What is plantation agriculture?

Plantation agriculture is a form of commercial farming in which a single type of crop—called a cash crop—is grown on a large scale, typically on estates or large farms, primarily for sale in external or international markets rather than for local consumption.

Key Characteristics

• Monoculture: Plantation agriculture focuses on cultivating one type of crop across vast areas to maximize production and efficiency.
• Large-scale operations: Plantations often extend over hundreds or thousands of hectares and require substantial investment in land, machinery, and infrastructure.
• Export-oriented: The harvested crops, such as sugarcane, coffee, tea, rubber, or cotton, are mainly grown for export and global trade, not local use.
• Labor-intensive: Historically, labor for plantations was provided by slaves or migrant workers; today, plantations may employ many seasonal or permanent laborers, although mechanization is increasing.
• Location: Plantation agriculture is most common in tropical and subtropical regions, which are ideal for crops like tea, coffee, rubber, and sugarcane.
• Capital-intensive: Significant investment is required for equipment, technology, irrigation, pest control, and processing facilities.
• Environmental and social impact: Plantations can lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, water pollution, and sometimes social issues like land dispossession and exploitative labor practices