Agriculture

Agriculture is the science of growing crops and raising animals to fulfil the human need for food or economic gain. Agriculture can be divided into two types: industrialised agriculture and subsistence agriculture.

Types of Farming

Commercial Agriculture

Commercial agriculture uses large amounts of land and relies on large inputs of capital and energy to produce crops as well as agrochemicals. Industrialised agriculture produces high yields but requires a great amount of energy relative to the food produced.

Subsistence Agriculture

Subsistence agriculture focuses on producing enough food for oneself and their family with any extra being sold off.  subsistence agriculture is normally labour-intensive and may come in many forms such as shifting cultivation which is a sustainable practice as long as there's a sufficient amount of land available.

Peasant Farming

Peasant farming is a small scale type of agriculture where crops and some livestock is produced on a small scale and feeds the family of the farmer and has a surplus intended for sale.

Factors Influencing Agricultural Land Use

• Economic Factors - subsidies, cost of land, transport costs, capital inputs, markets.
• Climatic Factors - water availability, light intensity, temperature.
• Physical Factors - relief of land, soil fertility, soil type.
• Political Factors - government policies, subsidies.
• Historical Factors - colonial past of islands, plantation economy.

Changes In Agriculture In The Caribbean

• Agriculture is no longer the main economic sector in the region.
• Sugar is no longer in high demand as it was a century ago.
• Countries that once produced one crop (monocropping) now produce others.
• Labour supply is declining as persons seek less labour intensive jobs.

Roles of Agriculture In The Caribbean

• Economic Benefit - creates employment, earns foreign exchange, adds to GDP.
• Raw Materials - provides raw material for food processing, agro-processing.
• Food Security - reduce need for imports, saves foreign exchange.

Trends In The Agricultural Sector In The Caribbean

• Decline in the workforce over time.
• Increased use of machinery.
• Increased use of fertilisers.
• Decline in agricultural exports.