Plantation Crops in India: Types, Cultivation, and Economic Importance

Huan started doing agriculture for substance use and survival and also to fulfill the needs of his family but then the agricultural revolution changed the concept of farming from subsistence to commercial, this change happened due to the realization that are surplus amount of crops were cultivated more than the demand of one family needs, then plantation farming was introduced which primarily use for the commercial purpose for selling in the market.

By the time back to 9000 BCE agriculture was spreading throughout the world. The rise of plantations in India was part of a commercialization strategy adopted by British planters. The primary goal of plantation agriculture is to produce crops for sale in domestic and international markets, contributing significantly to the economy. Let us deeply understand plantation crops in India.

What are plantation crops

Plantation crops are commercially grown on a large plot of land in a contiguous area that is particularly managed by the individual or the company for selling and profit purposes. These crops are highly valued in a global market due to their demands and also significantly contribute to the Indian economy.

Also Read: Types of Crops in India

Here is the list of important plantation crops grown in India:

• Sugarcane
• Tea
• Coffee
• Rubber
• Coconut
• Arecanut
• Oil palm
• Cashew
• Cocoa
• Bananas
• Pineapples

Key characteristics of plantation crops

1. Crops are cultivated in extensively large contiguous areas. Farm sizes can range between 40 to 200 hectares.
2. Plantation crops are highly valued cash crops grown for sale in the market rather than for personal consumption and for export to other countries as per the demand for different crops.
3. These crops are grown single in a large area known as monoculture crops hence they require significant investment in machinery, infrastructure, and labor.
4. As these crops are cultivated on large-scale farms they also require labor for the process of cultivation and need a sizable workforce for tasks from sowing to harvesting.
5. A strong transport and communication network is essential for connecting plantations with processing industries and markets therefore it requires well-developed transportation.
6. It is of economic importance in the market as it supports the GDP and export earnings of many countries. They also generate income and create employment opportunities, especially in developing regions.

Major plantation crops and their cultivation

Each crop has specific cultivation requirements that influence its growth and yield. The government continues to promote sustainable practices to enhance productivity while addressing environmental concerns associated with plantation agriculture. Here is an overview of some of them:

Tea

• Tea is the most valued crop in India as Indians love to have tea for their survival, it is said that tea was first produced to be indigenous to China, Major Robert Bruce noted in 1823 that tea bushes grew freely on the slopes of upper Assam’s hills.
• Tea is mostly cultivated in the eastern side of India like Assam and West Bengal as well as Nilgiri Hills, Cardamom, Palani, and Anaimalai Hills. Green tea is mostly produced in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
• Tea thrives well in drained, acidic soils with an ideal temperature of 20-30°C for healthy growth. But temperatures above 35°C and below 10°C harm the bushes. It requires an annual rainfall of 150-300 cm that is well distributed throughout the year.
• Tea is a shade-loving plant and develops rapidly when planted with shady trees and plucked multiple times a year, with the first flush that is spring harvest.

Coffee

• Coffee was first introduced in India in 1600 AD when the Indian Sufi saint Baba Budan went on a pilgrimage to Mecca. This was the native to Yemen.
• India is considered the 8th largest coffee-producing country as it produces 2.5 % of the world’s coffee at the global level because Brazil came first in this position. In India Karnataka (71%), Kerala (22%), and Tamil Nadu (7%) are the leading producers of coffee in India.
• The ideal climate condition for cultivating coffee crops varies between 20-27°C as It requires a high temperature and humid climate for rapid growth but a cold and dry climate for ripening of berries. If we talk about annual rainfall it requires rainfall between 100 to 200 cm.
• They are usually harvested in the month of spring, which is usually between October and March. Also, these are planted in the shade of taller trees, such as bananas.

Rubber

• The first cultivation of rubber was done in India in 1895 on the hill slopes of Kerala, also it is a coherent elastic solid obtained from latex. They are mostly found in industries of making tires, tubes, erasers, and industrial products.
• These crops thrive better in deep well, drained loamy soils on the hill slopes at an elevation ranging from 300 to 450 m above sea level with the ideal temperature of 25 to 35°C and above, and need High rainfall of above 200 cm.
• The ideal soil for coffee cultivation is characterized by acidic nature, with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6.0. It requires special conditions like Daily rain followed by a strong sun is beneficial.
• Latex is tapped from the rubber tree and collected regularly throughout the year.

Coconut

• Coconuts are known as an important plantation crop in India that covers a large area for cultivation around 1.9 million hectares. In India, coconut had an annual production of 20,736 million nuts with high productivity.
• Coconuts are mostly produced in southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh— which account for over 90% of coconut production in India Malabar and Coromandel coasts are the traditional areas of coconut production.
• The climate conditions required for coconut production range between 27°C with a 5-7°C temperature and with equatorial climate and high humidity along with this, they can grow in various soil types, including laterite, coastal sandy, alluvial, and reclaimed soils, tolerating salinity and a pH range from 5.0 to 8.0.
• Coconut itself has different varieties such as Laccadive which is a tall variety, Chowghat Orange Dwarf (COD), Chowghat Green Dwarf (CGD), Chowghat Yellow Dwarf which belongs to the dwarf variety and Chandralaksha which is a part of the hybrid family.

Also Read: Polyhouse Farming in India

Importance of plantation crop

• It helps in economic growth and income generation by generating revenue after selling the crops in the market which leads to employment opportunities in rural areas and contributes to poverty reduction. The production and processing of these crops stimulate local economies and foster infrastructure development.
• It contributes to export earnings and makes foreign relations better through trading because plantation crops are a significant source of export earnings for many countries, helping improve their balance of trade.
• Plantation crops like tea and coffee hold some social and cultural significance as they often feature prominently in rituals, festivals, and communal gatherings, contributing to a community's identity and heritage. Socially it creates jobs in farming, processing, and distribution, thereby enhancing the economic stability of rural communities.