Jamaica - Agriculture



Jamaica Agriculture 1111
Photo by: Arid Ocean

Jamaican agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP, less than in most developing countries. Agriculture (together with forestry and fisheries) is the third largest foreign exchange earner and the second largest employer of labor. Attempts to offset the serious price and production problems of traditional agricultural exports by encouraging production of winter vegetables, fruits, and flowers have had limited success. Vegetable and melon production in 1999 amounted to 184,000 tons; principal varieties include pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, tomato, callaloo, and cucumber. Production of other crop groups (with leading varieties) in 1999 included: pulses (red peas, peanut, gungo peas), 5,000 tons; condiments (scallion, hot pepper, onion), 7,000 tons; fruits (papaya, pineapple, watermelon), 1,416,000 tons; cereals (corn, rice), 2,000 tons; and roots and tubers (yams, potatoes, plantains), 307,000 tons.

Sugar, the leading export crop, is produced mainly on plantations organized around modern sugar factories that also buy cane from independent growers. Raw sugar production in 2000 was estimated at 175,000 tons, down from 290,000 tons in 1978. Sugar is Jamaica's largest agricultural export, earning $66 million in 2001. Sugar is also used for the production of molasses (79,653 tons in 2002) and rum (24.2 million liters in 2002). Banana production in 1999 was 130,000 tons. Other major export crops in 1999 included cocoa, and coffee. Blue Mountain coffee, which is primarily exported to Japan, brings in some $12 million annually in foreign exchange earnings. Jamaica also exports coconuts, pimientos, citrus fruits, ginger, tobacco, yams, papayas, dasheens, peppers, and cut flowers. Jamaica exported $227.7 million and imported $402.7 million in agricultural products during 2001.

The island's food needs are met only in part by domestic production, and foodstuffs are a major import item. The main food crops, grown primarily by small cultivators, are sweet potatoes and yams, rice, potatoes, manioc, tomatoes, and beans. Jamaica is a major producer of marijuana, which, however, remains illegal. The government participates in a US-funded campaign to eradicate marijuana trading.

Also read article about Jamaica from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Yanique
This website is very informative. Usually, it is very hard to find specific information about my country, Jamaica on the internet, but now I have found this site. I will keep on using this site.
2
tjoma
perfect story. this is the information that i need!!! there can be more about how the vegetables grow!

thank you
3
g dawg
This info really helped me with my project for school.

I just wanted to say thanks for the research info and such!

- g-dawg
4
Sarah
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Thankss...
lol :D
5
lucas
heilped me with my project too. thanx alot
x) :)





thnx
6
Brebre
This website is very helpful because my school wwe is doing a project on jamaica because I live in the United states and me and my dad we be going to this jamaican food place but thanks because I was having a hard time trying to see what there argiculture was.
7
tyvas
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8
Ashley Skintz Adrenaline
this really helped me out alot
thanx =D
now i hope i get a good grade!!!!
9
Wyatt
Thanks! This really helped for a school project. I had to know the major exports. Thanks again!
10
Monkeyman3056
This site owns. It gives you very good info for projects and stuff. Now whenever i do projects i look for this site. Thanks!

M
11
Nora
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Thanx again ur a life saver!! :)
12
aliya
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13
Jasmine
Thanks for the information !

It really helped me a lot on my research !

Keep it up with the good info :]


-$tuck up
THIS WAS RELLY HELPFUL TO MY PROJECT. THANKS ALOT.
this is a very good website ,thankyou for all the info, you've helped me some much x
This imformation really help me out with my project.
Thanx =}
17
eryn
thanks.
this really helped me with my AP human geography project :]
you should add more information about why they are able to grow these different types of foods and why they eat what they eat most of the time
wow this is good info for my school project,I LOVE IT VERY MUCH WHAT A WONDER WHO KNEW! i really like it its cool and helpful
20
katy
i guess it helped me find the export product but i need 2 find the in port product
21
andrea
I really love this info it helped me alot with my homework
22
saffia adda
Thanks soo much! this helped me with my LEDC geography project! I've been searching for ages now this site is me life saver! you should team up with Google to make this site more known
thanks again
23
keva
this site is really amazing...we here in Jamaica can hardly find things on the internet about our beautiful country...but thanksto this site we now have the access of finding whatever we seek for. ;)
24
shawn tulloch
this site is good it really feeds my brain thank u.u like the wish i asked for
25
grace
This really helped me with my project c:
thanks ;D
Keeep it upp, yo'.
26
Trevor
Good information..It is really going to help me out on my report!!
Yea, gwan big up yuself!!
27
IMJ
Always want info about my country. Very informative,thx.
I'm writing something on how international human rights affect international business. I know that Jamaica used to be a big carrot producer until the cheaper carrot imported from the states killed the Jamaican production. I can't find much information on that and so would like to know if you could help me out. Thanks.
29
sanjay
THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE UR A LIFE SAVER THANKS AGAIN
30
Sakota
I may finally achieve my dream of eating fresh cocoa, now that I know where it grows. This ALSO help with school. See ya.
31
davia
this agriculture stuff really make a difference.because i got an a+ yesterday try it.
32
ray2k
Does anyone know of a magazine that focusus on Jamaican Agriculture?
33
moriah
wow, that is a lot of info, i am grateful that i saw this website and clicked it and i tell my friends
34
mmm
I love this website. it helped me with my project a lot.

thanks
35
Bob
Omg with out this I would have never finished my school project
36
abegaye gayle
THIS IS A VERY HELPFUL WEBSITE I CAN BE USEFUL TOWARDS MY PROJECT BUT NOT EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED NEXT TIME IT WILL HELP ME FURTHER MORE THANKS ANY WAY
37
kerrisha
WOW this is just what i was looking for without this website don't know what to do! THANKS
38
franchester
I love it helped me a lot and I thank you guys for all that you have given me on this page may god bless you all thanx
39
sanjeeb tiwary
wow, that is a lot of info, i am grateful that i saw this website and clicked it and i tell my friends
Thanks soo much! this helped me with my LEDC geography project! I've been searching for ages now this site is me life saver! you should team up with Google to make this site more known
thanks again
40
cody
very helpful and informative for a internet website. usually all website are really bad and info is short
41
Nicole
Yes an informative piece right here!
Can you imagine if Marijuana was legal, Jamaica would be one of the Countries doing economically well.
42
Ingrid
Thank you, this is very informative. I was in search of more specific information on agriculture in Jamaica to share with my class and I found this site. Much appreciated. Thanks
Hi,

I want to start importing fruits & vegetables, meat and fish to Jamaica, is that possible and is there market?
Where can i get information about this?
Some advice will be great
my e-mail lordrashyd@hotmail.com

Regards,

Rashyd
44
Sunita R Yadav
what a research helpes me alot in my school Model United Nations {MUN}
45
DA BOI
Thanks. This helped with how i can live with agriculture in my civilization.

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