What is Plantation Agriculture?

Plantation agriculture refers to a large-scale agricultural system in which a single crop or a few crops are grown extensively on large estates, known as plantations. This form of agriculture is primarily focused on the cultivation of cash crops for commercial purposes, often for export to international markets. Plantation agriculture has its historical roots in the colonial period when European powers established large estates in tropical and subtropical regions to produce valuable commodities.

Plantation agriculture emerged during the European colonial expansion in the 15th century. European powers, such as Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Britain, established colonies in different parts of the world. These colonies had suitable climates and soils for growing crops that were highly demanded in Europe. Plantations were developed to cultivate and export commodities like sugar, coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, rubber, and various spices.

Colonial powers used forced labour systems, including slavery and indentured servitude, to work on the plantations. Enslaved Africans were brought to the Americas to work on sugarcane, cotton, and tobacco plantations, while indentured labourers from Asia were employed on tea, coffee, and rubber plantations in Southeast Asia.