Farming systems in the watershed are described. Data were gathered by a multi-disciplinary team during the summer of 1982. Sample size was 182. Farming systems identified were (1) irrigated with a rice base, (2) rainfed with an annual crop base and minor permanent crops, and (3) predominantly coffee farms which were not studied in detail. Irrigated farming systems consisted of sole crops of beans, peanuts and maize in addition to rice. Rainfed systems consisted of both sole crops and crop mixtures of beans, maize and pigeon peas. Predominant crop mixtures are beans-maize, beans-pigeon peas, and beans-pigeon peas-maize. Peanuts are predominantly sole cropped. Unique to these systems are: (1) the "convite" system —a social form of labor sharing for harvest; (2) bean trading between rainfed and irrigated systems to maintain fresh seed; (3) peanuts to provide cash; available as a loan from the processing plant. Rainfed systems and increasing population pressures subject the watershed to high rates of soil erosion and resulting siltation downstream.