Subsistence Farming in India

During the time of neolithic revolution around 12,000 years ago when humans were shifting from  nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to well settled agricultural practices for survival, subsistence farming was introduced. 

This transition brings change in the domestic lifestyle of people as it allows small groups or communities to grow or cultivated crops for direct self consumption and keeping stock for further use. 

Subsistence farming was continuously practiced by the time of  11,000 BC, with suitable climate and suitable conditions and this change favored annual plants, leading hunter-gatherers to form settled villages due to the abundance of storable wild grains. Let's explore the subsistence farming more: 

What is subsistence farming ?

Subsistence farming is referred to the agricultural practice where farmers grow crops along with raising animals for supporting the family need. This farming is mostly practiced on a small scale area about 5 acres of land. 

It is a self-reliant system focused on producing enough food for household consumption and ensuring food security. This method is totally different from commercial farming as it is not practiced for market sale. 

Also Read: Precision Farming in India

This farming is characterised by following ways: 

• It does not require heavy machinery or labours for farming as it used to practice on small plots of land. 
• Most of the work was done by the traditional tools or hands and completely relies on the farmer or his family members. 
• It requires small or low inputs, small capital and finance. There is limited use of agrochemicals like pesticides and fertilizers.
• There are low crop yields, often not enough for the farmers’ families sometimes. There is little to no surplus produce to sell at the market.grow a variety of crops to fulfill their own requirement
• There is no dependency on manual irrigation methods as it relies on rainfall for watering purposes to the crops. 
• Also support mixed farming in which farmers grow a variety of crops to fulfill their own requirements. 
• It mainly focuses on relying on organic matters for and focusing on long-term soil health which means it enhances the sustainability nature of agriculture. 

Also Read: Extensive farming in india

Types of subsistence farming 

There 4 main types of subsistence farming are used to practice in india.

       1.   Shifting agriculture: Shifting agriculture is also famous with its another name that is slash and burn agriculture or swidden agriculture. It is a traditional method where farmers clean the land by burning vegetation, and cultivate crops for sustainability for a short period of time.

• After the harvesting the move to the new place and leave that land allowing the previous plot to regenerate. This system preserves soil fertility through field rotation, as opposed to crop rotation.
• Shifting cultivation is known by different names in different regions, such as Ladang in Indonesia, Caingin in the Philippines, Milpa in Central America and Mexico, and Jhum in Northeast India. 

       2.   Sedentary farming: This farming is the native of some particular regions such as tropical Africa, Central America, and tropical South America, In this method, farmers remain settled in one location and cultivate a fixed plot of land without rotating or shifting fields. 

• As it is a traditional method of farming it requires simple tools like  ploughing and hoeing for settling up the soil and often done with crude, hand implements, and employs more manpower in the fields. 

      3.   Nomadic herding: This farming is also called nomadic pastoralism, it is traditional livestock farming in which herders move their animals from one place to another in search of fresh pastures and water. This farming is mostly practised in developing countries where there are abundant arable lands.

• It requires a constant movement from one place to another for the food and other survival needs. Herders rely on animals such as  cattle, water buffalo, yaks, llamas, sheep, goats, reindeer, horses, donkeys, or camels, for food, clothing, shelter, tools, and transport.

      4.   Intensive subsistence farming: This farming is generally characterised by maximizing crop output on a limited area of land  Farmers employ intensive techniques to maximize land use. This includes utilizing as much of the land as possible for farming, constructing terraces in hilly areas, and making marginal lands arable through irrigation or drainage.

• Intensive subsistence farming is well-developed in regions where environmental conditions are conducive to crop production and is commonly practiced in developing countries in southeast Asia.

Also Read: Terrace farming in India

What is the Biggest Problem with Subsistence Farming?

1. There are several factors that create challenges for practising subsistence farming such as climate change, natural disasters, and market fluctuations often face natural changes of soil degradation, no rainfall, pests, which can directly impact their ability to produce food. Here is an overview on such issues: 

1. Environmental factors: Some inappropriate natural causes like Droughts, floods, and pests will lead to the destruction of crops that are cultivated through subsistence farming. Subsistence farming produces low yield farming which makes farmers vulnerable to even the slightest drought.
2. Access to the resources: This farming is cultivated on a small plot of land with simple resources, small scale farmers typically lack access to high-yield seeds, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and mechanized equipment, which can significantly enhance productivity. For growing high quality wild it is important to maintain the crops with fertilisers and  other agricultural needs. 
3. Infrastructure: A major issue that farmers face is the lack of adequate farm equipment and poor infrastructure, including roads and transportation facilities. Without proper transportation facilities, it becomes difficult for farmers to sell their produce at reasonable prices.
4. Land destruction: In rural areas due the lack of arable lands subsistence is not easy to practice. It is a biggest challenge for the farmer to find fertile land that have low land degradation issues. 

How subsistence farming helps in Poverty alleviation

In rural areas people mostly rely on agriculture, subsistence farming plays a crucial role in poverty alleviation of farmers and support their livelihood. Here are several ways in which subsistence farming contributes to reducing poverty:

1. It provide a food security because it offers a reliable source of food for families, ensuring that they have enough to eat and reducing dependence on market purchases.
2. While the primary goal of subsistence farming is to meet the family's food needs, surplus production can also be sold in local markets. 
3. Farm families can allocate labor to off-farm activities to boost income, which in turn increases the efficiency of the farm and overall household assets.