"Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow crops to meet the needs of themselves and their families on smallholdings."
Methods and practices used for subsistence farming including crop rotation, intercropping, and agroforestry.
Soil Analysis: The study of soil type, structure, and fertility to determine its suitability for plant growth.
Crop Selection: The process of selecting crops that are appropriate for the climate, soil type, and other environmental factors of a region.
Seed Saving: The practice of storing seeds from one growing season to the next to ensure a steady supply of seeds and maintain genetic diversity.
Crop Rotation: The practice of planting different crops in the same field in successive seasons to maintain soil fertility and prevent the buildup of pests and diseases.
Composting: The process of breaking down organic matter into nutrient-rich soil amendments that can be used to nourish plants.
Irrigation: The management and control of water resources for crop production, including techniques like drip irrigation, flood irrigation, and sprinkler systems.
Pest Management: The use of integrated pest management techniques to prevent and control pests in crops, including biological, cultural, and chemical controls.
Animal Husbandry: The care and management of livestock, including feeding, breeding, and disease prevention.
Food Preservation: The techniques of preserving food for future use, including canning, freezing, and drying.
Agroforestry: The practice of combining trees with crops and/or livestock to maximize land use, improve soil health, and mitigate climate change.
Sustainable Farming Practices: The use of environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable practices to maintain and enhance the long-term productivity of the land and protect natural resources.
Market Access: The ability of farmers to access markets for their products, including marketing strategies, value-added processing, and transportation.
Traditional Farming Systems: The study of indigenous and traditional farming practices, including knowledge, skills, and practices developed over generations.
Gender Roles and Equity: The study of the roles of women and men in subsistence farming, and strategies for promoting gender equity in farming systems.
Climate Change Adaptation: The study of techniques aimed at mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change on subsistence farming systems.
Slash-and-burn farming: This technique involves cutting down and burning trees and vegetation to clear land for cultivation. Crops are grown on the cleared land for a few years until the soil becomes depleted, and then the farmer moves on to a new plot of land.
Shifting cultivation: Similar to slash-and-burn farming, this technique involves moving from one plot of land to another every few years in order to allow the soil to regenerate. Different crops may be grown on each plot.
Intensive subsistence farming: This type of farming involves cultivating a small plot of land intensively, using hand tools and often relying on family labor. Crops are grown year-round in order to maximize yields.
Dryland farming: This technique is used in arid or semi-arid regions where rainfall is scarce. Crops such as wheat or corn are grown using techniques such as conservation tillage, which helps to retain moisture in the soil.
Terrace farming: This technique involves building terraces into hillsides in order to create level planting areas. It is often used in mountainous regions where flat land is scarce.
Aquaculture: This type of subsistence farming involves raising fish, shrimp, or other aquatic animals in ponds or other water bodies. It is often used in areas where fishing is a traditional source of livelihood.
Agroforestry: This technique involves cultivating crops and trees on the same plot of land. Trees can help to conserve soil and water, while also providing shade for crops.
Permaculture: This is a type of sustainable agriculture that involves designing systems that mimic natural ecosystems. It often involves planting a variety of crops and incorporating elements such as livestock or water catchment systems.
"Subsistence agriculturalists target farm output for survival and for mostly local requirements, with little or no surplus."
"Planting decisions occur principally with an eye toward what the family will need during the coming year, and only secondarily toward market prices."
"Tony Waters defines 'subsistence peasants' as 'people who grow what they eat, build their own houses, and live without regularly making purchases in the marketplace'."
"Today most subsistence farmers also participate in trade to some degree."
"They use these markets mainly to obtain goods, not to generate income for food; these goods are typically not necessary for survival."
"These goods may include sugar, iron roofing-sheets, bicycles, used clothing, and so forth."
"Most subsistence farmers today operate in developing countries."
"Subsistence agriculture generally features: small capital/finance requirements, mixed cropping, limited use of agrochemicals (e.g. pesticides and fertilizer), unimproved varieties of crops and animals, little or no surplus yield for sale, use of crude/traditional tools (e.g. hoes, machetes, and cutlasses), mainly the production of crops, small scattered plots of land, reliance on unskilled labor (often family members), and (generally) low yields."