noun
landed and tenant farming; part-owner, part-tenant farming
Agricultural term for a farming operation where the farmer owns some land and also rents additional land. Often contrasted with 自作 (full owner farming) and 小作 (full tenant farming).
戦前の日本では、自小作農家が多く見られた。
In prewar Japan, many farmers were part-owner, part-tenant.
彼は自小作経営で、自分の田んぼと借りた畑の両
He runs a part-owner, part-tenant operation, growing rice on both his own paddy and rented fields.
Refers to farming only rented land, without owning any.
Compound of 自 (self, own), 小 (small, here referring to tenant farming), and 作 (farming). The term describes a mixed farming status.