Question

What do you mean by intensive subsistence farming?

Answer 1

Hint: Intensive subsistence farming refers to agricultural production concerning the size of the land area farmed. Agricultural production is increased by utilizing a high dosage of better agricultural inputs.

Complete answer:
Subsistence farming refers to agricultural production, where farmers incur huge expenditure by using fertilizers, pesticides, required labor, and capital to produce maximum yield for a given area of land. This type of farming usually occurs in the areas of high population pressure on land, where a large number of inputs and irrigation facilities are made available for a larger production. High yielding variety seeds and modern chemical inputs and irrigation are used to increase the production. Several crops are grown on the same land during a year. Much hand labor is utilized. They make use of animal and plant manures that includes farm wastes, rotten vegetables, animal dung especially from poultry-yard to ensure high yields and continued fertility. Paddy was considered as the dominating crop produced in intensive farming, but due to differences in relief, climate, soil, and other geographical factors, it is not practicable to grow paddy in many parts of Monsoon Asia. Other crops such as rice, wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds are used in this type of farming. Intensive subsistence farming is one of the best developed and nearly limited to the monsoon lands of Asia. It is carried mainly in India, China, Japan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Srilanka, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and the Islands of the Pacific Ocean. One must also know the pros and cons of intensive subsistence farming; we have already seen the pros in the above sentences now let’s see the consequences that are increased pollution due to the usage of a large number of fertilizers and pesticides. It also contaminates water bodies that are rivers and lakes etc. Overcrowding of livestock is another disadvantage of intensive farming.

Note: According to researchers, subsistence farming is the best way of farming as it yields higher production. But research studies have indicated that intensive farming will have a considerable effect on the environment. In India, intensive subsistence farming is practiced in the states such as Haryana, Punjab, Western Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh.