Level: Plot & Farm

The field, the farm and the household are common levels of analysis in agronomical studies. A farm is comprised of fields and this is the level that individual farmers can act on and affect change. The farm is, especially in development contexts, often managed by the household, which is then also the economic and decision making unit. Moreover, this level is relevant for legislation on environmental issues. Around the world, the household forms a strong unit of agricultural production for both crops and livestock, with tight interdependencies between decision making and exchanging and sharing resources – tools, labour, capital and food – from the various crop and livestock components of the farm.