What is subsistence agriculture?
Subsistence agriculture is farming mainly to feed the farmer’s family, with little or no surplus for sale.
Why is subsistence agriculture practiced?
It is practiced to ensure basic food security for farming households in resource-limited rural regions.
Where is subsistence agriculture commonly found?
It is common in developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America with dense rural populations.
What crops are grown in subsistence farming?
Staple food crops like rice, wheat, maize, millets, cassava, and pulses are commonly grown.
How much land is used in subsistence agriculture?
Small landholdings are used, usually less than two hectares per farming household.
What type of tools are used in subsistence farming?
Simple traditional tools like hoes, sickles, ploughs, and manual labor are mainly used.
Is subsistence agriculture market-oriented?
No, it is primarily consumption-oriented and not aimed at commercial profit.
What is the main objective of subsistence agriculture?
The main objective is self-sufficiency in food production for the farmer’s family.
What type of labor is used in subsistence agriculture?
Family labor is mostly used, including men, women, and children.
How does subsistence farming affect income levels?
Income remains very low because surplus production for sale is minimal.
What is shifting cultivation?
Shifting cultivation is a subsistence practice where land is cleared, cultivated, then abandoned for regeneration.
Why is subsistence agriculture labor-intensive?
It relies heavily on manual labor due to lack of mechanization and modern technology.
What role does rainfall play in subsistence farming?
Rainfall is crucial as most subsistence farms depend on natural precipitation.
What is intensive subsistence agriculture?
It involves small landholdings with high labor input to increase yield per unit area.
Which countries practice intensive subsistence farming?
India, China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam widely practice intensive subsistence agriculture.
What is primitive subsistence agriculture?
Primitive subsistence agriculture uses simple tools and relies on natural soil fertility and rainfall.
What are the limitations of subsistence agriculture?
Low productivity, poor technology, climate dependency, and lack of market access are major limitations.
How does subsistence agriculture impact food security?
It provides basic food security but remains vulnerable to droughts and crop failures.
Is irrigation common in subsistence farming?
Irrigation is limited and mostly replaced by dependence on seasonal rainfall.
What is mixed subsistence farming?
Mixed subsistence farming combines crop cultivation with livestock rearing for household consumption.
Why is productivity low in subsistence agriculture?
Limited use of fertilizers, seeds, irrigation, and technology keeps productivity low.
What fertilizers are used in subsistence farming?
Organic manures like compost, animal dung, and green manure are commonly used.
What is the role of women in subsistence agriculture?
Women play a crucial role in sowing, weeding, harvesting, and post-harvest activities.
How does subsistence agriculture affect soil fertility?
Continuous cropping without replenishment often leads to soil fertility depletion.
What is pastoral subsistence farming?
It involves rearing livestock mainly for milk, meat, and household consumption.
Which animals are common in pastoral subsistence farming?
Cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and yaks are commonly reared.
What is nomadic herding?
Nomadic herding is a subsistence practice where herders move livestock seasonally for pasture.
Why is subsistence agriculture climate-dependent?
Farmers rely on natural weather conditions with minimal irrigation or climate-resilient infrastructure.
What is slash-and-burn agriculture?
Vegetation is cut and burned to clear land and add nutrients to soil temporarily.
How does subsistence farming impact the environment?
Deforestation and soil erosion may occur if traditional practices are unsustainably used.
What is terrace farming in subsistence agriculture?
Terrace farming involves step-like fields on slopes to prevent soil erosion and retain water.
Which regions use terrace subsistence farming?
Himalayan regions, Southeast Asia, and Andean highlands commonly use terrace farming.
How does population pressure affect subsistence agriculture?
High population pressure leads to land fragmentation and reduced farm sizes.
What is monocropping in subsistence agriculture?
Growing a single staple crop for family consumption is called monocropping.
Is mechanization common in subsistence agriculture?
Mechanization is rare due to high costs and small landholdings.
What is rainfed subsistence farming?
It depends entirely on rainfall without artificial irrigation facilities.
How does subsistence farming differ from commercial farming?
Subsistence farming focuses on consumption, while commercial farming targets profit and markets.
What is food self-sufficiency?
Food self-sufficiency means producing enough food to meet household dietary needs.
What is the economic status of subsistence farmers?
Most subsistence farmers belong to economically weaker sections of society.
How does subsistence agriculture influence rural life?
It shapes rural livelihoods, traditions, social structure, and survival strategies.
What are subsistence crops?
Crops primarily grown for consumption rather than sale are called subsistence crops.
What is subsistence rice farming?
Rice grown mainly for household consumption using intensive labor is subsistence rice farming.
Why is crop diversification limited in subsistence agriculture?
Farmers prioritize staple crops over diversification to ensure food security.
What is traditional knowledge in subsistence farming?
Farmers rely on indigenous knowledge passed through generations.
How does subsistence agriculture handle surplus?
Any small surplus is locally exchanged or sold in village markets.
What is subsistence maize farming?
Maize grown mainly for family food needs with minimal external inputs.
What is subsistence wheat farming?
Wheat cultivated mainly for household consumption using traditional methods.
Why is credit access limited for subsistence farmers?
Lack of collateral and formal documentation restricts access to institutional credit.
What is land fragmentation?
Division of land into smaller plots due to inheritance practices is called land fragmentation.
How does subsistence agriculture affect nutrition?
Diet may lack diversity, leading to nutritional deficiencies.
What is the role of livestock in subsistence farming?
Livestock provide food, manure, draft power, and supplementary income.
What is subsistence horticulture?
Growing fruits and vegetables mainly for family consumption is subsistence horticulture.
How does subsistence farming cope with crop failure?
Farmers depend on community support, food reserves, or alternative labor.
What is subsistence fishing?
Fishing carried out mainly to meet family food requirements.
What is subsistence farming’s contribution to GDP?
Its contribution is low due to minimal marketable surplus.
What is subsistence millet farming?
Millets grown for household food in dry regions using traditional techniques.
How does education affect subsistence agriculture?
Low education limits adoption of modern farming practices.
What is subsistence root crop farming?
Root crops like cassava and yam grown mainly for family consumption.
What is subsistence agriculture’s role in employment?
It provides employment to a large rural population.
How does subsistence agriculture impact poverty?
It sustains livelihoods but rarely helps farmers escape poverty.
What is subsistence agriculture’s future challenge?
Climate change, population growth, and land degradation pose serious challenges.
How can subsistence agriculture be improved?
Better irrigation, seeds, education, and access to markets can improve productivity.
What is household subsistence farming?
Household subsistence farming produces food mainly for family consumption rather than market exchange.
Why is subsistence agriculture important in rural areas?
It supports survival, employment, and food availability for rural populations with limited income opportunities.
What type of seeds are used in subsistence farming?
Farmers mostly use traditional, saved seeds instead of certified hybrid or genetically modified seeds.
How does subsistence farming depend on seasons?
Crop cycles strictly follow seasonal rainfall, temperature, and local climatic patterns.
What is dry subsistence farming?
It is practiced in low-rainfall areas using drought-resistant crops like millets and pulses.
What is wet subsistence farming?
Wet subsistence farming involves crops like rice grown in waterlogged fields with heavy rainfall.
What is subsistence agriculture’s scale of production?
Production remains small-scale with limited output beyond household requirements.
How does subsistence farming affect migration?
Low income from subsistence farming often forces rural people to migrate to urban areas.
What is subsistence vegetable farming?
Vegetables grown mainly for daily household consumption using small kitchen or backyard gardens.
What role does animal manure play in subsistence agriculture?
Animal manure improves soil fertility and replaces chemical fertilizers.
How is land prepared in subsistence agriculture?
Land is prepared manually using ploughs, hoes, and animal-driven tools.
What is subsistence agriculture’s relation to poverty?
It helps reduce hunger but usually keeps farmers trapped in poverty.
What is subsistence agriculture’s yield level?
Yields are generally low compared to commercial farming systems.
How does subsistence farming handle storage?
Crops are stored using traditional methods like granaries, mud bins, and sacks.
What is subsistence farming’s impact on trade?
It contributes very little to national or international agricultural trade.
What is subsistence agriculture’s dependence on nature?
It heavily depends on natural soil fertility, rainfall, and climatic stability.
What is subsistence agriculture’s role in tradition?
It preserves traditional farming practices, customs, and indigenous crop varieties.
What is subsistence agriculture’s risk factor?
High vulnerability to droughts, floods, pests, and climate variability.
What is subsistence agriculture’s capital requirement?
Capital investment is very low due to limited financial resources.
What is subsistence grain farming?
Grains grown mainly for household food needs rather than commercial sale.
How does subsistence farming affect innovation?
Limited resources restrict adoption of innovative farming technologies.
What is subsistence agriculture’s productivity per hectare?
Productivity per hectare is usually low due to minimal inputs.
What is subsistence agriculture’s labor source?
Family members supply most of the labor without hired workers.
What is subsistence agriculture’s relation to food culture?
It supports traditional diets based on locally grown staple foods.
What is subsistence agriculture’s land ownership pattern?
Land is often inherited and divided among family members.
What is subsistence agriculture’s response to modernization?
It adapts slowly due to financial, educational, and infrastructural constraints.
What is subsistence agriculture’s water source?
Rainfall, rivers, ponds, and traditional wells are main water sources.
What is subsistence agriculture’s impact on biodiversity?
Traditional practices often conserve diverse local crop varieties.
What is subsistence farming’s cropping intensity?
Cropping intensity is high in intensive subsistence farming areas.
What is subsistence agriculture’s role in employment security?
It provides self-employment to rural families year-round.
What is subsistence agriculture’s dependence on livestock?
Livestock provide manure, milk, meat, and farm labor support.
What is subsistence farming’s main challenge?
Low income generation remains its biggest challenge.
What is subsistence agriculture’s connection with hunger?
It reduces hunger but cannot eliminate malnutrition completely.
What is subsistence agriculture’s food surplus level?
Surplus production is minimal or occasionally absent.
What is subsistence agriculture’s adaptation strategy?
Farmers diversify crops and livestock to reduce risks.
What is subsistence agriculture’s technology level?
Technology usage remains basic and traditional.
What is subsistence agriculture’s soil management practice?
Crop rotation and organic manure are commonly used.
What is subsistence agriculture’s resilience strength?
Strong community support systems enhance resilience during crises.
What is subsistence agriculture’s seasonal unemployment issue?
Seasonal unemployment occurs during non-growing periods.
What is subsistence agriculture’s marketing system?
Direct local sale or barter systems are common.
What is subsistence agriculture’s connection to land rights?
Insecure land tenure affects productivity and long-term planning.
What is subsistence agriculture’s food storage challenge?
Lack of modern storage leads to post-harvest losses.
What is subsistence agriculture’s policy support need?
Government support is needed for credit, seeds, and irrigation.
What is subsistence agriculture’s education barrier?
Limited literacy restricts awareness of improved farming practices.
What is subsistence agriculture’s gender structure?
Women contribute significantly but often lack land ownership rights.
What is subsistence agriculture’s crop choice basis?
Crop choice depends on climate, soil, and family food needs.
What is subsistence agriculture’s mechanization barrier?
High equipment cost prevents mechanization adoption.
What is subsistence agriculture’s seasonal food security risk?
Food shortages may occur before harvest seasons.
What is subsistence agriculture’s role in self-reliance?
It promotes household-level food self-reliance.
What is subsistence agriculture’s link to population growth?
Population growth increases pressure on limited farmland.
What is subsistence agriculture’s sustainability concern?
Overuse of land may cause long-term soil degradation.
What is subsistence agriculture’s role in cultural identity?
Farming practices reflect local traditions and cultural heritage.
What is subsistence agriculture’s economic limitation?
Limited cash income restricts access to healthcare and education.
What is subsistence agriculture’s adaptation to climate change?
Farmers shift planting dates and crop varieties.
What is subsistence agriculture’s impact on rural stability?
It helps stabilize rural communities by ensuring survival livelihoods.
What is subsistence agriculture’s future potential?
With support, it can transition into semi-commercial farming.
What is subsistence agriculture’s main survival strategy?
Producing enough food to sustain family life year-round.
What is subsistence agriculture’s ecological advantage?
Low chemical use reduces environmental pollution.
What is subsistence agriculture’s food diversity level?
Food diversity is limited but locally adapted.
What is subsistence agriculture’s social structure impact?
It strengthens family cooperation and community bonding.
What is subsistence agriculture’s dependence on tradition?
Knowledge is inherited orally across generations.
What is subsistence agriculture’s vulnerability factor?
Single-crop dependence increases vulnerability.
What is subsistence agriculture’s improvement pathway?
Gradual integration of modern inputs improves productivity.
What is subsistence agriculture’s global presence?
Millions worldwide still depend on subsistence farming for survival.