This type of agriculture is dominated by perennial plants, each grown for many years.

The most well known plants concerned are: cocoa, coffee, coconut, rubber, oil palm, tea… These plants are grown in humid tropical regions in a forested environment

These crops are little used where they are grown, but mostly exported and therefore are the unique source of income for the local peasants. Agriculture is practiced here in two very different ways: either through large industrialized companies, or by small peasant units selling directly to organized collecting groups.

This type of agriculture was developed under colonial political conditions, and it is closely linked to the ups and downs of the international market. It has left a large imprint on the societies that depend on it. It also remains one of the main topic of tropical agronomic research.

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