Question

Consider the following statements regarding intensive subsistence agriculture:
• It is widely practiced in densely populated regions of monsoon Asia.
• The size of land holdings is generally very large.
• Machinery is fully utilized, and manual labor is minimal.
• Yield per unit area is high, but labor productivity is low. Which of the statements given above are correct?

• A. \(1\ \text{and}\ 2\)
• B. \(2\ \text{and}\ 3\)
• C. \(1\ \text{and}\ 4\)
• D. \(3\ \text{and}\ 4\)

Hint:

Intensive subsistence agriculture: \[ \text{Small farms + High labor input + High yield per area} \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Let us examine each statement carefully.
Step 1: Statement 1 \[ \text{It is widely practiced in densely populated regions of monsoon Asia} \] This statement is: \[ \text{Correct} \] Intensive subsistence agriculture is common in:
• India
• China
• Bangladesh
• Southeast Asian countries where population density is very high.
Step 2: Statement 2 \[ \text{The size of land holdings is generally very large} \] This statement is: \[ \text{Incorrect} \] In intensive subsistence farming: \[ \text{land holdings are usually very small} \] due to:
• High population pressure
• Fragmentation of land
Step 3: Statement 3 \[ \text{Machinery is fully utilized, and manual labor is minimal} \] This statement is: \[ \text{Incorrect} \] This type of agriculture is:
• Labor intensive
• Dependent heavily on human labor
• Less mechanized
Step 4: Statement 4 \[ \text{Yield per unit area is high, but labor productivity is low} \] This statement is: \[ \text{Correct} \] Large labor input increases: \[ \text{production per unit area} \] but because many workers are involved: \[ \text{labor productivity remains low} \] Thus, correct statements are: \[ 1\ \text{and}\ 4 \] Option analysis:
• Option (A): Incorrect because statement 2 is false
• Option (B): Incorrect because statements 2 and 3 are false
• Option (C): Correct
• Option (D): Incorrect because statement 3 is false Therefore: \[ \boxed{\text{(C)}} \]