Subsistence agricultureoccurs whenfarmersgrow food crops to feed themselves and their families. In subsistence agriculture, farm output is targeted to survival and is mostly for local requirements with little or no surplus trade. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to feed and clothe themselves during the year. Planting decisions are made principally with an eye toward what the family will need during the coming year, and secondarily toward market prices.

Features of subsistence farming are as follows:

(a) It is practised by majority of the farmers in the country.

(b) It is characterised by small and scattered land holdings and use of primitive tools.

(c) The farmers do not use fertilisers and high yielding variety of seeds as they are poor.

(d) Electricity and irrigation facilities are not generally available to them which results in low productivity.

(e) Most of the food production is consumed by the farmers and their families.

(f) Where facilities like electricity and irrigation are available farming has improved.

(g) Important cash crops like sugarcane, oil seeds, cotton and jute are grown.

(h) Dry land farming is practised in areas where the rainfall is low and irrigation facilities are inadequate.land farming is practiced in high rainfall and irrigated areas.

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