Agriculture

Agriculture, the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals, is one of the most significant human activities in the Caribbean due to its economic, social, and cultural importance. It plays a vital role as a source of food, ensuring that populations have access to fresh produce and animal products. Agriculture also provides employment for thousands of people, from small-scale farmers to workers on large estates, helping many to improve their standard of living. It fosters economic linkages, supplying raw materials to secondary industries such as food processing, and encourages diversification of the economy away from dependence on a single sector. By producing more locally, agriculture can promote self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported foods. Furthermore, agricultural products are often exported, earning valuable foreign exchange for Caribbean nations.

Traditionally, Caribbean agriculture has taken two main forms: commercial and non-commercial farming. Commercial agriculture refers to large-scale production aimed primarily at export markets. This can be divided into commercial arable farming, which involves the cultivation of crops, and commercial pastoral farming, which focuses on livestock. Plantation agriculture, a form of commercial arable farming, was introduced during the colonial period when large expanses of flat, fertile land were dedicated to cash crops such as sugar cane. For example, under British colonial rule, extensive sugar cane plantations thrived, particularly in the 18th century. Today, while many Caribbean countries have moved towards agricultural diversification, large-scale sugar cane estates still exist in countries like Guyana. Commercial pastoral farming is also practiced in areas such as the Rupununi Savanna of Guyana, where cattle ranching dominates. In Trinidad and Jamaica, large cattle farms are common, and poultry, pigs, and goats are often reared in large, intensive facilities.

Non-commercial agriculture includes small-scale forms of farming, such as subsistence farming, where farmers produce only enough to meet the needs of themselves and their families. This is common among some indigenous tribes in rainforest areas. Shifting cultivation, a type of nomadic farming where agricultural plots are abandoned after a few years to allow the land to regenerate, is practiced in the rainforests and the Northern Range of Trinidad. Peasant farming, on the other hand, is small-scale agriculture aimed at the domestic market. This type of farming is widespread in Trinidad and Tobago, with examples including the Caroni and Naparima Plains, Aranjuez, and the foothills of the Northern Range.

In addition to traditional methods, non-traditional forms of agriculture have been emerging across the Caribbean. Aquaculture involves farming aquatic or marine organisms such as fish, crustaceans, and shellfish in controlled environments, often using man-made ponds. For instance, Lopinot Village in Trinidad has a fish-breeding pond, and Wa Samaki Ecosystems has engaged in aquaculture, transitioning from tilapia to aquarium fish. Aquaponics combines aquaculture with hydroponics, using fish waste water as fertilizer for plants. This form of organic farming is ideal for areas with poor soil but requires high installation costs and careful system monitoring, as seen in Baird’s Village, Barbados. Hydroponics, the growing of plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil, is practiced in various Caribbean countries, such as at the CuisinArt Resort and Spa in Anguilla.

Permaculture, another innovative method, focuses on sustainable land use by imitating natural ecosystems. It aims to prevent waste, protect biodiversity, and provide food, water, shelter, and energy in an environmentally friendly manner. Wa Samaki Ecosystems in Freeport, Trinidad, is a local example that also offers training in permaculture techniques. Horticulture, the cultivation of plants for medicinal, decorative, and practical purposes, includes growing herbs, shrubs, fruit trees, ornamentals, and lawns. Estates such as La Vega in Gran Couva are well-known for their horticultural activities, and the Horticultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago supports this sector.

Finally, apiculture, or beekeeping, involves the controlled management of honey bees in artificial hives to protect natural nests and ensure sustainable honey production. This practice dates back to at least 1902 in Trinidad, where the government has maintained an apiary and enforced strict laws to regulate honey imports. Today, apiaries such as Rancho Quemado and numerous others across the country contribute to both the local economy and biodiversity conservation.