noun
owner farmer; independent farmer; farming on one's own land
Refers to a farmer who owns and cultivates their own land, as opposed to a tenant farmer. Also used for the practice of farming one's own land.
彼は自作農で、自分の土地で米を作っている。
He is an owner farmer and grows rice on his own land.
自作農として生計を立てるのは大変だ。
Making a living as an independent farmer is tough.