Question
What are the two types of subsistence agriculture practised in different countries of the
world ? Describe the main features of these types.
Solution
Two types of Subsistence Agriculture:
(i) Primitive Subsistence agriculture
(ii) Intensive Subsistence agriculture
(i) Primitive Subsistence agriculture:
- Also known as shifting agriculture, slash and burn.
- Also known by different names in different states and countries like Jhuming in North eastern states of India, Milpa in central America and Mexico and Ladang in Indonesia and Malaysia.
- Uses primitive tools for farming.
- Farm size are small.
- Vegetation is cleared by fire and ashes are added to the soil to increase it's fertility.
(ii) Intensive Subsistence agriculture:
- This type of agriculture is largely found in densely populated regions of monsoon Asia.
- Farmers work with the help of family labour.
- Land holdings are very small due to the high density of population.
- Use of machinery is limited and most of the agricultural operations are done by manual labour.
- Farm yard manure is used to maintain the fertility of the soil.
