Direct/subsistence production is a type of production for ones own personal consumption. The direct products are not marketed. For example, a person may built his/her own house, grow his/her own food etc.

In modern times, there are very few people, if any, who depend wholly in direct production. Even in rural areas people may produce enough food for themselves, but they have to get other commodities from elsewhere though trade. However, a form of subsistence production exists even in developed countries.

Characteristics of Direct Production

The following are the features of direct production:

1. Goods and services are of low quality and quantity
2. Leads to low standards of living.
3. Encourages  individualism.
4. Can be  very tiring.
5. Does not encourage invention and innovation.
6. No one has the ability to provide all that he/she requires.
7. A lot of time is wasted as one moves from one job to another
8. Use of simple, traditional tools in production.
9. Usually done on small scale.
10. There is no surplus, hence no marketing.

State whether the following products can be for own consumption or for marketing.

1. Planting mixed crops on a small piece of land.
2. Rearing 10 cows which produce 60 Litres of milk daily in a family of 3 people.
3. A man making 100 cooking sticks daily as his daily job.
4. A woman collecting two eggs daily out of her five laying hens.
5. A mother cooking 20 chapatis for a family of 5 members.