Question

Identify Agroforestry System wherein the use of land is directed towards satisfying basic needs and is managed mostly by the owner and his family.

• A. Intermediate
• B. Subsistence
• C. Commercial
• D. Co-subsistence

Hint:

The socio-economic categorization of agroforestry systems depends on whether the primary goal is household survival (subsistence), market profit (commercial), or a mix of both (intermediate).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question focuses on the socio-economic classification of agroforestry systems.
These systems are categorized based on their primary management objectives and economic output.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
According to standard socio-economic classifications of agroforestry systems (developed by researchers like P. K. R. Nair), systems are divided into three main categories:
1. Subsistence Agroforestry Systems:
In these systems, land-use activities are directed toward meeting the basic survival needs of the farming family.
The primary outputs are food, fuelwood, fodder, and small timber for household consumption.
These systems are managed almost entirely using family labor, require minimal external inputs, and generate little to no marketable surplus.
Examples include traditional shifting cultivation and basic homestead gardens.
2. Commercial Agroforestry Systems:
In these systems, the primary objective is market sale and profit maximization.
The system is often specialized and relies on hired labor and external inputs.
Examples include commercial timber-based boundary plantings or shade-grown coffee plantations.
3. Intermediate Agroforestry Systems:
These systems fall between subsistence and commercial.
A portion of the land is used to satisfy family needs, while the surplus is sold in local markets.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The description given matches a Subsistence agroforestry system.
Thus, Option (B) is correct.