subsistence farming

subsistence farming
1. farming whose products are intended to provide for the basic needs of the farmer, with little surplus for marketing.
2. farming that brings little or no profit to the farmer, allowing only for a marginal livelihood.
Also, subsistence agriculture.
[1935-40]

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Form of farming in which nearly all the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and his family, leaving little surplus for sale or trade.

Preindustrial agricultural peoples throughout the world practiced subsistence farming. As urban centers 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. Subsistence farming persists today in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing areas.

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      form of farming in which nearly all of the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and his 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.

      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.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • subsistence farming — UK US noun [U] (also subsistence agriculture) ECONOMICS ► farming that provides enough food for the farmer and their family to live on, but not enough for them to sell: »Most of the population survive on subsistence farming. subsistence farmer… …   Financial and business terms

  • subsistence farming — noun farming that provides for the basic needs of the farmer without surpluses for marketing • Hypernyms: ↑farming, ↑agriculture, ↑husbandry * * * noun or subsistence agriculture 1. : farming or a system of farming designed to provide all or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • subsistence farming — noun Date: 1938 1. farming or a system of farming that provides all or almost all the goods required by the farm family usually without any significant surplus for sale 2. farming or a system of farming that produces a minimum and often… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • subsistence farming — UK / US noun [uncountable] the activity of growing just enough food to live on, but not enough to sell Derived word: subsistence farmer noun countable Word forms subsistence farmer : singular subsistence farmer plural subsistence farmers …   English dictionary

  • subsistence farming — /səbsɪstəns ˈfamɪŋ/ (say suhbsistuhns fahming) noun farming in which the produce is consumed by the farmer and his or her family, leaving little or no surplus for marketing. Also, subsistence agriculture …  

  • subsistence farming — sub sistence ,farming noun uncount the activity of growing just enough food to live on, but not enough to sell ╾ sub sistence ,farmer noun count …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • subsistence farming — subsist′ence farm ing n. agr. farming that provides for the farm family s needs with little surplus for marketing • Etymology: 1935–40 …   From formal English to slang

  • Subsistence agriculture — is self sufficient farming in which farmers grow only enough food to feed the family and to pay taxes or feudal dues. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to eat during the year. Planting decisions… …   Wikipedia

  • subsistence farmer — subsistence farming UK US noun [U] (also subsistence agriculture) ECONOMICS ► farming that provides enough food for the farmer and their family to live on, but not enough for them to sell: »Most of the population survive on subsistence farming.… …   Financial and business terms

  • subsistence farmer — noun [countable] [singular subsistence farmer plural subsistence farmers] Thesaurus: farmers and people who work on farmshyponym Main entry …   Useful english dictionary

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