Describe any five characteristics of ‘subsistence agriculture’ practised in the world.

Subsistence farming is that method of farming in which all or almost all the locally crops are grown. It can be divided into 2 types – primitive subsistence agriculture and intensive subsistence agriculture. The characteristics of subsistence agriculture practised in the world are as follows:

1. Vegetation in this type of agriculture is usually cleared by fire and the ashes adds fertility to the soil.

2. For primitive subsistence agriculture, mostly primitive tools such as sticks and hoes are used as the area to be cultivated is small.

3. In this type of agriculture, the farmer shifts to another patch from time to time because the previous land looses fertility. However, he can return to the previously used patches after some time.

4. In intensive subsistence agriculture, more of family labour is used especially when the agriculture is dominated by wet paddy. More manual labour is preferred over use of machines.

5. Manure from the farm yard is used to maintain soil fertility. We can say that in this type of labour though the productivity of soil is high but the labour productivity is quite low.