Subsistence agriculture

About: Subsistence agriculture is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8069 publications have been published within this topic receiving 156876 citations. The topic is also known as: subsistence farming.

Labor specialization and the formation of markets for food in a Shipibo subsistence economy

Abstract: Traditionally, the Shipibo economy was subsistence-based with shifting cultivation supplying calories, principally in the form of plantains and root crops, while fishing and hunting provided animal proteins to the diet. Some men, who recently began producing rice for sale in regional markets, now allocate less time to wild food procurement. Moreover, this trend has been accompanied by the nucleation of households, a growing cash market for agricultural labor, and the intravillage sale of faunal foods. This paper shows that with cash cropping, some Shipibo now freely distribute less food to others in relation to the amount they produce. To account for this change, a theory is developed based on time allocation and patterns of economic behavior reported throughout the Amazon. This theory is then applied to explain specialization and the formation of cash markets for food labor among the Shipibo.

The effects of settler incursion on fish and game resources of the Yuqui, a native Amazonian society of eastern Bolivia.

Abstract: Increasing settlement and subsequent deforestation in the Amazon are disturbing animal habitats and placing pressure on indigenous peoples who depend on hunting as a means of subsistence. As policy makers attempt to address growing environmental and social concerns, anthropologists are often in a position to provide information relating to traditional subsistence systems and how these systems may be experiencing stress due to development. Crucial to this issue is the need for anthropologists to provide in a proactive manner quantitative, longitudinal resource use data to those in policy-making positions to document the effects of settler incursion on native subsistence systems. This paper will present data from the Yuqui, a foraging people in eastern lowland Bolivia who are experiencing increased pressure on faunal resources from settlers. Using data collected in 1983 and 1988, I will suggest that the Yuqui are beginning to exhibit hunting patterns consistent with known cases of game depletion. I will arg...

Development Strategy for the Hill Districts of Uttarakhand

Abstract: Uttarakhand, in spite of being a small state, has certain key features that make it distinct from other states of the country and highlights its potential for development. However, development has predominantly been in the plains, and the hill districts have been left behind. All the hill districts have subsistence farming as their main economic activity. Due to subsistence livelihood, migration and a remittance economy operate in the hill districts. They are land-locked with huge distances between the markets and resources. Because of these constraints, traditional agriculture cannot be the lead sector for development. Thus the state faces the challenge of promoting livelihoods to minimize migration through local employment and income generation, and to enhance the quality of life of people living in villages. The positive features of these hill districts are that they have enormous potential for tourism, a suitable climate for high-value agriculture, and a pleasant environment due to 60 pert cent forest cover. These have to be harnessed for a development strategy. The development strategy for Uttarakhand hills should be based on developing brand equity under the name of Organic Green State and an Uttarakhand Brand Equity Fund should be set up. This can be achieved by working towards this common goal through infrastructure development, tourism promotion, agriculture diversification, poultry- and wool-based livelihoods, and SMEs based on the above that capture linkages with industry and tourism.