Subsistence agriculture

**Historical Evolution of Subsistence Agriculture:**
– Dominant mode of production until market-based capitalism spread.
– Disappeared in Europe by the early 20th century.
– Declined in North America during the 1930s and 1940s.
– Reappeared in Central and Eastern Europe after 1990.
– Decreased in significance in most countries by their EU accession in 2004 or 2007.

**Contemporary Practices of Subsistence Agriculture:**
– Persists in rural Africa, parts of Asia, and Latin America.
– Around 2 billion people in developing nations are smallholder farmers.
– China has about 98% of farmers on small farms.
– India has 80% of farmers as smallholders.
– Mexico and Brazil have 50% and 20% smallholder farmers, respectively.

**Adaptation to Global Warming in Subsistence Agriculture:**
– Mainly in developing countries in tropical climates.
– Climate change impacts crop production due to extreme temperatures.
– Farmers respond by increasing land and labor inputs.
– Coping measures include reducing food consumption and selling livestock.
– Farmers switch to heat-tolerant crops, affecting crop diversity and nutrition.

**Types and Characteristics of Subsistence Farming:**
– Shifting agriculture, sedentary farming, tropical African farming, nomadic herding.
– Small capital requirements, limited agrochemical use, no surplus yield for sale, reliance on unskilled labor, production for family consumption.
– Intensive subsistence farming techniques and characteristics.

**Impact and Importance of Subsistence Agriculture:**
– Poverty alleviation through safety nets and food security.
– Impact on rural populations and poverty reduction.
– Climate change resilience and adaptation strategies.
– Research focus, sustainable practices, and future prospects.
– Challenges faced by subsistence farmers and the significance of subsistence agriculture.