Intensive Subsistence Tillage (with Paddy Dominance)
This system is a subsistence-oriented, labour-intensive farming method that is particularly centered around paddy (rice) cultivation.
The word “intensive” tells us a lot:
It means the land is used to its maximum potential, with farmers extracting multiple crops per year, often from very small plots of land.
👨‍👩‍👦 Small Landholdings and High Population Density
This system is most common in regions with dense rural populations, such as:
- The southern part of China
- Northern and coastal plains of India
Here, land is fragmented into very small holdings, often just enough to feed one family.
So, the land is small, but the pressure on that land is enormous. Farmers don’t have the luxury to leave fields fallow or underutilised.
đź’Ş Role of Labour and Technology
This is a system where manual labour dominates.
- Farmers and their families are the main workforce.
- Machinery use is minimal, often due to:
- Lack of resources
- Fragmented plots (where machines can’t easily operate)
Everything—from sowing to transplanting to harvesting—is labour-intensive.
🌱 Soil Fertility and Inputs
Since these small plots are cultivated season after season, the soil is at risk of losing its fertility. To prevent this, farmers use:
- Farmyard manure (natural compost made from cow dung and organic waste)
Unlike commercial agriculture, where synthetic fertilizers dominate, this system relies on traditional, organic methods to sustain the soil.
đź“Š Productivity Patterns
Let’s understand two crucial productivity aspects here:
| Type | Nature |
|---|---|
| Per Unit Area Productivity | High – Farmers get a lot of output from small plots. |
| Per Labour Productivity | Low – Because work is done manually, output per person is less. |
So while the land is producing well, the human effort required is very high.
🌾 Why Paddy (Rice)?
Paddy is the dominant crop in this system because:
- It feeds large populations
- It grows well in the hot, humid, monsoon-driven climates of Asia
- Rice cultivation can support multiple cropping with irrigation
In places like southern China and eastern India, paddy fields become a symbol of sustenance and cultural identity.
🧠Conclusion:
Intensive Subsistence Tillage (with Paddy Dominance) is:
- Practiced in regions with high population density
- Based on family labour and small landholdings
- Low on machinery but highly productive per unit of land
- Focused on rice cultivation, essential for food security
This system is not just an agricultural method—it’s a way of life that reflects the balance between human effort, limited land, and climatic conditions.