| Primitive subsistence farming | Intensive subsistence farming |
| (1)It is practiced on a small patch of land. | (1)It is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land. |
| (2)It is done with the help of primitive tools like hoe,dao and digging sticks. | (2)It is done with the help of fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, HYV seeds, use of machines and other implements. |
| (3)This type of farming is depended on monsoon. | (3)It is entirely depended on machines. |
| (4)When the soil fertility decreases the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation. | (4)The farmers continue to take maximum output from the limited land in the absence of alternative source of livelihood |
| (5)The production is only for home consumption. | (5)The productions is not only for farmer consumption. It is for other people also. |
