Types of agricultural systems that exist in West Africa are as follow:
(i) Peasant farming system: This involves the cultivation on a small scale acres of land. Farms are small units owned by individual families. This is also referred to as subsistence agriculture because it is the production of agricultural products for direct consumption by the producers and their families. This system impedes mass agricultural production.
(ii) Plantation farming: This is large scale farming on plantation or estate. This system of agriculture allows for a high degree of mechanization and other aspects of modernization. Capital intensive methods are often employed. Such crops planted on plantation farming include cocoa, tea, cotton, rubber and sugar cane. Moor-plantation in Ibadan is an example of modern agricultural practice. It could be owned by individuals or government.
(iii) Mechanized farming: This involves the extensive use of machines and other types of advanced mechanical devices in agricultural production. Mechanized agriculture ensures large scale production because human labour is replaced with that of machine such and tractors, harvesters, incubators etc.
(iv) Co-operative farming: This is a type in which co-operators may own a large expanse of cultivable land together and work and share the product of their labour. This type of farming is adopted in order to obtain loans and aids from government. This system also allows for mechanization.