Question

Identify from the following, the correct statements with reference to the characteristics of intensive subsistence agriculture dominated by wet paddy cultivation.
(A) Land holdings are very small due to the high density of population.
(B) Farmers work with the help of family labour leading to intensive use of land.
(C) Farm yard manure is used to maintain the fertility of the soil.
(D) The yield per unit area is low, but productivity per labour is high.

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only
• B. (A), (C) and (D) only
• C. (A), (B) and (C) only
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

In the context of intensive subsistence agriculture dominated by wet paddy cultivation, consider the following statements: 

1. Land holdings are very small due to the high density of population.
   This statement is correct as intensive subsistence agriculture is typically practiced in regions with high population density, resulting in small land holdings.
2. Farmers work with the help of family labour leading to intensive use of land.
   This statement is also correct because family labour is commonly utilized to maximize the use of available land in subsistence farming systems.
3. Farm yard manure is used to maintain the fertility of the soil.
   This is true as the use of organic materials like farm yard manure helps maintain soil fertility in such agricultural practices.
4. The yield per unit area is low, but productivity per labour is high.
   This statement is incorrect. In intensive subsistence agriculture, especially with wet paddy, the yield per unit area is usually high due to the intensive input and labor utilization, while productivity per labour may not be as high.

The correct statements are (A), (B), and (C).

Answer 2

Intensive subsistence agriculture, particularly wet paddy cultivation, has the following characteristics:

(A) Land holdings are very small due to the high density of population: This is correct. In regions where intensive subsistence agriculture is practiced, such as in Southeast Asia and parts of India, the population density is high, and the land holdings are typically small to accommodate the large number of people.

(B) Farmers work with the help of family labour leading to intensive use of land: This is correct. In intensive subsistence farming, family labor is often the main source of workforce, and the land is used intensively to grow crops, particularly paddy.

(C) Farm yard manure is used to maintain the fertility of the soil: This is correct. Farmers in intensive subsistence agriculture often rely on organic fertilizers like farmyard manure to maintain the fertility of the soil, especially in regions where chemical fertilizers are not as widely used or accessible.

(D) The yield per unit area is low, but productivity per labour is high: This statement is incorrect. In intensive subsistence farming, the yield per unit area is generally high due to the intensive use of land and labor. However, productivity per labor is not necessarily high in all cases because labor is often intensive but may not alwa