This chapter presents the following content: Transformation from peasant subsistence farming to specialized farming, subsistence farming, transition to mixed and diversified farming, from diversed to specialization/modern and commercial farming. | Economics of Agricultural Development/Stages of Agricultural Development Lecture 22 Transformation from Peasant Subsistence Farming to Specialized Farming: In respect of agri. production and agri. development the economists present three stage, which are as: (1) The subsistence farming: It is most primitive type of farming which is characterized with low productivity and the produced output is just for the sake of subsistence. (2) The mixed farming: Where the farmers not only produce for their personal consumption but also for the sale in the market. (3) The commercialized farming: In such stage of farming the agri. productivity is higher and whole of the produced output is sold in the market. Now we discuss them in a turn. (1) Stage I: Subsistence Farming: Features: This type of farming has following salient features: (i) Most of the output is produced for family consumption. (ii) The agri. production is mostly consisted of a few staple food crops like wheat, barley, sorghum, rice and corn etc. (iii) The traditional methods and tools are used - leading to a lower level of output and productivity. (iv) Land and labor are the only factors of production, and the capital investment is minimal. Accordingly, law of diminishing return applies in agri. sector as more labor are employed with fixed lands. (v) The farmers are always worried of inadequacy of rains, appropriation of their lands and appearance of the money lenders to collect outstanding loans. (vi) The agri. labor are fully employed during planting and harvesting seasons while they remain unemployed during most of the year. (vii) The peasants cultivate only that much of land which they could manage without hired labor. (viii) The agri. environment is mostly tough, harsh and static. (ix) Technological limitations, rigid social institutions, fragmented markets and reduced communication net-work between rural areas and urban centers often inhibit the higher level of production. The cash income attained by . | Economics of Agricultural Development/Stages of Agricultural Development Lecture 22 Transformation from Peasant Subsistence Farming to Specialized Farming: In respect of agri. production and agri. development the economists present three stage, which are as: (1) The subsistence farming: It is most primitive type of farming which is characterized with low productivity and the produced output is just for the sake of subsistence. (2) The mixed farming: Where the farmers not only produce for their personal consumption but also for the sale in the market. (3) The commercialized farming: In such stage of farming the agri. productivity is higher and whole of the produced output is sold in the market. Now we discuss them in a turn. (1) Stage I: Subsistence Farming: Features: This type of farming has following salient features: (i) Most of the output is produced for family consumption. (ii) The agri. production is mostly consisted of a few staple food crops like wheat, barley, sorghum, rice
