Subsistence Agriculture

What is Subsistence Agriculture?

Subsistence Agriculture is a system of farming whereby farmers cultivate and rear animals, in order to provide food for themselves and their families.

Characteristics of Subsistence Agriculture:

1. Mostly practised by small-scale farmers (peasant farmers).

2. Involves a small portion of land.

3. Crude implements are used.

4. Labour is provided by the farmer and his family.

5. Limited use of agro-chemicals.

6. The farm produce is mainly for the family with little left to sell.

Advantages of Subsistence Agriculture:

1. Involves little or no special skills to practice.

2. Does not require much initial cost.

3. Provides sufficient food for the family.

4. Reduces pressure on the nation’s food demand.

5. The risk of loss is very low.

Disadvantages or Problems of Subsistence Agriculture:

1. Crude tools and implements are used (Cutlass, Hoe). These tools always lead to human drudgery and result in low productivity.

2. Family labour supply is unreliable.

3. FragmentedThe meaning of fragmented is broken or separated into distinct parts. More or small farmland. Most farmers use inherited lands that are very small and scattered over places. The output from these farmlands is very low and thus discourages the farmers from continuous farming.

4. Illiteracy of the farmers: Most subsistence farmers find it difficult to adopt new farming techniques because they have no formal education.

5. Low output/yield: subsistence farmers operate a small area of land with little or no capital (zero capital). This results in low yield.

6. No surplus for sale.

7. Low level of specialization.

8. Pests and diseases are not controlled.