Q1. [5] deep thorough-understanding
[long_answer] Compare primitive subsistence farming and intensive subsistence farming with reference to the technology and inputs used, the socio-economic conditions that give rise to each system, and the pattern of land use they involve. Which system is more sustainable in the long run, and why?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:31 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Primitive Subsistence Farming:
- Uses primitive tools like hoe, dao, and digging sticks; relies on family/community labour.
- Depends entirely on monsoon and natural soil fertility; no fertilisers or modern inputs are used.
- It is 'slash and burn' agriculture — farmers clear small patches, grow food crops, and shift when fertility declines, allowing nature to replenish the soil.
- Arises in isolated, tribal communities with low population density and traditional lifestyles.
Intensive Subsistence Farming:
- Uses high doses of biochemical inputs, irrigation, and is labour intensive.
- Arises due to high population pressure on land; right of inheritance leads to fragmentation of holdings, so farmers extract maximum output from limited land.
- Land-holding size is small and uneconomical, but no alternative livelihood exists.
Sustainability: Intensive subsistence farming is more sustainable in the long run because it does not require constantly clearing new land. It produces higher yields from the same plot using irrigation and inputs, whereas primitive farming degrades soil and forces repeated migration.
Source: Chapter 4 — Agriculture, Types of Farming
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Explanation
- Examiners expect a clear comparison with specific points on technology, socio-economic conditions, and land use — do not just describe each separately.
- Use textbook terms: "slash and burn," "biochemical inputs," "right of inheritance," "labour intensive."
- The sustainability question requires a reasoned conclusion — one or two lines justifying your choice is enough. Do not leave it unanswered.
- Avoid padding; each point should carry new information, not repeat the same idea differently.