plantation

A plantation is a large agricultural estate dedicated to the commercial production of a single major crop for sale on regional or global markets. Plantations are typically located in tropical or subtropical regions and rely on monoculture, scale, and organized labor to maximize output and profits. The term historically has carried connotations of colonial-era agricultural systems.

The plantation model emerged during the colonial period, especially from the 16th to 19th centuries, with crops such as sugar cane, cotton, tobacco, coffee, tea, cocoa, indigo, and later palm oil and rubber. These enterprises often depended on coerced or highly controlled labor, including enslaved people transported from Africa and Asia, as well as indentured workers. The plantation system contributed to significant wealth for colonial powers while imposing severe social and human costs on workers and local communities.

Geographically, plantations have been established across the Americas, the Caribbean, parts of Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. In the modern era, many former plantations have evolved into large agribusiness operations that still specialize in monoculture crops. Issues associated with contemporary plantations include labor rights, land tenure, environmental impact, deforestation, pesticide use, and the sustainability of supply chains.

In public discourse, the term often prompts discussions about historical injustice and the ongoing legacy of plantation economies, as well as debates over development, fair labor practices, and sustainable agricultural production.