The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another. A specific example cited is rice. In states like Haryana and Punjab, rice is grown as a commercial crop. Here, farmers use higher doses of modern inputs like High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, and insecticides to obtain higher productivity for the market.

In contrast, rice serves as a subsistence crop in states like Odisha. In such regions, the farming pattern differs significantly; farmers often practise intensive subsistence farming or primitive subsistence farming. Here, the production is primarily meant to sustain their family rather than for sale in the market, and land holdings are often small.