(a) What is subsistence farming?
(b) Distinguish between crop farming and livestock farming with specific examples.
(c) Identify four measures that the government of your country can adopt to boost agricultural production.
Explanation
(a) Subsistence farming is a system of farming in which crops and livestock are raised for the farmer's family consumption and not for sale.
(b) Crop farming is the cultivation of both food crops such as plantain, cassava and cash crops such as cocoa, oil palm etc while livestock farming involves the rearing of animals e.g poultry, sheep, and goats.
(c)(i) Granting easy credit to farmers to expand their farms
(ii) Improving the land tenure system and ensuring easy access to land
(iii) Provision of adequate infrastructure such as roads and utilities in the farming areas
(iv) Expanding agricultural extension services to educate farmers on modern farming techniques.
(v) Promotion of all year round cultivation through the provision of irrigation schemes.
(vi) Improving agricultural marketing through the introduction of guaranteed prices
(vii) Providing subsidies on agricultural inputs so that farmers can afford them
(viii) Measures to minimize insect and pest infestation to reduce post-harvest losses
(ix) Provision of storage facilities such as silos and refrigeration equipment
(x) Introduction of high-yielding and improved seeds through research
(xi) Introduction of improved tools and implements through mechanization and modern techniques.
(xii) Organisation of agricultural fairs to make agriculture more attractive.