Final answer:
The three types of subsistence agriculture are intensive subsistence agriculture, extensive subsistence agriculture, and primitive subsistence agriculture. Each type has its own unique characteristics and methods, but all aim to meet the basic needs of the family or community without surplus for trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
Types of Subsistence Agriculture
Subsistence agriculture refers to a mode of subsistence where farmers or households grow only enough food to meet their own family's needs, without any significant surplus for trade. There are three principal types of subsistence agriculture, which are:
Intensive subsistence agriculture: This is a form of plant cultivation where a single plot of land is farmed repeatedly using labor-intensive methods such as plowing, terracing, and irrigation, often resulting in more productive yields.
Extensive subsistence agriculture: This involves large areas of land with minimal labor per land unit. This agricultural practice typically results in lower yields per acre but requires less input.
Primitive subsistence agriculture: This type, also known as shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn agriculture, involves clearing land for cultivation and using it until the soil becomes less fertile, after which the land is left to recuperate, and the farmer moves on to clear a new piece of land.
These types of agriculture vary in terms of their labor requirements, technology, and scale, but they all share the common aim of satisfying the basic needs of the population involved. They are distinguished from modes such as commercial agriculture, which focuses on mass-producing commodities for sale and usually involves larger-scale operations and more modern technology.