Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 1 January 2017 / No comments
The features of subsistence farming
Definition
Subsistence farming may be defined as the method of farming by
which production of crops is mainly to feed the farmer and his/her immediate
family. The primary aim is not to sell the produce for income. However,
sometimes, some of the little surplus is sold to take care of some basic
financial needs of the family.
Production for family use
One of the features of a subsistence type of farming is that
the almost all, if not all that is produced in the farm is consumed by the farm
owner and his or her family. Some may sell a few surpluses when they occur.
Even that may be to solve some financial difficulties that the family may have
faced.
Obsolete farming implements
Another feature of subsistence farming is that the tools that
are employment are rudimentary. The farmers use hoes and cutlasses to clear the
land and prepare the land for planting. There is little or no use of modernized
tools so very small area of land is cleared at a time.
Obsolete methods of farming
The subsistence farmer continues to use slash and burn,
shifting cultivation and methods that are no longer in vogue in developed
farming systems. They plant their seeds any how without recourse to methods.
Low level of production
The level of production in a subsistence farming method is
low. This is due to a combination of factors such as poor methods of farming,
employing rudimentary tools and not able to cultivate large tracks of land.
Low level labour supply
One of the other features of subsistence farming is the low
level of labour supply. Most of the farmers depend of their family members to
help in clearing the farm, planting and harvesting of the crops. The smaller
the family size therefore, the less the farmer can produce.
No specialization in crop production
Under subsistence farming, the farmer produces all kinds of
crops to provide variety for the family. Mostly too, the crops produced are
dependent on the type staple that peculiar to the locality. In the farm of a
subsistence farmer, one can see crops like maize, cassava, yam pepper, onions,
okro and many others. You cannot label him or her a rice farmer or a tomato
farmer.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. What are the features of subsistence farming in your
country?
2. Highlight six features of subsistence farming.
3. What six characteristics are used to identify subsistence
farmers?
