Discuss the important characteristic features of plantation agriculture. Name a few important plantation crops from different countries.

Explanation

Originally introduced by the Europeans in colonies situated in the tropics, plantation agriculture is distinct from other kinds of agricultural practises because of its specific features.
The characteristic features of this type of farming are:
. Profit oriented large-scale production system
. Large estates and plantations
. Huge capital investment
. Totally market oriented
. Scientific method of cultivation
. Cheap and large skilled labour supply
. Monoculture
. It is a link between agriculture and industry.
. They are provided with well developed transportation facilities where raw material provided by them is processes.
Important Plantation Crops:
. The French established cocoa and coffee plantations in West Africa,
. The British set up
. Large tea gardens in India and Sri Lanka.
. Rubber plantations in Malaysia and
. Sugarcane and banana plantations in West Indies.
. Spanish and Americans invested heavily in coconut and sugarcane plantations in the Philippines.
. The Dutch once had monopoly over sugarcane plantation in Indonesia.
. Some coffee fazendas (large plantations) in Brazil are still managed by Europeans.