Approximately how many people does one farmer feed?

• A. 100 people
• B. 155 people
• C. 200 people
• D. 300 people

Answer: (B)

Modern farming efficiency shows how one farmer can feed a large population. With tractors, irrigation, fertilizer, pest control, and streamlined food distribution, the output per farmer is greatly increased. This means the food produced by a single farmer can sustain many people, not just the farmer’s family. The commonly cited estimate places the number around one hundred fifty-five people, which sits as a useful rule of thumb for understanding this scale. Of course, actual numbers vary by region, diet, waste, and whether farming is highly industrialized or more small-scale. The choice that reflects about one hundred fifty-five people best captures this real-world relationship between farming productivity and the number of people fed.