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).
In prewar Japan, many farmers were part-owner, part-tenant.
He runs a part-owner, part-tenant operation, growing rice on both his own paddy and rented fields.
Compound of 自 (self, own), 小 (small, here referring to tenant farming), and 作 (farming). The term describes a mixed farming status.