Which term describes farming that provides for the basic needs of the farmer without surpluses for marketing?

• A. Subsistence Farming
• B. Commercial Farming
• C. Cash Crop
• D. Output

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is farming aimed at meeting the farmer’s family needs with little or no surplus to sell. This kind of farming, called subsistence farming, focuses on producing enough food for the household to eat and perhaps a small amount to trade locally, but not to generate markets or profits. It often involves small plots and simple technology, with little emphasis on selling produce.

In contrast, farming done to sell in markets for profit is commercial farming, where surpluses are produced to be marketed. A cash crop is a crop grown specifically to be sold for income, which reflects market orientation but isn’t defined by serving only the farmer’s basic needs. Output is simply the amount produced, not a farming type.