10 characteristics of small scale agriculture
Small-scale agriculture is the type of agriculture that is practiced on relatively small plots of land. In small-scale agriculture, the land does not exceed four hectares. Small-scale agriculture is practiced for both subsistence and commercial purposes.
Characteristics of small-scale agriculture at subsistence level
- Most of the labour is provided by family members and is manual in nature.
- Farmers use very simple tools such as hoes and machette to cultivate, in some cases ploughs are used.
- Farmers use organic manure to improve fertility.
- The farmer often plants different types of crops on the farm, crops include grains like maize and vegetables for family food support.
- Varied methods of cultivation are used. Shift cultivation, replaced by sedentary and intensive subsistence farming.
- The harvest from the farm is mainly consumed by the farmer and his or her family
- The main crops grown in the given area are similar.
- The land available for cultivation is very small.
- The yields per unit area are also low in many cases
