Mixed farming is a system of farming which involves the growing of crops as well as the raising of livestock.
Livestock that includes dairy cows, goats, sheep among others will serve as a complimentary enterprise to crop production (Wheat, maize, beans and other food crops) to embrace a balanced and productive system of farming.
Here are the reasons you should embrace mixed farming;
Offers the highest return on agricultural business since the farm optimally utilized.
Farmyard manure from the animals is a very good source of soil nutrients. It maintains soil fertility. This will reduce the cost of production.
It ensures constant food supply to the farmer's household throughout the year. This will help to reduce cases of household food insecurity. It also encourages diversity of diet, in that, animal products such as milk and eggs will provide proteins for the family. Crop produce will provide energy foods as well as vitamins and minerals.
It encourages intensive cultivation, where you will invest in more on a small unit area to get a high return on the products.
In case one of the projects fails, the farmer will be secure to depend on another project as a source of livelihood. For example, if one of your crops fail, you can rely on livestock.
Farm byproducts such as fodder, maize leaves, and Lucerne will be utilized by farm animals. For dairy farmers, this will increase milk production.
Mixed farming improves the managerial skills of the farmer. The farmer will be able to learn and develop skills that will help him/her to maximally utilize resources available.