Question

Explain any three features of intensive subsistence farming.

Answer 1

Intensive subsistence farming is an agricultural system commonly practised in densely populated areas of India and Asia. In this method, farmers grow crops on small pieces of land by using a large amount of labour to obtain maximum yield. Its main features include:

1. Small Landholdings: Due to heavy population pressure, farmers cultivate small and often fragmented plots of land that are passed down through generations.
2. High Use of Labour and Inputs: As land availability is limited, farmers depend on intensive manual labour along with fertilizers, irrigation facilities, and high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds to increase production.
3. Multiple Cropping: Farmers grow more than one crop on the same land in a year to fully utilise it, commonly cultivating crops such as rice, wheat, and pulses.

This method helps produce maximum food from limited land and supports large rural populations in countries like India and China.