State some characteristics of primitive subsistence farming?

Primitive subsistence farming is the most traditional form of agriculture, practiced mainly to meet the basic needs of a farmer’s family using simple techniques and natural resources. It is still prevalent in parts of India such as the Northeastern states, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Characteristics of Primitive Subsistence Farming

1. Small Land Holdings
   This form of farming is carried out on small patches of land. Farmers cultivate limited areas due to lack of resources and technology.
2. Use of Primitive Tools
   Farmers use simple, traditional tools such as hoe, dao, and digging stick, often operated manually with the help of family labor.
3. Dependence on Natural Conditions
   It relies entirely on monsoon rains, natural soil fertility, and seasonal climate conditions instead of irrigation or modern inputs.
4. Slash-and-Burn or Shifting Cultivation
   Farmers clear land by cutting and burning vegetation (a method called slash and burn) and cultivate crops until the soil loses fertility. They then move to a new patch of land, allowing the old one to regain fertility naturally.
   • Known locally as Jhumming in the Northeast, Podu in Andhra Pradesh, and Bewar in Madhya Pradesh.
5. Low Productivity
   Due to the absence of fertilizers, irrigation, or high-yield varieties, productivity is low and meant only for self-consumption, not for market sale.
6. Dependent on Family or Community Labor
   Farming activities involve entire families or village groups, highlighting its labor-intensive nature.
7. Crops Grown for Subsistence
   Common crops include maize, millet, rice, cassava, yam, and beans, cultivated mainly for local consumption.