Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture
There are two main types of agriculture practiced today around the world: subsistence and commercial. Subsistence agriculture is small-scale farming with the goal of growing enough food for the farmer and his or her family to subsist (survive). If there is extra food, the farmer might sell it, but that does not usually happen.
Commercial agriculture is large-scale farming with the goal of producing food to sell to make a profit. The products of commercial agriculture are rarely sold directly to people. Instead, they are usually sold to countries, food-processing companies, or food suppliers. Commercial agriculture is sometimes called agribusiness. Generally, commercial agriculture is largely done in developed nations, and subsistence farming is done in developing nations.
A combine harvesting machine in a field.
A Comparison
Subsistence and commercial agriculture have the same goal: producing as much food as possible. Both subsistence and commercial farmers are concerned with the quality and quantity of the food they grow. Finally, all farmers face challenges from pests, unpredictable weather, and climate change.
However, subsistence and commercial agriculture are very different. One major difference is that in a country that relies on subsistence farming, more than half of working people might be farmers. In countries that rely mostly on commercial farming, fewer than 5 percent of working people might be farmers—yet they produce enough food to partially feed people in their own county and export surplus food.
Subsistence farming is done with human power, animal power, and whatever tools can be created locally. In contrast, commercial farming is done with the aid of machinery. Machines may be used to rapidly plant, fertilize, and harvest crops in large areas of land. Commercial farmers can more easily take advantage of scientific agricultural research. They also have money to purchase tools, machinery, fertilizers, herbicides, and genetically modified seeds that can increase crop yields. Finally, countries and regions where commercial farming is done usually have good highways and other transportation networks needed to transport food quickly before it spoils.
A farmer guiding a team of oxen plowing a field.
Subsistence Farming
Subsistence farming is not without its advantages:
It is easy to start farming and become a subsistence farmer, which is an advantage in places without a lot of other employment opportunities.
It feeds many families around the world.
The farmers are independent and contribute to their local economies (by buying tools or occasionally selling food).
Subsistence farmers often use a mixed system of farming that can be better for the environment.
Some disadvantages of subsistence farming:
Most of the area workforce has to farm just to create enough food to survive.
Farmers make little or no profit, so they remain poor.
Subsistence farming is dependent on weather conditions. Farmers and their families have high food insecurity. (People are food insecure when they do not have access to enough affordable, nutritious food.)
Farmers cannot take advantage of any increased demand for what they grow since they generally only grow enough to feed their family.
Commercial Farming
Some advantages of commercial farming:
Farmers and companies can make a profit from selling the food that they grow, which improves the national economy.
There is increased food production due to high crop yields.
Commercial farming can lower food prices because when so much food is produced, prices drop.
Some disadvantages of commercial farming:
Deforestation occurs when large areas of land are cleared for farming.
Commercial farmers use chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which often contain chemicals that damage the environment. Commercial animal farming also produces greenhouse gases, which may cause climate change.
It is difficult to start farming since farmland in developed countries tends to be very expensive.
Explanation:
