Question

Differentiate between shifting agriculture and plantation agriculture.

Answer 1

Sr. No.	Shifting Agriculture	Plantation Agriculture
1.	Farmers grow food mainly for their own families and move when soil fertility falls.	Grown for sale/export as cash crops (tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, spices).
2.	Very small holdings or plots; small-scale family units.	Large estates or farms (plantation scale), often covering extensive areas.
3.	Labour-intensive, low capital input, family/community labour and traditional methods.	Capital-intensive, higher investment, hired/local labour, mechanisation and organized management.
4.	Temporary use with fallow periods	Permanent/long-term use