Becoming a Farmer: English Vocabulary, Phrases and Dialogue

Key words and phrases

farmlandland used for growing crops or raising animalsHis uncle owns several acres of farmland.

crop cyclethe sequence of planting, growing, and harvesting a cropWheat has a different crop cycle than rice.

irrigationsupplying water to land to help crops growThey installed a drip irrigation system last year.

sowing seedsplanting seeds in the ground to grow cropsSowing seeds usually begins right after the first rains.

harvestto gather crops that are readyThe whole family helped harvest the wheat.

fertilizera substance added to soil to help plants grow betterHe used organic fertilizer on the field.

monsoon-dependentrelying on seasonal rains for waterMuch of the farmland here is monsoon-dependent.

soil testingchecking soil quality to decide what to grow and addSoil testing showed the field needed more nitrogen.

tractora vehicle used to plough fields and pull farm equipmentHe drove the tractor across the field.

crop rotationgrowing different crops in the same field across seasonsCrop rotation helps keep the soil healthy.

market pricethe price a crop sells for in the local marketThe market price for onions dropped this month.

mandia local wholesale market where farmers sell their produceHe sold his tomatoes at the mandi early in the morning.

subsidy schemea government program that reduces the cost of farming inputsThe subsidy scheme lowered the cost of seeds.

droughta long period with little or no rainThe drought damaged much of the crop that year.

yieldthe amount of crop produced from a piece of landBetter irrigation improved their yield this season.

organic farminggrowing crops without synthetic chemicals or pesticidesHe's slowly shifting to organic farming.

cooperative societya group of farmers who work together to share resources or sell produceThe village cooperative society helps with fair pricing.

agricultural loanmoney borrowed specifically for farming expensesHe took an agricultural loan to buy new equipment.

livestockanimals kept on a farm, such as cows or goatsThey also keep livestock alongside their crops.

pesticidea chemical used to protect crops from pestsHe used pesticide carefully to avoid harming the soil.

Useful sentences

Ask How much farmland do you have?
Answer We have about ten acres, mostly monsoon-dependent.
Ask When do you start sowing seeds?
Answer Right after the first good rain of the season.
Ask Do you use any fertilizer?
Answer Yes, but we're slowly shifting toward organic farming.
Ask How do you decide what to plant each season?
Answer We do soil testing first, and we follow a crop rotation plan.
Ask Where do you sell your produce?
Answer Mostly at the local mandi, depending on the market price.
Ask Was it a good harvest this year?
Answer Yes, the yield was much better than last year's drought.
Ask How do you manage the cost of farming?
Answer We took an agricultural loan and also use a government subsidy scheme.
Ask Do you have any animals on the farm?
Answer Yes, we keep some livestock alongside our crops.
Ask Do other farmers around here work together?
Answer Yes, many of us are part of the village cooperative society.
Ask What's the hardest part of farming?
Answer Dealing with unpredictable weather, especially during a drought.

Dialogue

RahulUncle, how do you decide when to start sowing seeds each year?

Uncle (farmer)It depends on the monsoon — most of our farmland is monsoon-dependent.

RahulWhat happens if the rains are delayed?

Uncle (farmer)We rely more on irrigation, but it raises our costs.

RahulDo you always grow the same crop?

Uncle (farmer)No, we follow crop rotation to keep the soil healthy.

RahulHow do you decide where to sell your harvest?

Uncle (farmer)We check the market price and usually sell at the local mandi.

RahulThis is a lot harder than I imagined.

Uncle (farmer)It is, but a good yield makes it all worth it.

Common mistakes

Saying "I want become farmer" instead of "I want to become a farmer."
Saying "we plant seed" instead of "we sow seeds."
Saying "crop is depend on monsoon" instead of "the crop is monsoon-dependent."
Saying "sell in mandi" instead of "sell at the mandi."
Saying "yield is more" instead of "the yield is higher."
Saying "take agriculture loan" instead of "take an agricultural loan."

Quick quiz

1. What is a "crop cycle"?

2. What does "monsoon-dependent" mean?

3. What is a "mandi"?

4. What does "yield" mean?

5. What is "crop rotation"?

6. What is a "cooperative society" in farming?

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