What is cash crop? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of cash crop in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of cash crop

cash cropnoun
cây trồng thương mại
/ˈkæʃ krɒp//ˈkæʃ krɑːp/

Where does the word cash crop come from?

The term "cash crop" originated in colonial Africa during the 19th century when European settlers introduced commercial agriculture. They encouraged locals to grow crops not for subsistence but for commercial sale, as a means of generating income or "cash". The first cash crops included tobacco, cotton, and coffee, which were in high demand in Europe and the United States. Cash crops required more capital and labor than traditional subsistence crops since they were explicitly meant for commercial sale. The term "cash crop" became popular as it distinguished these crops from subsistence crops, which were grown to meet household needs rather than for exchange purposes. Today, cash crops are grown on a large scale in many parts of the world and play a significant role in many national and global economies.

Example of vocabulary cash cropnamespace

Soybeans are a common cash crop in the Midwest region of the United States due to the fertile soil and optimal growing conditions.
In many developing countries, coffee and cocoa trees are popular cash crops for farmers because they can fetch high prices on the global market.
Corn and wheat are essential cash crops for agricultural regions such as the Great Plains in North America and the prairies of Russia.
Bananas are a major export crop for countries like Costa Rica, where they are grown on a large scale and sold to global markets at significant prices.
Tobacco is a significant cash crop in several countries, including the United States, China, and India, due to its high demand and lucrative market prices.