Question

List the main differences between extensive commercial grain farming and intensive subsistence agriculture. ​

Answer 1

Answer:

Commercial grain farming is extensive agricultural activities whereby crops are grown for commercial purpose.  And a form of agriculture characterised by high production per unit of land and relatively low output per worker

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

Farming is not a one-day affair; rather it requires several days of hard work and proper agricultural procedure to be followed to get the intended output. A range of farming practices has been emerged to increase the productivity, of the agricultural land. Two such farming practices are intensive farming and extensive farming. Intensive Farming is a farming method that uses higher inputs and advanced agricultural techniques to increase the overall yield.

Explanation:

• Definition of Intensive Farming

Intensive farming refers to the intensification and mechanization of the agriculture, with the objective of increasing the productivity of a particular land. This is possible through the high-level use of inputs such as capital, labour, fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, weedicides etc., which results in increased yield of the crop per hectare. In this system, the use of inputs is comparatively higher than the land area.

It can be applied in animal husbandry too, wherein a large number of cattle are reared in small space, as the law of the concerned jurisdiction allows. Further, medication for livestock is adopted to increase their productivity.

The essence of intensive farming is that it depends on the chemicals to accelerate the growth and increase the crop yield.

• Definition of Extensive Farming

Extensive Farming is a system of cultivation, which uses limited inputs, i.e. labour, investment, machinery etc., in comparison to the land under cultivation.

In this method, traditional methods of farming are given preference. Further, the productivity is based on the natural fertility of soil, climate and terrain of the area and so it is practised in large farms to achieve higher yields and to achieve profitability. The total crop production is high, due to large land holding, but the low in terms of per unit production.

Due to less use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it is an environment-friendly method, as it does not damage the environment.