What are the different types of agriculture?

Different types of agriculture include subsistence agriculture, commercial agriculture, intensive agriculture, extensive agriculture, organic agriculture, and agro-forestry.

• Subsistence agriculture: the farmer grows crops and raises animals primarily to feed their own family or local community. Minimal surplus for sale. Often labour-intensive and small scale.
• Commercial agriculture: crops and livestock are produced primarily for sale on the market. Large scale, often mechanised, focused on profit rather than mere survival.
• Intensive agriculture: high input of labour, fertilisers, pesticides or irrigation per unit land area. Yields higher per hectare. Examples include rice paddies in Asia or greenhouse vegetable farms.
• Extensive agriculture: low input per unit land area, large land area used. Yields per hectare may be low but total output can be high because of scale. Example: large cattle ranches.
• Organic agriculture: farming without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, often emphasising ecological balance, soil health and biodiversity. Growing demand in markets worldwide.
• Agro-forestry: combining agriculture (crops or livestock) with trees or forests on the same land. The trees yield products (timber, fruit, nuts) and benefit the ecosystem (shade, soil conservation).