What is the Difference Between Subsistence Farming and Intensive Farming?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between subsistence farming and intensive farming lies in their purpose, land usage, efficiency, and technology. Here are the key differences between the two:
Subsistence Farming
- Purpose: Subsistence farming is practiced to meet the needs of the farmer's family, focusing on food self-sufficiency.
- Land Usage: Subsistence farming typically involves smaller landholdings.
- Efficiency: The efficiency of subsistence farming is lower, as it often relies on traditional methods and tools.
- Technology: Subsistence farming often uses primitive tools and techniques, with farmers cultivating a small plot of land using simple tools and more labor.
Intensive Farming
- Purpose: Intensive farming aims to maximize output and profit by increasing crop yields and livestock production.
- Land Usage: Intensive farming typically involves larger landholdings.
- Efficiency: The efficiency of intensive farming is higher, as it often employs modern technology, tools, and techniques.
- Technology: Intensive farming uses modern tools and advanced farming practices, such as sprinkler and drip irrigation systems.
In summary, subsistence farming is focused on food self-sufficiency and is often practiced using traditional methods and tools, while intensive farming aims to maximize output and profit by employing modern technology and efficient farming practices.
Comparative Table: Subsistence Farming vs Intensive Farming
Here is a table comparing the differences between subsistence farming and intensive farming:
| Subsistence Farming | Intensive Farming |
|---|---|
| Primarily for home consumption and feeding the farmer and their family | Used to sell crops and gain profit |
| Maize, yam, potatoes, and cassava are common crops | Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds are common crops |
| Geography is not a limiting factor | Larger land property |
| Primitive tools and techniques are used | Modern tools and techniques are used |
| Less efficient | More efficient |
| Subsistence farming is practiced to meet the needs of the farmer's family | Primarily dependent on the commercial demand for produce |
| Rain-fed farming system | Modern irrigation techniques are implemented |
| Smaller landholdings are used | Present-day smaller landholdings are used |
Subsistence farming is a type of agriculture that focuses on providing food for the farmer and their family, with little or no surplus to sell. Conversely, intensive farming is a method of cultivation that focuses on maximizing yields and profits by using modern techniques, larger land properties, and modern irrigation systems. The main difference between the two lies in their purpose, with subsistence farming primarily geared towards personal consumption and intensive farming focused on commercial sales.
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- Land Reform vs Agrarian Reform
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