Survival agriculture is an agriculture where farmers produce enough food to meet the basic needs of their families and communities, with little sales or trade surplus.
It is characterized by small-scale production, low input and low output, and a strong dependence on traditional agricultural practices and local resources.
Historically, survival farming has been a major agricultural form in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries.
For thousands of years, small farmers have produced food for themselves and their communities using simple tools and techniques such as manual plows and hoe heads.
However, with the rise of industrialization and modernization, many livelihood farmers were pushed away and replaced by large-scale commercial agricultural operations.
Despite this trend, in many parts of the world, farming remains an important form of agriculture. In developing countries, this is usually the only way for millions of people living in rural areas and earning other forms of income.
In these areas, surviving farmers often grow various crops, such as grains, vegetables and fruits, and also grow animals for food and other purposes.
The importance of survival farming in some areas cannot be exaggerated. It plays a crucial role in providing food security to millions of people who will be at risk of hunger and malnutrition.
It also helps to maintain biodiversity and preserve traditional agricultural practices, customs often rooted in local culture and knowledge.
In addition to providing food and livelihoods, livelihood agriculture has many other benefits. It helps reduce reliance on imported food, which are often expensive and poor quality imported foods, and also helps protect natural resources and promote sustainable land use.
However, survival agriculture also faces many challenges, such as climate change, economic instability and land degradation.
To address these challenges, it is crucial that governments and other stakeholders provide the necessary support and resources for surviving farmers, such as access to land, credit and outreach services.
In short, survival agriculture is an agriculture characterized by small-scale production, low input and low output, and a strong dependence on traditional agricultural practices and local resources.
Despite the trend of modernization, it remains an important form in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries.
It plays a crucial role in providing food security and livelihoods to millions of people, and also helps maintain biodiversity, maintain traditional agricultural practices and promote sustainable land use. With the right support, survival farming can continue to play a crucial role in feeding the world’s population.
Characteristics of survival farming
The characteristics of survival farming are several key features, including:
- Small-scale production: Survival farmers usually have a small amount of land and use simple tools and techniques to produce enough food to meet the basic needs of their families and communities.
- Low input and low output: Survival farmers often rely on traditional agricultural practices and local resources such as rainwater and animal feces rather than expensive inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Self-sufficiency: Self-sufficiency farmers usually produce enough food to support themselves and their families, with little sales or trade surplus.
- Multiple Cultivation: Survival farmers often plant a variety of crops, such as grains, vegetables and fruits, to ensure a stable food supply throughout the year.
- Mixed crops and crop rotation: Survival farmers often practice mixed crops and crop rotation to improve soil fertility and reduce pest and disease stress.
- Integrated Crops – Survival System: Survival farmers often raise animals for food and other purposes, such as tillage and fertilize with fertilizer.
- Traditional Knowledge: Survival farmers often rely on traditional agricultural practices and local knowledge to adapt to their local environment and manage risks such as drought, floods and pests.
- Limited access to the market: Self-sufficiency farmers often have limited access to the market and may have difficulty selling their surplus products.
- Labor-intensive: Self-sufficiency agriculture is usually labor-intensive and requires a lot of time and effort.
- Vulnerability of external factors: Surviving farmers are often susceptible to external factors such as weather, pests, and price fluctuations, which can make it difficult to predict returns and income.
It is worth noting that survival agriculture may vary by region, culture and environment.
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Some livelihood farmers may have a small surplus for sale, while others may depend entirely on farming. Additionally, some self-sufficiency farmers may be able to access certain modern technologies and inputs, while others may not be accessible at all.
Survival planting type
There are several different types of survival farming, each characterized by different characteristics and practices. Some of the most common types include:
- Transfer farming: This is a form of survival farming in which farmers clear small plots of land, plant crops for a few years, and then transfer to another land as the soil becomes less and less. This type of agriculture is often used in tropical areas, also known as “cutting” agriculture.
- Intensive Survival Farming: This is a form of Survival Farming in which farmers use high levels of labor and inputs (such as irrigation and fertilizer) to maximize crop yields on land. This type of tillage is often used in densely populated areas, also known as “wet fruit” tillage.
- Widespread survival agriculture: This is a form of survival farming in which farmers use low levels of labor and inputs (such as grazing and hunting) to produce food on large chunks of land. This type of agriculture is often used in arid areas and is also called “nomadic” or “pastoral” agriculture.
- Economic Livelihood Agriculture: This is a form of survival farming in which farmers move livestock between different grazing areas to deal with seasonal changes. This type of agriculture is often used in areas with harsh climates, also known as “seasonal migration” agriculture.
- Forest Survival Agriculture: This is a form of survival farming
The challenge of survival farming
Surviving agriculture can present many challenges for farmers and communities, including:
- Climate change: Surviving farmers are often highly dependent on weather patterns and natural resources and are particularly vulnerable to climate change such as droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures. These changes can lead to crop failure and reduce food security.
- Soil degradation: Survival farmers usually use the same land, which can lead to soil degradation and reduce crop yields. This may be caused by excessive land use, poor agricultural habits and lack of modern agricultural inputs.
- Limited access to the market: Self-sufficiency farmers often have limited access to the market and may have difficulty selling their surplus products. This can lead to low income and reduced food security.
- Lack of infrastructure: Self-sufficiency farmers often live in remote rural areas with limited infrastructure, making it difficult for them to access services such as health care, education and transportation.
- Limited access to credit: Self-sufficiency farmers often have limited access to credit and other financial services, which may make it difficult for them to invest in farms and improve their livelihoods.
- Limited access to technology: Surviving farmers often have limited access to modern agricultural technologies and inputs (such as seeds, fertilizers and irrigation systems), which may make it difficult for them to increase crop yields and improve food security.
- Political and economic instability: Surviving farmers are often affected by political and economic instability, which may make it difficult for them to plan and improve their livelihoods for the future.
Strategies to improve survival agriculture
There are many strategies that can be used to improve survival agriculture and support survival farmers to improve food security and improve their livelihoods. Some of these strategies include:
- Provide access to modern inputs and technologies: Surviving farmers often do not have access to modern inputs and technologies, such as seeds, fertilizers and irrigation systems, which may limit crop yields and food security. Providing access to these inputs and technologies can help increase crop yields and improve food security.
- Improve access to credit and financial services: Self-sufficiency farmers often have limited access to credit and other financial services, which may make it difficult for them to invest in farms and improve their livelihoods. Improving access to credit and financial services can help surviving farmers invest in farms and improve food security.
- Providing Extended Services and Training: Self-sufficiency farmers often do not have access to Extended Services and Training, which may make it difficult for them to understand new agricultural technologies and technologies. Providing extension services and training can help surviving farmers improve their agricultural practices and improve food security.
- Promote sustainable land use: Survival farmers often rely on land year after year, which can lead to soil degradation and reduce crop yields. Promoting sustainable land use practices such as agroforestry, crop rotation and conservation of agriculture can help improve soil fertility and improve food security.
- Improve land rights security: Survival farmers often lack safe land rights rights and are vulnerable to land grabbing and other forms of land-related conflict. Enhancing land rights security through legal recognition of land rights and community-based land management can help protect farmers’ rights and improve their livelihoods.
- Supporting climate-rich agricultural practices: Surviving farmers are often highly dependent on weather patterns and natural resources and are particularly vulnerable to climate change such as droughts, floods and extreme temperatures. Supporting climate-rich agricultural practices, such as drought-resistant crops and water collection, can help reduce the impact of climate change on surviving farmers.
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