Distinguish between primitive subsistence farming and intensive subsistence farming.
Primitive subsistence farming This type of farming is still practiced in few pockets of India. It is practiced on small patches of land, with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks and family/ community labour. This type of farming depends upon monsoon. It depends on the natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown. The farmers do not use fertilisers or other modern inputs. There is no pressure on agricultural land. Intensive subsistence farming This type of farming is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land. It is labour intensive farming, where high doses of bio-chemical inputs are used for obtaining higher production. Irrigation is used in this type of farming. It does not depend on the natural fertility of the soil instead bio-chemical inputs are used. There is enormous pressure on agricultural land because the farmers continue to take maximum output from the limited land in the absence of alternative source of livelihood.
