Final answer:
Traditional agriculture is labor-intensive because it relies on human energy rather than modern machinery. This form of agriculture was once the primary way of producing food until technological advancements significantly increased food yields per hour of labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Traditional agriculture is often characterized as more labor-intensive because it relies heavily on human energy, rather than modern technology. In the context of traditional farming methods, the physical work of planting, tending, and harvesting crops is performed by human hands, making these practices quite distinct from the more mechanized approaches seen in conventional agriculture today.
Since the advent of agriculture some 10,000 years ago, human societies have transitioned from hunting and gathering to settled farming, significantly altering their relationships with the environment. Initially, the shift to agricultural economies didn't lead to a dramatic increase in food produced per hour of human effort, maintaining a balance between the energy spent and food acquired.
However, as agricultural practices advanced and became more efficient, there was a remarkable increase in yield per hour of human labor. Today, with the development of modern farming technologies, this ratio has greatly expanded, allowing a single farm worker to support the food needs of many others, in contrast to early agricultural societies where a farming couple produced just enough for themselves.