what is subsistence agriculture

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.

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Answer

What problems does subsistence agriculture face?

In subsistence agriculture, crops failing or livestock dying place the farmer at risk of starvation. In commercial agriculture, fixed costs of crops sown and interest on debt means that losing even a portion of the crop, or receiving low prices, can easily generate negative cash flow.

What are some facts about subsistence farming?

Definition of subsistence farming. 1 : farming or a system of farming that provides all or almost all the goods required by the farm family usually without any significant surplus for sale. 2 : farming or a system of farming that produces a minimum and often inadequate return to the farmer. — called also subsistence agriculture.

What are two examples of traditional subsistence agriculture?

 · Subsistence farming is a style of agriculture meant to provide for the needs of a family or small group. Subsistence crops are plants grown specifically to meet the needs of the group, usually with…

What are the various characteristics of subsistence farming?

subsistence farming – farming that provides for the basic needs of the farmer without surpluses for marketing farming , husbandry , agriculture – the practice of …

What is meant by the subsistence agriculture?

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.

Where is subsistence agriculture?

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.

What is characteristics of subsistence agriculture?

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 …

What is subsistence agriculture in human geography?

Subsistence agriculture involves food production mainly for the family. A farmer will grow most everything that the family would consume, and anything leftover will go to the local community rather than to a big market.

What is subsistence agriculture class 8?

Subsistence Farming: Subsistence farming is practices to meet the needs of the farmer’s family and needs less technology and labour. Intensive Subsistence Agriculture: In this farming, the farmer cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour. Rice is the main crop.

What is subsistence agriculture class 10?

The correct option is B Cultivating crops for self consumption. When farmers cultivate crops only for self-consumption and not to sell in the market, this type of farming is known as Subsistence Farming.

What is an example of subsistence?

Examples of subsistence in a Sentence They depended on hunting and fishing for subsistence. Farming is their means of subsistence.

What are advantages of subsistence farming?

One of the benefits of Subsistence Agriculture is that it is cheap and cost effective. No requirement of huge investments as would otherwise have been needed by a commercial farmer is the prime reason for its cost effectiveness. The tools, kits and implements that are used are easy to obtain and mostly not expensive.

What is subsistence farming main types?

Subsistence agriculture is often divided into three different types, including intensive subsistence, which is the traditional method, shifting cultivation, which relies on clearing forest to create new farm plots every few years and pastoral nomadism, which relies on traveling with herds of animals.

What is subsistence agriculture class 12?

Answer: Subsistence agriculture is the agriculture in which the producers consume most of the products grown. The output is generally for consumption by farmer and his family.

What is difference between subsistence farming and intensive farming?

Subsistence farming is growing food for your own and your family’s direct consumption. Like a backyard vegetable garden, but with fruit, starch crops, and animals as well. Intensive agriculture is anything that really works the land hard. The inputs cost money, so it is generally only done for profit.

What is an example of sustainable agriculture?

Sustainable farming or Sustainable agriculture helps the farmers innovate and employ recycling methods, apart from the conventional perks of farming. A very good example of recycling in sustainable farming would be crop waste or animal manure. The same can be transformed into fertilizers that can help enrich the soil.

What is subsistence farming with example?

Subsistence farming is providing enough for a small group to survive. An example would be of a family growing just enough food from their garden to…

What are the 3 major types of subsistence agriculture?

The three major types of subsistence agriculture found in the article are Shifting Agriculture, Primitive Farming, and Intensive Subsistence Farming.

Where is subsistence agriculture done?

Subsistence agriculture is done all over the world. Many communities experiencing poverty can find alleviation utilizing the methods of subsistence…

History of Subsistence Agriculture

Subsistence farming was the first type of agriculture seen in early civilization, developed over 12,000 years ago. Archeological evidence points to grains being some of the first subsistence crops farmed and cultivated by people.

Subsistence Agriculture Features

In subsistence farming, fields are often a mix of crop groups. Polyculture, or mixed cropping, allows for many crops to be planted together in complimentary groups. Planting certain crops together helps to replicate a natural ecosystem and improves the quality of the soil.

Shifting Agriculture

Shifting agriculture is a type of farming that moves the location of fields after nutrients are depleted, allowing natural vegetation to reclaim the used areas. This form of subsistence farming is mostly found in areas with large forest ecosystems. Trees are chopped or burned down, allowing room for crops to be planted.

Primitive Farming

Primitive farming is the most simplistic form of subsistence farming. The level of technology used for maintaining subsistence crops is relatively basic. Small gardens near homesteads are an example of primitive farming. These gardens benefit from the use of common household fertilizers, such as compost, animal manure, or ash from fireplaces.

What is subsistence farming?

Subsistence farming is a mode of agriculture in which a plot of land produces only enough food to feed those who work it—little or nothing is produced for sale or trade.

Is subsistence farming sustainable?

Nonethe less, subsistence farming generally recognizes the cycles of renewability in nature and works in harmony with them to maintain productivity. Ultimately, sustainability depends upon harmony among people and with our environment. There are lessons to be learned in this regard from the subsistence perspective.

Why is subsistence farming considered a backward lifestyle?

Historically and currently a difficult way of life, subsistence farming is considered by many a backward lifestyle that should be transformed into industrialized communities and commercial farming throughout the world in order to overcome problems of poverty and famine.

Which perspective maintains that the subsistence lifestyle holds the key to sustainability as human relationships and harmony with the environment have priority

An alternative perspective, primarily from the feminist voice, maintains that the subsistence lifestyle holds the key to sustainability as human relationships and harmony with the environment have priority over material measures of wealth.

How many acres are needed for subsistence farming?

Depending on climate, soil conditions, agricultural practices and the crops grown, it generally requires between 1,000 and 40,000 square meters (0.25 to 10 acres) per person.

Why is subsistence farming not a viable economic development?

Because such surpluses are rare, subsistence farming does not allow for consistent economic growth and development, the accumulation of capital, or the specialization of labor. Diets of subsistence communities are confined to little else than what is produced by community farmers.

Why are subsistence crops organic?

Subsistence crops are usually organic due to a lack of finances to buy or trade for industrial inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides or genetically modified seeds.

What is subsistence farming?

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. Some of these peoples moved from site to site as they exhausted the soil at each location. As urban centres grew, agricultural production became more specialized and commercial farming developed, with farmers producing a sizable surplus of certain crops, which they traded for manufactured goods or sold for cash.

What is the labour used per hectare?

Labour used per hectare tends to be high in traditional farming. Mostly the family labour works on the subsistence farms. However the traditional farms may hire some labour during the busy time of the year. Family farm members may and do supplement their income by working off the farm part during slack times.

What is the main source of power in Pakistan?

In many countries including Pakistan livestock is the main source of power. They plough the field, transport products and carrying out processing tasks like grinding sugar cane. The level of technology mostly used is simple and less productive.

What do subsistence farmers use?

Subsistence farmers often use manure and compost, products of their own land and animals. Whatever food or crops are not consumed circle back into the process to feed livestock. This creates an efficient system, a closed circuit where little to nothing goes to waste.

Is subsistence farming a problem?

Here’s the catch: subsistence farming is extremely susceptible to climate change. As temperatures warm, droughts increase, and floods occur with more regularity.

How long has subsistence farming been around?

Subsistence Farming Is Ancient. The methods of subsistence farming are an integral part of the development of human society. Stretching back up to 12,000 years ago , it is a primary aspect of most cultures’ earliest means of survival.

Why did Homo sapiens settle in one place?

Following the ice age, as Homo sapiens began to domesticate plants, they began to settle in one place instead of only hunting and gathering. Because of this change, groups of people then began to develop complex civilizations – all because of what we now call “subsistence farming.”.

What are the natural techniques used in subsistence farming?

Industrial farms today use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Subsistence farmers often use manure and compost, products of their own land and animals.

What do farmers use to farm?

Industrial farms today use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Subsistence farmers often use manure and compost, products of their own land and animals.

What is the most common agricultural method in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Subsistence farming is the most widely used agricultural method in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of the rural poor depend on their land for survival. With the land as their livelihood, people are able to fray the costs of transportation, rent, and food, as well as the cost of urban living. In Tanzania, for example, agriculture cumulates …

Overview

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History

Techniques

Industrial Intervention

Obstacles to Industrial Development

Subsistence Farming and The Modern World

References