Sustainable Intensification of Subsistence Agriculture, Socioeconomic Transformation, and Food Security

Food insecurity and chronic poverty are persistent problems in the less developed world. Food insecurity may result from rapid population growth, inappropriate use of limited resources, climate change, unsuitable technologies, and a lack of appreciation for local knowledge and resources. Thus, developing appropriate plans to sustainably intensify subsistence agriculture is essential. Accordingly, a proper balance should be maintained between ecosystem health and increased agricultural production and productivity. This work presents a narrative review and personal insights on the sustainable intensification of subsistence agriculture to ensure food security in an eco‐friendly way. Depending on the local context, various sustainable intensification methods could be adopted. Intensification requires the integrated and efficient use of limited resources and good practices. It also necessitates socioeconomic transformation and the creation of an enabling environment. Therefore, in addition to the sustainable intensification of crop production, livestock production, and natural resource management, policy interventions should focus on family planning, maintaining social equity and peace, and changing consumption and work habits. Interventions related to crop production include soil fertility management, the adoption of backyard orchards, association cropping and polyculture, the widespread use of resilient root and tuber crops, agrobiologicals, manual cultivators, and the reduction of post‐harvest losses. Livestock producers can adopt wet salting of dry roughages, establish resilient fodder like cacti in drylands, develop feed banks and nutrient‐dense feeds, destock and restock livestock, rear resilient livestock species and breeds, expand the use of transhumance, ratify ethnoveterinary practices, and prevent circulating diseases. Interventions such as area enclosures, vegetative propagation, watershed management, and the use of renewable energy sources are recommended for natural resource management. It is also essential to properly utilize indigenous knowledge, revise training and teaching curricula, diversify livelihood forms, and create platforms for knowledge dissemination. Intensification must consider the local context and the need to maintain ecosystem health.