Subsistence farming | Definition, Characteristics, & Facts (2024)

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Subsistence farming | Definition, Characteristics, & Facts? ›

subsistence farming, form of farming in which nearly all of the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and the farmer's family, leaving little, if any, surplus for sale or trade. Preindustrial agricultural peoples throughout the world have traditionally practiced subsistence farming.

Subsistence agriculture generally features: small capital/finance requirements, mixed cropping, limited use of agrochemicals (e.g. pesticides and fertilizer), unimproved varieties of crops and animals, little or no surplus yield for sale, use of crude/traditional tools (e.g. hoes, machetes, and cutlasses), mainly the ...

The food produced is the main or a significant source of food for the farming household and little or none of the production is surplus and available for sale or trade. It is generally associated with a small farm holding size and family agricultural work as a part-time or supporting activity.

4.4 Traditional subsistence agriculture

It has the advantage of being ecologically sound, with locally adapted and resilient species and cultivars. The disadvantage, however, is low productivity.

The five principal features that distinguish commercial agriculture from subsistence agriculture is that commercial agriculture is practiced in developed countries, for sale off the farm, has a smaller percentage of farmers, uses machinery, and has a larger farm size.

Often, the subsistence economy is moneyless and relies on natural resources to provide for basic needs through hunting, gathering, and agriculture. In a subsistence economy, economic surplus is minimal and only used to trade for basic goods, and there is no industrialization.

The correct answer is C. Production only for family consumption. Subsistence agriculture refers to a type of farming in which farmers focus on producing enough food to meet the needs of their own families or local communities.

pastoralism, shifting cultivation, intensive subsistence farming.

Before mechanisation, agriculture was a back-breaking affair and for many farmers, it still is. Much of this work is carried out in the fields or rangelands, often in full sun.

Unlike other types of farming, subsistence farming is focused more on survival. There is very little or no emphasis on trading and selling goods or operating as a business. A simple example of subsistence farming is a family growing grain and using that grain to make enough bread for themselves, but not to sell.

What is the biggest problem with subsistence farming? ›

Overgrazing, overharvesting, agricultural pollution caused by inadequate use of fertilizers and pesticides are also causing biodiversity degradation. Environmental degradation and biodiversity loss negatively impact production outputs of subsistence farming, further trapping small farmers in a vicious cycle of poverty.

Subsistence farming, which today exists most commonly throughout areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of South and Central America, is an extension of primitive foraging practiced by early civilizations. Historically, most early farmers engaged in some form of subsistence farming to survive.

Why Is subsistence farming important? The advantages of subsistence farming are that one can be self sufficient in areas that do not have a lot of resources. It is a way for people who live in rural areas to survive and live in villages.

subsistence farming, form of farming in which nearly all of the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and the farmer's family, leaving little, if any, surplus for sale or trade. Preindustrial agricultural peoples throughout the world have traditionally practiced subsistence farming.

Answer: For profit, commercial farming cultivates crops, whereas subsistence farming cultivates crops for personal consumption. The monsoon is a major factor in subsistence farming. Animals and human labour play a larger role in subsistence farming than in traditional methods.

Subsistence agriculture is the production of food primarily for consumption by the farmer and mostly found in less developed countries. In subsistence agriculture, small-scale farming is primarily grown for consumption by the farmer and their family.

Defining Commercial Agriculture

Commercial agriculture often involves large-scale production, where economies of scale come into play. Advanced technology and mechanization are also integral to commercial agriculture, allowing for increased productivity and efficiency.

Subsistence farming is generally extensive in nature. Extensive farming is farming that makes use of relatively few inputs per unit area of land farmed. It can be contrasted with intensive farming which makes use of a lot of inputs.

Features of primitive subsistence agriculture in India are:i It is practised on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools. ii Tools which are used are basically traditional tools such as hoe dao and digging stick. iii This type of agriculture totally depends upon monsoon.