Which statement about subsistence agriculture is true?

• A. Farmers export surplus
• B. Farmers produce food for their own consumption
• C. Farmers use only water
• D. Farmers rely on chemicals

Answer: (B)

Subsistence agriculture centers on producing enough food for the farmer and their family, with little to no aim of selling to others. The main idea is to meet household food needs rather than engage in markets, so any surplus is usually small and not the primary goal. This approach typically uses small plots, family labor, traditional methods, and limited reliance on chemical inputs, often depending on rainfall for water rather than sophisticated irrigation. The other statements don’t fit because exporting surplus is a hallmark of commercial farming, using only water ignores the role of soil nutrients and management, and heavy chemical use is more associated with modern industrial farming rather than subsistence practices.