India is primarily an agricultural economy with 80% of farmers being small farmers. These farmers with less than 2 hectares practice farming on small patches of land for their self-consumption. It is this type of farming which is known as subsistence farming. In this farming method, the agricultural produce is just enough to meet the consumption needs of self or family. Herein, there is no surplus left to be sold in the market.
Subsistence farming is on the opposite spectrum of commercial farming. Farmers indulge in subsistence farming to produce food on small-scale farms, mainly for their own consumption. On the other hand, commercial farming is practiced on a large scale to produce crops and sell them in the market to earn money.
Farmers involved in subsistence farming do not generally use advanced machinery and tools. They use traditional tools, and farm implements for land preparation and harvesting the crops. Thus, it is a highly labour-intensive and time-consuming method of farming. In this method, farmers cultivate different types of crops to be self-sufficient. Examples of subsistence farming crops include wheat, pulses, maize, rice and cereals.
Most of the family members take part in this farming method. Thus, it is also known as family farming. Irrigation involves water supply from local reservoirs like ponds. Usually, rainfall is the major source of irrigation in subsistence farming. Whatever food is grown gets consumed by the family, and there is no surplus to sell on the market.
Subsistence farming comes with a range of unique characteristics that make it different from other farming methods. These are:
Subsistence farming can be practiced using different methods based on local conditions and resources.
Primitive Subsistence agriculture involves the cultivation of small patches of land. Family members or community labour are employed to grow crops using non-modern tools like dao and digging sticks. Several environmental factors, such as natural soil fertility and monsoons, impact this farming method.
Primitive subsistence farming is further classified into shifting cultivation and nomadic herding.
Shifting cultivation or ‘slash and burn’ farming involves first clearing the land by cutting and burning trees, and then, mixing the ashes with the soil. Crops like potatoes, cassava and maize are grown. When the soil turns infertile over the years, farmers move to a new patch of land for cultivation. In north-eastern states like Nagaland, Meghalaya and Assam, this method is also known as jhumming.
Nomadic herding is another type of primitive subsistence farming method. Farmers raise livestock like goats, sheep and cattle and move with them from place to place to find water and pasture. These animals provide several products like hides, wool, meat and milk to the herders.
In this method of farming, farmers grow crops on small land with the help of more labour and simple tools. It is usually practiced in regions with intense pressure on land due to the high population. Irrigation and more biochemical inputs are used to obtain higher yields.
The main crop grown using this method is rice, while other examples include oilseeds, pulses, maize, and wheat. Farmers can grow more than one type of crop in a year if there is fertile soil and a sunny climate. They do not have alternative livelihood sources, so they exploit the limited land for maximum output.
Subsistence farming is a key agricultural practice even though farmers are taking up commercial agriculture on a large scale. The following are the key advantages of subsistence farming in India:
While subsistence agriculture has some advantages, it also has certain disadvantages. These are:
We have deeply analyzed every aspect of subsistence farming; however, to understand it better in today’s agricultural context, let’s draw a comparison between Subsistence Farming and Commercial Farming:
Subsistence Farming |
Commercial Farming |
Focuses on fulfilling the needs of the farmer and his family for survival or self-sufficiency by raising crops and livestock. |
Focuses on raising crops or livestock mainly for trading them to make money and fulfil market demands. |
The use of labour-intensive and traditional methods is prominent due to the minimal funds and area required. |
Modern technology and farm machinery are used due to large demand and area. |
There is less reliance on farming inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. |
Pesticides, fertilizers, modified organisms, and other farming inputs are utilized intensely for better productivity and high yield. |
The crop selection is less specialized. |
The crop or livestock selection is very specialized, mainly for marketability. |
There is a very low reliance on markets and infrastructure as they are less affected by factors like global trade and economic fluctuations. |
They are very closely linked to market demands and transportation systems as they are vulnerable to market trends and other economic factors. |
Even though subsistence farming offers many ecological benefits, attention must also be paid to its demerits. Promoting modern farming practices and access to credit and the market is important to improve subsistence farming. These steps will go a long way to improve the productivity and income of small farmers.
Subsistence farming involves growing crops and rearing animals only for personal use.
In intensive subsistence farming, farmers grow crops on a small plot of land using more labour and simple tools.
In primitive subsistence farming, small patches of land are cultivated by family members or community labour using non-modern tools like dao and digging sticks.
The other name for primitive subsistence farming is shifting or slash-and-burn cultivation.
Subsistence farming produces food on small-scale farms that farmers and their members consume. Commercial farming is the large-scale cultivation of crops that are sold in the market for profits.
Farmers use traditional tools in subsistence farming as they cannot afford modern tools. Also, modern tools are not preferred as the land is small.
Subsistence farming flourishes in India because there is a lack of alternative livelihood sources and the presence of small landholdings.
Intensive subsistence farming is practiced in India in states like Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Subsistence farming is important because of its advantages, such as food security, self-sufficiency, and low input cost.
The characteristics of primitive subsistence farming include small landholdings, low productivity, and the use of traditional tools.