ABSTRACT
Plot farming occupies a very ambiguous status in both popular and official evaluation. The population is aware that the present abundance, variety and superior quality of agricultural products for consumption is directly attributable to the flourishing plot farms. The importance of plot farming is not restricted to production but also extends to a chance to exploit production and labour resources that would otherwise remain untapped, and so as to afford additional incomes, over and regular wages. Plot farming is widely classified as part of the second economy, and is the object of vague disapproval, mentioned alongside suspect activities such as moonlighting or cheating the State in a variety of ways. The ambiguous position of plot farming appears to be related to two main characteristics: first, it is the stronghold of the private enterprise sector as opposed to the collectivized State controlled ones; and, second, through plot farming, the equalizing distribution of incomes of the socialized sector is modified.
