Subsistence Farming, Agrobiodiversity, and Sustainable Agriculture: A Case Study

Abstract

Subsistence farming still predominates in many places across the globe including India. Crops and livestock are often integral key components of subsistence farming practiced generally by smallholder farmers. A precise documentation of traditional farming practices involving native diversity with overall objectives of their conservation and showcasing their role in addressing livelihood security of farmers was done in the present study. This case study was undertaken in three underprivileged districts of India representing specific agroecosystems. The outcome of the study could help develop a policy framework for bringing sustainable agricultural development to subsistence farming agroecosystems. It could also help in exploring and advocating the potential of various suggested “add-value” interventions to native agrobiodiversity in addressing livelihood security of farmers.

KEYWORDS:

• subsistence farming
• agrobiodiversity
• sustainable agriculture
• “add-value” interventions to biodiversity
• future of small farms