Question

Type of farming done to meet family needs is

Answer 1

Hint: The very question itself makes it clear that the farming is done just so the needs of the family are met. It means it is one of those farming that does not require huge land, advanced tools, a big labour force etc.

Complete answer:
 The farming that is done to meet family needs is called subsistence farming or the traditional type of farming. In this type of farming, the farmer owns a little land that produces only little to fulfil the family needs. Unless sometimes they are lucky to have a little more surplus. This kind of farming uses the traditional methods of farming using traditional tools and no fertilizers mostly using manure and so gets less produce.

Let us discuss some characteristics of subsistence farming and make the concept even more clear-
i) Land use- the land area is around 1 to 3 hectares and the goods produced are so little that is able to meet family needs only
ii) Labour- mostly it’s the family that works on the agricultural land but sometimes during the busy season they may hire a few labourers.
iii) Productivity and efficiency- as the use of products is quite low with the land being small and the dependence on nature all these factors leads to less efficiency and so less productivity.
iv) Income and level of living- they earn very little that is just enough to meet ends and so is the standard of living below the poverty line for traditional farmers.

Therefore the answer is ‘Subsistence farming’.

Note:
- The large areas of sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world are still facing the crisis of subsistence farming due to lack of land, advanced tools and most specifical awareness among them.
- Subsistence farming is done in many ways like- shifting agriculture, primitive farming, nomadic farming and intensive subsistence farming.