Sustainable Agriculture contour farming

1. Sustainable Agriculture contour farming

2. Objectives • Learn the definition of contour farming. • Learn the function of contour farming. • Learn the advantages and disadvantages of this farming practice. • Learn what sustainable agriculture means and why contour farming is classified sustainable

3. Defining contour forming • This is the forming practice of planting along the topographic contours of an area, so that furrows are as horizontal as possible.

5. Function of Contour Farming • Contour farming protects the soil and vegetation from the elements of the weather which includes: heavy rain and strong winds. • It allows farmers to farm on difficult farming areas such as: hills, hillsides or sloping lands.

6. Advantages of Contour farming • Improve irrigation systems and conserve water. • Keeps valuable topsoil in place on sloping lands (preventing soil erosion) . • Slows down water to settle into the soil. • Prevents the formation of rills and gullies. • Reduce labor and make harvesting easier. • Improves the appearance of farm land.

8. Disadvantages of Contour Farming • Curved rows make it impractical for some farm machinery to be used. • Not suitable for lands with heavy overland flows can be diverted to safety outlets. • This practice is impractical on fields with irregular topographic features or very steep hills.

9. Sustainability • Sustainable development is any development that meet the needs of he present population, without compromising the future generation to meet their own needs. • Sustainable agriculture is the act of farming using principles of ecology; the study of relationships between organisms and their environment to improve cultivation. • Contour farming is a sustainable agricultural method as it does not affect the environment negatively.

10. Sustainability (Cont’d) • This method provides a significant help to the environment as it: • Provides food locally to satisfy human food requirements. (social benefits) • Enhances environmental quality and the natural resource. (conserve water and prevent soil erosion) • It can be practiced on a large scale, providing market for the crop internationally which builds or promotes economic development.

11. Sustainable Development Chart

12. ACTIVITY • What is contour farming ? • forming practice of planting along the topographic contours of an area, so that furrows are as horizontal as possible. • In which area is contour farming mainly practiced? • Sloping land or Hillside • Why is contour farming considered a sustainable agricultural method?

13. Activity (Cont’d) • It has a positive impact on all three levels of the sustainable development chart. • Give two advantages of contour farming • Prevents soil erosion and conserves water • Tell one disadvantage of contour farming and explain its origin • some machines cannot be use in the farm, because the machine may destroy the contour furrows.

14. Thank you for your time !!  BYE GUYS BYE GUYS