with maining natural contour rather than making a straight line. 

• Here are the key principles that underpin contour farming:

1. Following contour lines: This is the way of planting and plowing the curve lines of the land while following the natural horizontal lines that connect points of equal height. Farmers can easily make furrows or ridges that help slow down water as it flows downhill.
2. Water management: Contour lines should be designed in a way to retain the  rainwater, allowing it to infiltrate the soil rather than running off the surface. Along with controlling the water flow contour farming reduces the soil erosion that occurs due to excess waterlogged and moist.

       3.  Stepped terracing: This is a specific type of farming that involves  creating a series of flat, step-like platforms on sloped land. It is a sustainable agricultural practice that transforms steep landscapes into productive farmland while conserving soil and water resources.

• There some steps of implementing te stepped terracing

1. Site assessment: By selecting the best layout for the terrace, evaluate the slope and soil conditions.
2. Terrace construction: create a flat surface by cutting the slopes and building walls using stones.
3. Planting: Select the suitable crops according to climate condition and other terraces with some factors like moisture availability.
4. Maintaining: Regularly maintain terraces by repairing any erosion damage and ensuring proper drainage.

Also Read: Commercial farming in India: Meaning, Types, Characteristics & Benefits

Benefits of terrace farming

There are several important benefits of  practicing terrace farming, here some of them:

1. Increase agricultural space: It helps to convert the steep slopes in farmlands for utilizations, it helps to maximise the number of usable lands in the regions where flat land is scarce. This  farmers for cultivation and more food production.  
2. Improve crop yields: Terrace farming offers better crop yield production as compared to other plants that are cultivated on slope lands, with the help of water retention and preventive soil erosion. 
3. Biodiversity promotion: Terraced fields can support diverse ecosystems, as different crops can be planted on various terraces. This promotes biodiversity and enhances the resilience of agricultural systems against pests and diseases.
4. Soil conservation:  Terrace farming reduces the soil erosion significantly by breaking the slopes into flat terrains. This prevents  the fertile topsoil from being washed away during heavy rains, ensuring that the soil remains intact and fertile for crop growth.
5. Water conservation: terraces help to retain water by runoff slowly allowing it to seep into the ground. This increases groundwater recharge and provides a steady supply of moisture for crops, which is especially beneficial in areas with irregular rainfall