agriculture review

Why Subsistence Farming Is Less Efficient 

By Aditya abhishek

Introduction

Subsistence farming is the practice of cultivating crops and raising livestock to fulfil needs of themselves and their families, with little or no surplus.

Generally farmers with small landholdings in developing countries practice this method of farming to fulfil their basic need of food for survival.

According to a census in 2015, about 25% of world population, i.e., 2 billion people, mostly living in developing nations are subsistence farmers. They have less than 2 hectares of land.

Although subsistence farming is sustainable but it is not profitable. Hence sustainable farming is less efficient than commercial farming. 

No Hybrid Seeds

In subsistence farming methods, farmer do not use hybrid seeds because of which yield generally remains low.

No External Inputs

In commercial farming, people use heavy external inputs such as inorganic fertilizers and pesticides due to which production increases but is totally opposite in subsistence farming. 

Small Landholdings

Farmers practice subsistence farming on small piece of land but commercial farming is practiced over large land area. 

Not Mechanized

Farmers practice subsistence farming on small piece of land but commercial farming is practiced over large land area. 

However, subsistence farming is sufficient to fulfill family needs but it is not a profitable way of farming. Therefore, it is less efficient than commercial farming. 

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