Agriculture Case Study (Smale Scale Subsistence Farming)

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Small Scale Subsistence Farming

In Swaziland, most people in the rural areas are farmers (subsistence). Cattle are a form of wealth. Swaziland is made up of 4 parts, High Veld, Middle Veld, Lower Veld and Lubombo Uplands.

Inputs

Labour (from family members generally)

Capital (from other work)

Traditional knowledge

Hand tools

Little use of Fertiliser

Simple irrigation

In the dry winters, pasture are burned to get rid of the coarse dry grass and allow new nutritious shoots to emerge.

OutputsMaize is milled at home to produce flour and is consumed by the family. The cattle produces meat and milk. There is also production of vegetables.

Problems

Erratic rainfall causing droughts.

Farmers lack capital. Can not buy improved seed and fertilisers.

Soil erosion

Animal diseases (foot and mouth diseases)

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