The subsistence farming Is a form of production in which almost all crops are used to support the working family and rarely produce surpluses for sale or storage for later use (Waceke and Kimenju, 2004). It emerged more than 10,000 years ago in various regions of the world (Figure 1) and is a fundamental part of the development of all cultures.
Before the emergence of agriculture, human groups had abundant resources at their disposal and lived in balance with nature. They settled in one place and only migrated when food began to decline, either because it was beginning to wear out or because of seasonal changes. This allowed the regeneration of ecosystem resources. (Durán and Reyes, 2014).
According to Durán and Reyes (2014), between 13000 and 11500 BC. The population became sedentary. In this period there was no need to migrate because there was abundance of resources and food, caused by the increase in rainfall. This situation made population density grow and migrations became more difficult.
But between 11500 BC And 10600 BC. There was an increase in global temperatures and a severe drought (Figure 2). As a consequence, humans reinforced horticultural practices to preserve their sedentary lifestyle that had already begun instead of migrating and, as of 8500 BC, the world's society was already fully agricultural.
Agriculture was our first great revolution. The main centers of origin of agriculture were what today is Mexico, Peru, Central Africa, China, Iraq, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Main centers of crop origin.
Figure 2. Climate change conducive to the origin of subsistence agriculture more than 10,000 years ago.
Present
Survival in today's civilization depends to a large extent on industrial agriculture, energy use, and oil-derived resources. However, many populations, especially in rural or less developed countries, continue to practice subsistence agriculture.
Most of humanity still lives near large bodies of water or on the banks of rivers and 25% of the world's population, more than 1,500 million people, subsist on agriculture as its main source of survival, The same way that man could live more than 8,000 years ago.
It can be seen that people practicing this type of agriculture employ a range of highly sophisticated actions, which often demonstrate intimate knowledge about soils and their characteristics, such as fertility, moisture retention capacity and erodibility. (Brüntrup and Heidhues, 2002).
In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, small farmers using traditional methods are generally more productive per unit of land than commercial farmers. The fundamental principle underlying the traditional and subsistence agriculture of these peoples is that operating systems are designed to preserve as much as possible essential goodness on earth, including beneficial organisms. (Bridge, 1996).
There are authors who debate where the limits of subsistence agriculture end and commercial agriculture begins. Kostov and Lingard (2004) define subsistence farmers as those who sell less than 50% of their production and use crop production primarily for personal consumption.
Subsistence Agriculture in the World
The extent of subsistence agriculture varies from country to country in transition economies, but what is striking is its universal presence. 51% of Romanian rural households do not sell any production (Sarris et al., 1999) and in a survey for Bulgaria, the figure is even higher, with 77.25%. Approximately 40% of total agricultural production in Russia in 1995 could be attributed to the self-sufficient small-scale sector (Serova et al., 1999).
In South Africa, there are 39,982 units of commercial agricultural production, which produce about 95% of the country's production, of which 87% of total agricultural land. Subsistence producers produce the remaining 13% of agricultural land. Household food production takes place under harsh conditions where precipitation is unpredictable and soil fertility is declining (Aliber, M., & Hart, T. G., 2009).
According to Serova et al., (1999), subsistence agriculture is negatively related to the level of economic development of a country, that is, the more developed a country has, the fewer people who engage in this activity.
Intensive subsistence agriculture is widespread in many less developed countries, where more than 80% of its rural population participates in this type of agriculture. The reason for this is due to the lack of inputs and technology in the poorest countries, this occurs even though commercial agriculture always provides higher income (Cadot et al., 2010).
An important reason for the prevalence of subsistence production is often the lack of market access for inputs and outputs. This means that the price of the product produced is extremely low.
In addition, subsistence production may be the result of inaccessible consumer goods. If there is no access to good consumer markets, the incentive to produce marketable surpluses is low (Azam and Besley, 1991, Brüntrup and Heidhues, 2002).
Despite this, subsistence farming is often the only way in which the rural population can survive extremely difficult economic conditions and plays an important role in stabilizing fragile economies, as it contributes substantially to the alleviation of food insecurity (Brüntrup and Heidhues, 2002).
Agriculture and Sustainability
There are two main types of subsistence agriculture: primitive and intensive.
- Primitive subsistence agriculture, which includes migratory cultivation, logging and burning, and is practiced mainly in marginal areas.
- On the contrary, subsistence-intensive agriculture is practiced on arable land of high potential where land is scarce and farmers have to maximize food production in relatively small fields. (Waceke and Kimenju, 2004).
For most farmers, pastoralists, hunters and gatherers, obtaining a secure supply of food and managing the environment in a sustainable manner are goals that go hand in hand (Bayliss, 1991).
Intensive agriculture is characterized by limited use of modern technologies and purchased agricultural inputs, as well as a high degree of intercultivist diversification, such as mixed crop-livestock systems (Waceke and Kimenju, 2004).
In small-scale subsistence agriculture in the tropics and subtropics, traditional agricultural practices have been developed that provide a sustainable means to reduce incidence and damage caused by pests using direct non-chemical, cultural and physical control methods ; Encourage biological control agents of natural origin; And maintain or enhance the biodiversity inherent in traditional multiple cropping and cultivar systems to increase available resistance or nematode tolerance (Bridge, 1996).
Globalization
Globalization poses many risks of marginalization for the underdeveloped countries, which, because of their scarce resources or their lack of skills and infrastructure, are still uncompetitive in world markets.
Globalization also carries the risk of repercussions in countries that rely heavily on the export of a few agricultural products. These effects are caused by unstable international financing systems and fluctuations in the performance of major world economies (Dixon et al., 2001a, Abele and Frohberg, 2003).
Given that agriculture is largely in the hands of subsistence farmers, it is the economic pillar of most developing countries and a major source of foreign exchange, reductions in trade barriers increase opportunities to increase sector.
Ultimately, the extent to which developing countries can take advantage of the new opportunities of globalization depends on their competitiveness and their ability to increase the production of goods that are demanded (World Bank 2005, Abele and Frohberg, 2003).
However, this may require large investments in infrastructure, technology and communications to reduce costs and accelerate transportation. But it would also be necessary to develop institutional capacities to establish and enforce high standards and to train farmers in the production of high-level marketable products (Dixon et al 2001a, 2001b, IFPRI 2001 and World Bank 2005, Abele and Frohberg , 2003)
Tips for Starting a Family Garden
The following is a series of recommendations to start a family garden, extracted from the work of Seymour, J. (1980), which addresses the subject of self-sufficient horticulture. It is important to note that the plant species described and the climate correspond to Spain, however, the general soil recommendations are applicable elsewhere in the world.
In order to have a good harvest in a small space, it is advisable to carry out the double-digging or deep soil method, this method comes from old techniques developed in France and China, in which the soil is removed in depth to facilitate the development of roots On the deep and loose floor.
In this way, the roots grow down and do not extend, larger specimens are obtained and can be planted more together. We must not tread the soil that is destined for sowing.
We must consider that our plants need nitrogen, this is available black soil, and must be renewed during each harvest, for this a good practice is to mix the soil with hummus. Hummus is organic animal or vegetable matter that has passed through a posess of decomposition and transformation by the action of soil microorganisms, the darker soils indicate good fertility.
It is also a good choice to raise animals inside our orchard even if they are not for edible use. Any animal that is raised in the orchard will contribute to maintain the fertility of the soil, as these can transform the low nitrogen content plant matter in manure that is very rich in this element.
Seeding season
Work to adapt to the seasons of the year. At the beginning of the year it is advisable to plant: lettuce, beans, parsnips, cauliflower, summer cabbage, onion and broccoli; At the beginning and during the spring season: Brussels sprouts, peas, green beans, turnips, radishes, forage cabbage, winter cabbage, beets, tomatoes carrots; During the summer the species that can be planted are: zucchini, spinach, red beans, green beans, spring cabbage, radishes; While in winter you can sow onions, cauliflower, lettuce, peas and beans.
Light conditions
Vegetables that prefer full sun conditions are artichokes, thistles, onions, courgettes, peanuts, asparagus, soybeans, fennel, beans, corn, melons, cucumbers, parsley, peppers, okra, tomatoes and carrots, The cultivars to be cultivated in the shade are: Chinese cabbage, endive, peas, beans, potatoes, leeks and salsify, shade tolerant crops are: chard, chicory, celery, apionabo, watercress, broccoli, Cauliflowers, parsnips, dandelion, spinach, lettuce, turnips, radishes, beets and rhubarb
Soil conditions
Most species prefer moist soil, preferably well drained, but thistles, Swiss chard and swede can tolerate dry soils. Most species need soil rich in nutrients but some species such as chard, chicory, broccoli, thistles, dandelion and escarole tolerate poor soils. These species are a good option to start the practice of agriculture, while adding humus to the soil to improve its properties.
Peanuts, onions, asparagus, lettuce, melons, turnips, peppers, okra and carrots prefer sandy soil, while cauliflowers and beans prefer clayey soil,
References
- Abele, S., & Frohberg, K. (Eds.). (2003). Subsistence agriculture in Central and Eastern Europe: how to break the vicious circle?. IAMO.
- Aliber, M., & Hart, T.G. (2009). Should subsistence agriculture be supported as a strategy to address rural food insecurity?. Agrekon, 48 (4), 434-458.
- Bayliss-Smith, T. (1991). Food security and agricultural sustainability in the New Guinea Highlands: vulnerable people, vulnerable places. IDS Bulletin, 22 (3), 5-11.
- Bridge, J. (1996). Nematode management in sustainable and subsistence agriculture. Annual Review of Phytopathology, 34 (1), 201-225.
- Brüntrup, M., & Heidhues, F. (2002). Subsistence Agriculture in Development: Its Role in Processes of Structural Change. Universität Hohenheim. Tropenzentrum. Institut für Agrar-und Sozialökonomie in den Tropen und Subtropen.
- Cadot, O., Dutoit, L., & Olarreaga, M. (2010). Barriers to exit from subsistence agriculture. Trade Adjustment Costs in Developing Countries: Impacts, Determinants and Policy Responses (Guido Porto and Bernard Hoekman eds.), The IBRD / World Bank, 90.
- Durán, R. F., & Reyes, L. G. (2014). In the spiral of energy. Ed. Books in Action and Baladre. Madrid.
- Seymour, J. (1980). The Self-sufficient Horticulturist 1. Editorial Blume. Spain, 254p.
- Kostov, P., & Lingard, J. (2004). Subsistence agriculture in transition economies: its roles and determinants. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 55 (3), 565-579.
- Waceke, J.W., & Kimenju, J. W. (2004). Intensive Subsistence Agriculture: Impacts, Challenges and Possible Interventions. Dynamic Soil, Dynamic Plant, 1 (1), 43-53.