Final answer:
Subsistence farmers generally produce food solely for their families, with any surplus being minimal. Under certain circumstances, they could grow cash crops but typically at the risk of food security due to prioritization of cash crop cultivation over subsistence needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
People who practiced subsistence farming historically focused on producing the amount of food necessary for their family's survival, with little to no surplus. The primary objective of subsistence farmers was not to generate a profit but to feed their families. However, under certain conditions, subsistence farmers could potentially produce cash crops if they have a surplus or are able to allocate a portion of their land and resources to cultivating crops that are in demand for trade or sale.
In places where farming techniques were highly efficient and adapted to local conditions, even in areas with harsh climates and poor soils, farmers could achieve a modest surplus. This surplus could then be sold in local markets. However, this was often a risky endeavor because dedicating resources to cash crops might diminish the production of food for local consumption, potentially leading to food insecurity. Subjects such as those in the plantation agricultural systems emphasized the dangers of reliance on cash crops over subsistence farming, including famine and economic vulnerability due to monocultures and market price fluctuations.