Characteristics of estate or plantation farming

Some of the Characteristics of estate or plantation farming are listed below:

Characteristics of estate/plantation farming

• Plantations are usually foreign owned by large companies.
• Processing of produce is done on site
• They are labor intensive, meaning they employ a lot of people
• They are usually export-oriented, meaning they mainly export their produce
• They require large capital
• They require large scale irrigation
• They require long term investment

Mixed Farming

• This is the cultivation of different crops and the rearing of livestock at the same time on the same farm.
• Crops grown are maize, wheat, Soya beans e.t.c
• Livestock reared are cattle, goats, sheep e.t.c

Market garden Farming

• This is the intensive growing of vegetables and mainly for sale near urban areas.
• It is also called Truck Farming (transportation)
• This is carried out near urban areas where transport is available and ready market for the products.
• The chief vegetables grown are potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, beans, egg plants, carrots, beet roots, lettuce and chili pepper.
• Fruits such as bananas, mangoes, avocado, guava and pineapples are produced seasonally.

Horticulture

• This involves the production of ornamental plants e.g flowers for sale locally and for export.

Commercial Livestock farming

• It deals with the keeping of animals and poultry for meat and eggs on large scale. It includes
  • Dairy farming for milk and milk products
  • Ranching for beef and beef products
  • Pig rearing for pork and pork products
  • Goat rearing for meat and milk
  • Poultry for meat and eggs