The Broad Bed and Furrow system has been mainly developed at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India. It is a modern version of the very old concept of encouraging controlled surface drainage by forming the soil surface into beds. In India the system has been used mainly on deep vertisols (heavy black clay soils sometimes called cotton soils); wide beds are used on a gentle grade and they are formed by ox-drawn wheeled tool carriers.

Advantages:

BBF method improves soil and water conservation of the field. BBF method works well in dry and wet spell. In dry spell it increases period of wilting of crop by making available conserved moisture and in wet spell it protect crops by draining excess water through furrows maintain proper soil water ratio. It enhances fast rootlet growth as crop is being planted on bed, increasing number of pod which ultimately results in increased crop production.It improves crop aeration and sunlight results reduce insect pest attack on crops.