Subsistence agriculture: what it is, types and characteristics

The origin of agriculture dates back to about 10,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period. At that time, society and its economy evolved from gathering, fishing and hunting activities towards agriculture and livestock. Since then, agriculture has become a fundamental element of societies, since it contributes a fundamental part of the nutritional resources.

We can define agriculture as the set of activities, both technically and economically, that allow food production thanks to the cultivation of the land and the proper treatment of the soils. Through these activities, which will transform the natural state of the environment, the beings We humans are capable of obtaining a wide variety of foods, such as vegetables, fruits, vegetables or cereals.

Within the concept of agriculture, many different types and subtypes are encompassed. One of them, and on which we are going to pay special attention today, is that of subsistence farming.

We will look at it in more detail below, but briefly, we can define subsistence agriculture as that in which farmers are going to cultivate crops. land in small properties in order to get food to meet their own needs and those of their family nucleus, without producing surpluses for its sale.

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What is subsistence farming?

The different forms of agriculture can be classified based on a series of different criteria (magnitude of production, yield, techniques used or means of production, for example). In this case, classification as subsistence agriculture is based on the magnitude of production and the relationship to be established at the commercial or market level from the products obtained.

Subsistence agriculture has traditionally been practiced throughout the world, before the advent of industrial or market agriculture. Currently, it still persists in some regions of the world, located mainly in the Asian continent, in sub-Saharan Africa and in Latin America.

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Main features

In this type of agriculture we mainly find small properties or tracts of land of a few hectares, on which a limited number of traditional local products are growns (mixed crops) intended for food, which do not show very high crop yields, in general terms.

The decision of which plant species to grow will be made by the farmer himself, who, based on criteria such as the climate, the technical capacity available or the type of soil in which he is going to work, he will decide which are the most suitable crops to grow on his land.

Within the crops that meet the above criteria, the farmer will also decide based on his needs and preferences about what products to have during the next year, since he and his environment are going to be the main beneficiaries of the products grown. That is why aspects such as market prices will be more displaced in this type of decision-making.

Other common characteristics of this agriculture are the few or no production surpluses that are generated, hence there is no abundant fixed part destined for sale; the use of traditional tools, far from the most modern techniques and methodologies used in larger-scale agriculture; and dependence on labor, generally unskilled, and in many cases belonging to the farmer's own family.

In addition to the agricultural products themselves, in subsistence farming, it is common to find a certain livestock activity at the same time. This is because the animals, in addition to providing food, will allow to favor certain tasks in the field, thanks to their shooting energy and their transport capacity, for example. In the same way, livestock will be able to take advantage of agricultural resources, since the products of waste that is generated from them will serve as a food source for these animals.

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Types of subsistence farming

Within subsistence agriculture, two groups are traditionally distinguished: primitive and intensive subsistence agriculture. Next, we will analyze both in more detail, as well as the subtypes or characteristics that exist in each of them.

1. Primitive subsistence agriculture

This type of subsistence agriculture is practiced mainly in more marginal areas. Within this group, the use of the “slash and burn” technique is common, which allows obtaining land for cultivation to starting from areas where the forests were initially extended, which are cut down, and their biomass is left to dry to be later burned. In this way, it is possible to provide fertilizer to the land in a natural way, thanks to the ash obtained after burning.

Within this type of agriculture, reference must be made to migratory agriculture, in which farmers are going to dedicate a season to the cultivation of certain lands, but later they are abandoned 2 or 3 years later to look for new areas of greater fertility in those to start other crops, so that the lands that have been cultivated are allowed to "rest" and regain their properties and their fertility.

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2. Intensive subsistence agriculture

Intensive subsistence agriculture is characterized by the existence of small lands with high potential, where farmers have to try to maximize food production to the maximum in these small areas. In this type of agriculture, the types of crops, both annual and seasonal, are usually very diversified and simple tools are used routinely. Labor, whether hired occasionally or the farmers who own the land, are subjected to a high intensity of work.

In addition, the use of fertilizers, pesticides or seeds that allow obtaining better yields, is not very widespread. They are only used on certain occasions at very low doses, but it is not usual in these crops, whose purpose, remember, is not commercial.

Within the types of subsistence agriculture, this is the most widespread. In many of the developing countries that use subsistence agriculture, more than 80% of the population uses the intensive form of it.

In this way, it becomes one of the fundamental pillars that contribute both to its economy, and to that employs a high percentage of rural populations, as well as obtaining products food.

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Advantages and disadvantages

As the final section of this publication, we will move on to analyze some of the strengths of this form of growing plant products, as well as its weaknesses, compared to other forms of agriculture.

Advantage:

• It is a very beneficial system in those less developed countries or in the poorer rural areas, since it allows the growing food in a fairly autonomous way, thus guaranteeing access to it for these populations with less means.
• It allows the cultivation of different species in reduced areas, facilitating access to a greater variety of products.
• The investment required to carry it out is not high, hence it is usually implemented in these populations.
• It can be developed in relatively small areas of land.

Disadvantages:

• The productivity that is achieved is not very high, being clearly surpassed by other more modern forms of agriculture, which apply new methodologies and techniques.
• It requires great dedication, because when everything is done manually, many hours of work are necessary on the part of the farmer or the hired labor.
• In many cases, as mentioned above, it involves the loss of ecosystems original, such as the great tropical forest masses, to obtain the extensions of land necessary for the cultivation of the different species.

Prospects for subsistence farming

Subsistence agriculture is widespread and established in many societies around the world today; but also, the promotion of the local economy and customs that try to give added value to natural products, can be an opportunity so that this type of agriculture, or versions very similar to it, are implanted in some societies of the most developed countries, accustomed to extensive agriculture.

For this, perhaps the principles of subsistence agriculture can be taken, applying to them some of the techniques or products that allow an improvement in crop yields agricultural.