Question

Mention the main features of Plantation Agriculture.

Hint:

Remember: Plantation agriculture = Large estates + Monoculture + Export-oriented. Linking examples (Tea in Assam, Coffee in Brazil, Rubber in Kerala) strengthens the answer.

Answer 1

Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming practiced mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. It involves the cultivation of a single crop on a large scale, usually for export. Plantations are generally established during colonial periods and continue to play an important role in modern economies.
Main Features:
1. Large-Scale Farming:
Plantation agriculture is carried out on very large estates, often covering hundreds of hectares of land. It requires significant investment and capital.
2. Monoculture:
Only one type of crop is cultivated over a large area. Common plantation crops include tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, banana, sugarcane, cotton, and oil palm.
3. Export-Oriented:
The crops grown in plantations are mainly commercial crops, produced not for local consumption but largely for export to international markets. For example, India exports tea and coffee from plantations.
4. Use of Modern Techniques:
Plantation agriculture involves the use of modern machinery, chemical fertilizers, irrigation, and scientific methods of farming to maximize production.
5. Labour Intensive:
Despite mechanization, plantation agriculture requires a large number of workers for tasks like planting, plucking, and processing. Often, cheap labor is employed on plantations.
6. Processing Industries Linked:
Plantations are usually associated with processing industries located near them. For example, tea estates have nearby tea factories, and rubber plantations have processing units.
7. Colonial Legacy:
Plantations were introduced by colonial rulers to meet the demand for raw materials in European industries. Even today, plantation agriculture has strong links with international trade.
Examples:
- Tea plantations in Assam and Darjeeling (India).
- Coffee plantations in Karnataka and Brazil.
- Rubber plantations in Kerala and Malaysia.
In summary, plantation agriculture is a modern, commercialized form of farming that contributes significantly to export earnings but also raises concerns about monoculture, ecological imbalance, and labor exploitation.