what is extensive farming

Extensive farming, also known as extensive agriculture, is an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labor, fertilizers, and capital relative to the land area being farmed. It is characterized by the use of large areas of land with low input and investment to produce relatively low output. Extensive farming is commonly associated with raising sheep and cattle in areas with low agricultural productivity, as well as large-scale growing of crops in areas with low soil fertility. This farming method is found in the mid-latitude sections of most continents, as well as in desert regions where water for cropping is not available. It is more environmentally sustainable than intensive farming and is often practiced in areas where intensive farming is either economically or climatically unfeasible