PLANTATION AGRICULTURE
Plantation agriculture is an extensive system of agriculture, in the sense that very large amounts of land are involved. Plantation agriculture is very widely practiced in many parts of the tropics. It is also found in some subtropical areas. It is not indigenous to the areas where it is now practiced, but was introduced by the Europeans during colonial times.
Plantations (sometimes called estates) are very big farms which usually grow one type of crop. This practice is known as monoculture. Crops are grown almost entirely for sale, and are often intended for export.
A lot of paid workers are employed. On very large plantations housing is often provided for the workers, and there are sometimes other facilities available such as schools and clinics. Because of their large size, plantations are able to make use of specialization of labor. Different groups of workers can be trained to carry out particular tasks, at which they become very skilled.
A great deal of capital is involved to buy land and machinery, build housing and roads, etc. Many plantations have their own factories for processing their crops, and even their own light railway systems for transporting the crops from the field to the factory.
Methods of cultivation are usually modern and efficient. Much use is made of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides (chemicals used to kill weeds). As a result, crop yields are often higher on plantations than on peasant farms. Modern factory methods also give a more uniform and better quality product, which is likely to fetch a higher price on the world market.
One of the main weaknesses of the plantation system lies in the fact that plantations rely upon a single crop. As a result, plantations are greatly affected by rises and falls in world market prices. The fact that on a plantation a single crop is grown over a very large area increases the risk of the spread of disease. Disease is not likely to spread as quickly on a peasant farm, because several different kinds of crops are grown.