Overview of Subsistence Farming in Africa
Farming in Africa is usually subsistence and farmers operate an area of land usually between 0.5 -3 hectares of farmland scattered all over the whole area due to the pattern of land ownership.
In Kenyan, subsistence farmers operate an area of land of about 0.47 ha, in Ethiopia 0.9 ha, Niger 0.7 and in Nigeria average of 0.5 ha.
The methods of land ownership in African countries such as inheritance, rent, gift, and individual systems of land ownership do not allow the acquisition of large expanses of land.
Inheritance methods of land ownership have fragmented the land into units that have served as hindrances to the success of commercial agriculture, giving room for the practice of subsistence agriculture.
About 75% of farmers in Africa are subsistence farmers, producing about 65 and 70 % of the food in the African countries which account for the most widely used method of farming in African countries.
Inadequate land, poor technologies, and over-dependence on primitive methods of farming led to the adoption of subsistence farming in Africa. Farmer in African countries resides mainly in the rural areas where the production of crops and animals truly occurs.
Substance farming can be defined as a system of farming whereby farmers use crude farm tools with poor farm inputs on a small piece of land to produce food mainly for family consumption.
On the other hand, substance farming refers to the system of farming that involves the use of local corps varieties and family labor to farm on scattered pieces of land where yield per unit area is very low.
Subsistence farming has transformed over the years in Africa from what it used to be to a more modern subsistence farming due to modernization and economic development, as many subsistence farmers manage their farms as entrepreneurs ( Food Agricultural Organisation).
Sourcing capital from financial banks and financial houses, investing in their farm, making decisions, and undertaking risks in other to make profits.
The contribution of government and non-governmental organizations in agriculture has also contributed to the transformation of subsistence farming in Africa.
Subsistence farming in recent times has made many farmers in the African continent live reasonable lives acquiring properties such as building, modern houses and buying vehicles and motorcycles.
Read Also: Top 11 Roles of Agricultural Extension in West Africa’s Agricultural Development
Characteristics of Subsistence Farming
The following are the characteristics of subsistence farming in Africa.
Food Produce is for Family Consumption but with Little for Marketing
Although subsistence farmers in Africa produce food mainly for family consumption they reserve little for marketing which aggregators demand and supply for industrial or marketing proposed.
Nigeria, Niger, Kenya, Tanzania, and many other African countries with little technology fabricate farm machines to cultivate their scattered farmland.
Farmland in sub-Saharan Africa is usually fragmented due to the system of land tenure in most of these countries. However many crops exported to other continents from Africa, large percentage is sourced from subsistence farmers, who farm on scattered pieces of land for growing crops and animals.
Little Capital involvement
Subsistence farming requires low capital involvement, they require little amount of capital in production since most of the labor is supplied by the family.
They use more self and family labor than the hired labor which involves capital expenditure. All the production value chain in subsistence farming, about 85% is done by the farmers and the farmers’ family members.
In Nigeria, all the family members meet to work on the farm, In Kenya, two members of the family work on one hectare of the farm daily while other members of the family join for half time, and in all the countries of Africa, farmers use their family labors to perform a larger percentage of labors in the farm with little for hire labor.
Uses of Local and Little Exotic Breeds of Animal
In some countries in Africa, many of the Animal reared involved the use of local breeds with little combination of some exotic breeds of farm animals.
The activities of government and non-governmental organizations in agriculture have introduced many exotic breeds of farm along with the local breed.
For example, in Nigeria, all the breeds of pig are foreign breeds and all the layers providing eggs in Nigeria are exotic breeds with little local breed existing along these breeds, the rate of reproduction of these foreign breeds of farm animals reared under subsistence farming is high but poor management limit their productivity.
More so, the local breeds of farm animals take a longer time to mature and reproduce.
Use of Local and Little Improve Varieties of Crops.
Subsistence farming in Africa involves the use of local varieties with little use of improved varieties of crops.
Unfortunately, the methods of cultivating and nurturing these crops are not different from the local methods and techniques for the management of these crops.
These improved varieties of crops are treated like the local varieties and reach maturity, and harvesting periods very late
Poor Record Keeping
Subsistence farmers in Africa do not keep records of their farming activities, farm records are completely absent in subsistence farming, and farmers are not even interested in keeping farm records.
since farm records are not kept the animals and crops are harvested prematurely.
Uses of Family /Unskilled Labor.
Subsistence farming in Africa uses predominately family labor for farming activities. Farmers usually hire unskilled labor for difficult activities e.g. bush clearing and weeding most times.
Other livestock management activities like vaccinating, castration, and debeaking are done by skilled labor.
Little or No Specialization.
There is little or no specialization in subsistence farming, as most farmers practice mixed farming and cropping. The practice of growing different types of crops in Africa on the farm does not give room for specialization.
Such farming is practiced in all African countries which does not promote specializations simply because the farmers perform many activities on a small piece of land.
Uses of Outdated Farm Tools and Implement.
Subsistence farming in Africa is characterized by the use of outdated farm tools. The use of farm tools has not increased productivity in the African continent. The use of these early farm tools easily leads to tiredness and fatigue.
In sub-Saharan, Africa, the major implements used are cutlass, axe, shove/spade, sickle, tapping knife, go-to-hell, and so on. Over the years, the use of these simple farm tools has led to food crises in some countries in Africa.
The use of cutlasses and hoes mostly in African countries results in stress and fatigue. These farm implements are due to poor technology and the heavy cost of modern farm implements in Africa.
More so, the presence of non-governmental agriculture and the government in Africa has made subsistence farmers make use of mechanical farm machines like tractors, processing machines, harrows, shelling machines, and locally fabricated irrigation equipment which have contributed to increased food production.
Mixed Cropping is Usually a Practices
The planting of different types of crops on the same parcel of land is the major characteristic of subsistence farming in Africa. Nearly all African countries practice mixed cropping.
These farmers cultivate cassava, maize groundnut, cowpea yam, pepper, tomatoes, and okra on the same pieces of land. This system of planting different types of crops ensures food availability.
However, the different types of crops cultivated on the same pieces of land have different pests and diseases that affect such crops leading to low yield and productivity.
Poor Pest/Parasite and Disease Control Measures.
Subsistence farmers in African countries do not have the required knowledge for the control of pests and diseases on their farms.
The return from their farm has been very low due to the inability to control pests and diseases on the farm.
The major problem of subsistence farming in Africa is their inability to control the activities of pests and diseases of cops and farm animals.
Small farmholders in Africa don’t have the resources, skills, and competencies to prevent and treat the disease of crops and animals.
Since most animals are reared under an extensive method of livestock management, they are easily prone to the attack of parasites and diseases which reduce their productivity.
It Does not Lead to Environmental Degradation.
Subsistence farming does not affect the environment since it doesn’t involve the use of heavy farm mechanization.
The uses of heavy farm implement like commercial farming leads to the destruction of the environment. Most Small farmers in Africa don’t use heavy farm machines in their farmers that can destroy the environment, thus leading to the destruction of the soil structure.
In southern and western Nigeria for example adopt zero tillage or planting on the flat which helps to conserve the soil and prevent the soil from the effect of solar radiation while minimum tillage is practiced in areas like North Central, Northern, and Northwest.
Involves the Use of Fragmented Pieces of Land
Small farmholders in Africa usually cultivate some parcels of land that are scattered around the communities.
The uses of these small pieces of land, coupled with the lack of finances result in fragmented pieces of land.
In Africa, the reason for cultivating small fragmented pieces of land across the communities is due to the traditional land tenure system mostly adopted.
Advantage of Subsistence farming in Africa.
Following the overview of the nature of subsistence farming in Africa, the following advantages were deduced. They are:
Spread Risk by Planting Many Crops.
A subsistence farmer in Africa plants many crops to spread risks that can emanate from the price hike.
Since the price of agricultural commodities rises at will, due to the lack of an organized market, farmers therefore plant different types of crops and rear animals on their farms to avoid buying other agricultural produce from the market.
More so, Subsistence farming engaged in mixing cropping to avoid price shock in the market.
Ensure Food Sufficiency
This is another advantage of subsistence farming in Africa, the farmers therefore engage in mixed cropping to ensure food sufficiency.
Apart from ensuring food security, most markets for the purchase of agricultural products are very far from their homes and it may take four to five days for the next market day, so to ensure that food is always available in the home, they plant and reared different varieties and breed of farm animal.
Require Less Capital to Start
Subsistence farming requires little capital to start, and with little or no amount of resources, the farmers can carry out all the farming processes.
Farmers that practice these types of farming in Africa do most of the production value chain themselves and their families, and more often than not supply most of the farm inputs used in production.
It does not Require Special Skills
Since the system involves the use of traditional and primitive methods of farming, it doesn’t require special skills to perform farming operations.
This type of farming unlike the modern system of farming requires special skills in calculating planting distance, population, time for fertilizer applications, budding, grafting, and other special skills required to perform operations on the farm.
It Doesn’t Require Formal Education
One doesn’t need special qualifications to work as a subsistence farmer, small farm holders don’t higher certificates or special training to practice farming, and with or without assistance from agricultural extension agents they can still produce and rear their farm animals locally.
It does not Cause Pollution to the Environment.
The uses of heavy farm equipment and fertilizers by commercial farmers lead to the pollution and contamination of water.
Small farmholders do not use farm machines or fertilizers in their farms, which leaves the environment free from pollution.
Disadvantages of Subsistence Farming in Africa.
The disadvantages of practicing subsistence farming in Africa are itemized as follows:
Food Importation
Small farmholders are the major producers of food in sub-Sahara Africa, and due to the use of primitive and local methods of farming, the yield from their farms is very low leading to food importation.
Nearly all the 52 countries in Africa import one type of crops of crops or the other.
Spread of Pests and Diseases
The planting of different types of crops on the same farm leads to the spread of pests and diseases, the attack of pests and diseases on crops reduces the quality and quantities of farm produce.
Small farmholders in Africa do not like to treat pests and diseases of crops and animals which lead to low productivity.
In conclusion
Despite the abundant land in the African continent, nearly all the countries import one type of food which has led to the serious food crisis.
Poor pest/parasite and disease control measures, the use of outdated farm tools and Implements, and Fragmented Pieces of Land top the problems of subsistence farming in Africa.
However, the role of government and non-governmental organizations must be acknowledged in promoting agriculture in the African continent.