In agricultural economics, intensive cultivation refers to which of the following farming practices?

Introduction / Context:

This question tests understanding of key terms in agriculture and rural economics. The terms intensive cultivation and extensive cultivation describe two contrasting ways of increasing agricultural output. Examinations often ask candidates to distinguish between these concepts, so it is important to know what intensive cultivation really means in terms of land use and input application.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on how farmers attempt to raise total production.
• Existing land area may be fixed, especially in countries with high population density.
• Inputs such as labour, fertilisers, irrigation and machinery can be varied.
• We assume standard textbook definitions of intensive and extensive cultivation.

Concept / Approach:

Intensive cultivation is characterised by applying more inputs, such as labour, capital, fertilisers, high yielding seeds and irrigation, on the same piece of land to obtain more output per unit area. In other words, production is raised by intensifying the use of existing land instead of expanding cultivated area. By contrast, extensive cultivation increases output mainly by bringing more land under cultivation, without necessarily increasing input use per hectare. The approach is to identify the option that emphasises higher input use on the same land.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Agricultural economics references define intensive farming as agriculture in which a high level of inputs and labour is used relative to the land area so that productivity per hectare is high. Examples include multiple cropping, use of high yielding varieties and heavy irrigation on the same field. In contrast, extensive farming is characterised by low input use per hectare over a large land area. This confirms that the correct description is raising production by intensive use of existing land rather than expanding area.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Production with intensive use of labour only is incomplete, because intensive cultivation involves combined heavy use of labour, capital, fertilisers, irrigation and technology, not just labour. Intensive use of fertilisers alone also misrepresents the broader combination of inputs and good management practices. Raising production by large scale use of imported inputs may occur in some systems but does not define intensive cultivation in general. Increasing output mainly by bringing more new land under cultivation is the essence of extensive farming, not intensive farming, so that option is clearly incorrect in this context.

Common Pitfalls:

Learners sometimes equate intensive cultivation with just using more fertiliser, forgetting about other inputs like water, seeds and machinery. Others confuse it with heavy labour input without considering land productivity. A major conceptual confusion is between intensive and extensive methods, especially when both can increase total output. Remembering that intensive cultivation is about increasing output per hectare on existing land, while extensive cultivation is about expanding area, helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:

Intensive cultivation refers to Raising production by intensive use of existing land.