Subsistence agriculture is defined as a farming system whereby the Farmer uses traditional tools with poor inputs on a small piece of land to produce food for his family consumption.
In other words, subsistence agriculture is a system of farming whereby a farm and cultivates crops and rares animals in order to produce food for consumption for himself and his family only.
Characteristics of Subsistence Agriculture
- It is most practiced by peasant farmers.
- Subsistence agriculture involves a small portion of land.
- It involves the use of crude tools such as hoes and machetes.
- There is no specialisation.
- It employs unskilled labour.
- The returns or outputs are usually very low.
- It usually involves the use of family labour.
- It provides only for the basic needs of the family.
- There is little or no surplus for sale.
- There is also little or low capital involved in subsistence agriculture.
- There is heavy reliance on natural rainfall.
- It involves mainly the production of food crops only.
- There is limited use of agrochemicals e.g. insecticides and pesticides.
- Unimproved varieties of crops and breeds of animals are used.
- Mixed cropping system or farming is usually practiced in Subsistence agriculture.
Problems of subsistence agriculture
The problems which are usually associated with subsistence agriculture include the following:
- Unreliability of farm labor supply: In the face of rural Urban immigration of able-bodied men, it therefore results the non-availability of family labour, is holiday children to work on the farm.
- Use of crude tools: This often results in low yield since the use of such tools has its limits compared to the use of tractors, ploughs, harrows, etc.
- Fragmented or small farmland: This is a major constraint as produced from such small farm holding is usually very small.
- Illiteracy of the farmers: Labour used for subsistence agriculture has little or no formal education, resulting in their inability to read loading instructions and adopt modern farming techniques.
- No surplus for sale: This often tips the farmer permanently poor, as he will not be able to generate enough capital to expand the size of the farm.
- Inadequate capital for investment: This Leeds to small farm holding and inability to buy farm inputs.
- Low level of socialisation: The subsistence farmer is often involved in the practice of mixed cropping as against the production of a particular crop which could lead to specialisation.
- Bank of control of pests and diseases: Owning to his poverty and illiteracy, pests and diseases are not controlled and this further lead to low yield.
- No return/yield: As a result of low capital investment, illiteracy of the farmer, and small farm holding, the yield or returns from subsistence agriculture are usually very low.
Commercial agriculture
Commercial agriculture is defined as the type of farming system whereby the farmer uses modern implements and machinery with quality inputs on a large piece of land to produce food mainly for sale. .
In other words, commercial farming is the type of farming or agriculture whereby the farmer produces crops or rear animals in large quantities for sale.
Characteristics of commercial agriculture in Nigeria
- Sole cropping system of farming is usually practiced.
- It involves the cultivation of large hectares of land.
- It involves huge investment of capital or money.
- It also involves the use of hired labour.
- Most operations of commercial agriculture are mechanised.
- It employs the use of skilled labour.
- Yields or outputs are usually high.
- Only rich farmers are engaged in commercial agriculture.
- Improved varieties of crops and breeds of animals are used.
- Irrigation system may be practised.
- Records are kept in commercial agriculture.
- It uses agro-chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides.
Advantages of commercial agriculture
Commercial agriculture has many advantage which includes:
- Increase in crop yield: Owning to the fact that a large area of land is cultivated, coupled with the use of chemicals and fertilisers, this system results in increase in the yield of crops.
- Specialisation of labour: Commercial agriculture leads to specialization of labor because all operations are mechanised.
- Encouragement of research works: Commercial agriculture encourages research works into marketing and production.
- Provision of cheap products: As a result of mass production of livestock or crops, the sale prices of these products as usually very low and affordable.
- Provision of quality products: Most products obtained from commercial agriculture are usually of high quantity.
Disadvantages of commercial agriculture
The problems which are usually associated with commercial agriculture include the following:
- Inadequate supply or improved varieties of crops and animals: That is, inadequate supply of improved varieties of crops and some breeds of farm animals.
- Unfavorable land tenure system: Unfavorable land tenure system or land fragmentation does not allow commercial agriculture to be practiced.
- High capital investments: High capital investment on machinery an other inputs makes commercial agriculture very difficult.
- Inadequate marketing channels: Marketing channels for agricultural produce are grossly ely inadequate.
- Inadequate technical know-how: Inadequate technical know-how on the operation and maintenance of farm machinery makes commercial agriculture difficult.
- High cost of spare parts: Spare parts for machinery, e.g. tractors, harvesters, etc. are very expensive to purchase.
- Inadequate processing facilities: Processing facilities for agricultural products from farms are grossly inadequate.
- Inadequate skilled manpower: The skid manpower needed to operate commercial agriculture is also in short supply or not enough.
- Inadequate credit facilities: Commercial agriculture cannot strive very well as a result of inadequate credit facilities or subsides available to farmers.
- Inadequate storage and processing facilities: Processing and storage facilities needed in Commercial agriculture is grossly inadequate.
- Improper application of farm inputs: Inputs search as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides used for commercial farming could pose health hazards to man and the environment if not properly applied.
- Displacement of small-scale farmers: The practice practice of commercial agriculture could lead to the displacement of small scale farmers from their land.
- Unfavorable government policies: Unfavorable government policies do make commercial agriculture to fail in its operation.
- It can lead to soil erosion: The practice of commercial agriculture through the use of heavy machinery can lead to soil erosion.
Differences between subsistence agriculture and commercial agriculture
Subsistence agriculture:
- A small area of land is cultivated.
- Produce is mainly for family consumption.
- Crude tools and implements are used.
- Farming/unskilled manual labour is usually employed.
- Yield or returns are low.
- It requires little capital investment.
- It does not require any special marketing strategies.
- Pests and diseases are not controlled.
- It requires little or no formal education to operate.
- It involves storage and processing facilities.
- It is mostly practice by peasant farmers.
- It usually leaves the environment free of pollution.
- Low environmental degradation.
- Farming operations are usually accomplished with minimum application of agro-chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers.
- Mixed cropping system is usually practiced.
- Farm records are rarely kept.
- There is usually no specialisation of operations.
- Food crops are produced.
- Poor housing facilities for rearing animals.
Commercial agriculture:
- A large area of land is cultivated and mechanised.
- Produce is mainly for sale or export.
- Mechanised and modern tools and implements are used.
- Paid/skilled labour is usually employed.
- Yields or returns are high.
- It requires huge capital investment.
- It requires special marketing strategies.
- Pests and diseases are mostly controlled.
- It requires special skills and technical education/labour.
- Modern storage a processing facilities are required.
- It is mostly practice by very rich farmers/companies.
- It may cause environmental pollution.
- High environmental degradation.
- Farming operations are usually accomplished with applications of micro-chemicals and Fertilisers.
- Mono-cropping system is usually practiced.
- Farm records are kept.
- It encourages specialisation of operations.
- Cash crops are produced.
- Modern housing facilities are needed for rearing animals.