(a) Characteristics of subsistence agriculture in Nigeria: (i) Mixed farming. (ii) Small size of farms/land fragmentation. (iii) Use of family labour.
(iv) Labour intensive. (v) Involves slash and burn method (vi)Yield per hectare is relatively low. (vii) Cultivation is mainly for consumption. (viii) Little attention given to cash crops.
(ix) Farmland abandoned when crop yields decline. (x) Less capital intensive. (xi) Crops include cereals, root crops and legumes, etc. (xii) Organic manure may be used.
(xiii) Crops are seasonal. (ix) Simple farm tools are used. (x) Practiced in regions of low population. (xi) Land is left to fallow. (xii)No specialization. (xiii)Natural i i)Natural control of pests. (xiv) Limited damage to the soil.
(b) Advantages of subsistence agriculture: (i) Low cost of land preparation. (ii) Cheap family labour. (iii) Ease of practice because of small farm size.
(iv) Mixed cropping ensures food security. (v) Mixed cropping checks erosion/leeching. (vi) Burning adds ash to enrich the soil.
(vii) Land regains fertility after period of fallow. (viii) Non-application of artificial fertilizers. (ix)Non-application of pesticides. (x) Crops are normally natural and non-genetically modified.
(xi) Little capital is needed. (xii) Fodder for livestock.
(c) Disadvantages of subsistence agriculture: (i) Burning destroys soil organisms. (ii) Burning alters soil structure.
(iii) Farm sizes are small and may not support large families/communities. (iv) Requires much human energy to practice. (v) Easy spread of diseases.
(vi) Unreliable family labour.
(vii) Easy spread of pests. (viii) Burning results in deforestation and environmental degradation. (ix) Low yield. (x) Cannot be practiced in highly populated areas.