Subsistence farming, form of farming in which nearly all of the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and the farmer’s family, leaving little, if any, surplus for sale or trade. Preindustrial agricultural peoples throughout the world have traditionally practiced subsistence farming. Some of these peoples moved from site to site as they exhausted the soil at each location. As urban centres grew, agricultural production became more specialized and commercial farming developed, with farmers producing a sizable surplus of certain crops, which they traded for manufactured goods or sold for cash.

The term subsistence farming refers to self contained and self sufficient unit where most of the agricultural production is consumed and some may be sold in local market is sold. The goods produced by the farmer is only for family food i.e wheat, maize etc. There is a direct and close relationship between production and consumption. The goal of productive agricultural activity is family survival. The subsistence farming is for subsistence living.

In most of the LDC's including Pakistan, the land holding is gradually decreasing with the increase in population. The agriculturists particularly in remote areas are using old techniques of production. The goal of the productive activity of the majority of the farmers in cultivation is family survival. The farmers, are working for subsistence living.


Subsistence farming persists today on a relatively wide scale in various areas of the world, including large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Subsistence farms usually consist of no more than a few acres, and farm technology tends to be primitive and of low yield.


*Characteristics of subsistence farming

The main characteristics of traditional or subsistence farming in brief are as under.

(1) Land use

. Traditional farms are very small usually only 1 to 3 hectares. The goods produced on these small farming units is used mainly for consumption of the family. The consumption survival considerations dominate the commercial ones.

(2) Labour

. Labour used per hectare tends to be high in traditional farming. Mostly the family labour works on the subsistence farms. However the traditional farms may hire some labour during the busy time of the year. Family farm members may and do supplement their income by working off the farm part during slack times.

(3) Power and transport.

In many countries including Pakistan livestock is the main source of power. They plough the field, transport products and carrying out processing tasks like grinding sugar cane. The level of technology mostly used is simple and less productive.

(4) Productivity and efficiency

. The subsistence farming or traditional farms are characterized by low of inputs which are mostly provided by the farmer himself . For example seeds, cow dung manure etc are not purchased by the farmers. Yields per hectare, production per person and overall productivity tend to be low.

(5) Rationality and risk.

The traditional farmers are economically rational. They can be motivated to raise standard of living. The subsistence farmers are not adverse to changes but proposed changes must fit in into their current farming operations. The traditional farmers are now mentally ready to take risks of using modern inputs into their small scale farming operations.

(6) Income and level of living.

The income and level of living of the subsistence farmers is mostly below poverty line.

(7) Decision making freedom.

The subsistence farmers have narrow limits on decision making. His degree of freedom both on the farm and in the home is extremely restricted.

(8) Role of livestock.

Livestock play important role in traditional farming system. Farm animals provide a special protection to farm families. Animals are like saving banks. Farmers invest surpluses in them. When they grow, they can be sold or consumed during crop failure or for expenditure on marriages etc. The meat milk and eggs, etc are available free to the subsistence farmers.

(9) Fertilizer, fuel, hides.

Animal manure is an important source of both fertilizer and fuel in many LDC's. Clothing and blankets are mostly made from animal hides and sheep hairs.

(10) Social and cultural reasons.

In traditional farming cattle, goats, horses, camels etc are highly valued in many LDC's for social and cultural reasons. A family's social status is measured by the number and kind of animals he owns.

(11) Degree of outside contract.

The subsistence farmers have less contract with the persons living in adjacent villages.

(12) Huge wastages of resources.

In subsistence farming there is much wastage of resources and production due to the use of unscientific method of production lack of transport shortage of storage facilities.

(13) Element of uncertainty.

In subsistence farming the element of uncertainty is very high. The failure of one or more than one major crop ruins the farmer.