Using the code given below identify the type of farming on the basis of given characteristics : 1. The produce is consumed entirely or mainly by the family who work the land or tend the livestock. 2. If a small surplus is produced, it may be sold or bartered. 3. It is generally small scale and labour intensive with little or no technological input. Code : (a) Extensive farming (b) Intensive farming (c) Subsistence farming (d) Commercial farming

The characteristics described—production for family consumption, occasional sale or barter of small surpluses, and small-scale, labor-intensive methods with minimal technology—define subsistence farming [1][2]. Subsistence agriculture is primarily practiced for self-sufficiency, where the farming household consumes nearly all the products grown [1]. Unlike commercial agriculture, which focuses on profit and large-scale trade, subsistence farming is common in less developed regions and relies heavily on human or animal labor rather than modern technological inputs [2]. While it can be further categorized into primitive (shifting) or intensive types, the core definition remains the production of food primarily for the farmer's own family needs [3]. In this system, any marketable surplus is typically minimal because the total production is small and a substantial share is retained for household survival.

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Primary Activities > Subsistence Agriculture > p. 25
2. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: International Trade > Subsistence Agriculture > p. 81
3. [3] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.2 Farming System and Cropping Pattern in India > p. 336