The terms farmer and peasant both refer to people involved in agriculture, but they have different historical, social, and economic connotations:
Modern usage: Commonly used today.
Occupation: Someone who owns, leases, or manages agricultural land to grow crops or raise animals.
Status: Can range from smallholders to large agribusiness owners.
Technology: Often uses modern equipment and farming techniques.
Autonomy: Typically has more control over what and how they farm.
Economic role: Integrated into broader market systemssells produce, often for profit.
Historical sociological term: More often used in reference to feudal or pre-industrial societies.
Occupation: A rural agricultural laborer, often subsistence-based.
Status: Usually lower social class, often poor, sometimes tied to land owned by a landlord.
Technology: Uses traditional or manual farming methods.
Autonomy: Often has little land, few rights, and limited control over their livelihood.
Economic role: Primarily produces for local consumption, not large-scale markets.
Farmer = A general, modern, and often economically independent agricultural worker.
Peasant = A historical/social term for a poorer, lower-class rural laborer, often working land they dont own.