Subsistence Farming

Subsistence farming is a practice aimed at fulfilling the basic needs of the farmer’s family.

Within this category, there are two main types: intensive subsistence agriculture and primitive subsistence agriculture.

Intensive subsistence agriculture involves cultivating a small plot of land using basic tools and a higher amount of labor. Regions with a favorable climate, characterized by ample sunshine and fertile soil, allow for the cultivation of multiple crops annually on the same plot.

• The main crop in intensive subsistence agriculture is rice, while other crops like wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds are also grown.
• It is prevalent in densely populated areas of monsoon regions, particularly in South, Southeast, and East Asia.

On the other hand, primitive subsistence agriculture includes practices like shifting cultivation and nomadic herding.

Shifting cultivation, also known as “slash and burn” agriculture, involves clearing a plot of land by felling and burning trees. The ashes are then mixed with the soil to grow crops. Once the soil loses fertility, the land is abandoned, and the cultivator moves to a new plot.

• Crops such as maize, yam, potatoes, and cassava are commonly cultivated.
• It is practiced in thickly forested regions of the Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of Southeast Asia, and Northeast India.

Nomadic herding entails herdsmen traveling from place to place with their animals in search of fodder and water along defined routes. This practice is often dictated by climatic conditions and terrain.

• In nomadic herding, animals like sheep, camels, yaks, and goats are reared, providing milk, meat, wool, hides, and other products.
• Nomadic herding is common in semi-arid and arid regions like the Sahara, Central Asia, and certain parts of India such as Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.

The term “agriculture” originates from the Latin words “ager” or “agri,” which refer to soil, and “culture,” meaning cultivation. Agriculture encompasses the primary activity of cultivating crops, fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and raising livestock. Globally, around 50% of the population is involved in agricultural activities.

In India, two-thirds of the population still rely on agriculture for their livelihood. For more in-depth information on this topic, students can refer to Chapter 4 of CBSE Class 8 Geography. Additionally, CBSE Notes Class 8 Geography Chapter 4-Agriculture are available to help students prepare comprehensively for their exams.