Agriculture

Importance of Agriculture to the Caribbean Region

a. It’s a major foreign exchange earner/income.
b. It reduces the need for food imports.
c. It produces raw materials for food processing industries.
d. Provides employment for a large number of people.
e. Encourage the development of industries producing fertilizer, packaging materials
and other inputs.
f. Promotes the development of an efficient transport system.
g. It provides food for local consumption

Location of Commercial Arable and Peasant Farming in Jamaica

Commercial Arable - Sugar cane in Jamaica (Bernard Lodge; St. Catherine, Frome in
Westmoreland), Clarendon: Bananas in Jamaica (Oracabesa, Highgate (St. Mary): Portland (Port
Antonio, Bowden) St.Thomas: Coffee (Blue Mountains, Jamaica)

Peasant farming – Christiana (Manchester) and Yallahs Valley (St. Thomas) in Jamaica.
Characteristics of Commercial Arable Farming in Jamaica

Commercial Arable farming/Plantation agriculture refers to the cultivation of a single crop/crops

on a large/extensive scale. It involves the use of machinery, large capital, a good transport
system, labour and a good marketing system. Here farms specialize and produce for commercial
or trading purposes

The characteristics of a commercial arable farm are:

1. The size of the farm/land tenure – It is large, ranging from over 200hectares in Jamaica
to over 300-650 hectares in Canada.
2. Farming Practices/Monoculture is practiced – Only one/a single crop are planted on a
large scale for export e.g. sugar cane, bananas in the Caribbean: wheat in Canada.
3. Labour is highly mechanized/Use of machines – little manual labour is used. Machines
and new technology are widely used.
4. Market/Export oriented – crops are planted for sale abroad/overseas/internationally.
e.g. coffee, banana and sugar cane in Jamaica.

5. Technology/Cultivation is done mechanically and by the use of scientific research

(fertilizers, pesticides etc.)
6. Ownership/Highly capital – The farm is usually owned and there is the dependence on a
large amount of money for buildings, machinery, storage facilities, energy sources,
transportation etc.

Characteristics of Peasant Farming in Jamaica

1. Farms are usually small – less than 1 hectare (Some farms are larger). Size of Farm
2. They are usually fragmented and are either inherited or leased. Ownership
3. Labour is usually supplied by the farmer and his family. They sometimes work on
plantations. There is a system of day to day and morning sport where they give labour to
other farms who in return help on his. Labour
4. Farms are usually located on the hillside on less fertile soil.
5. They use traditional/simple tools such as hoe, cutlass, fork, spray cans etc. Technology
6. They have little or no capital/money.
7. They do mix farming – rearing animals and crops. E.g. pigs, poultry, goats, cabbage,
yam, pumpkin, pepper etc Farming Practices
8. Food is usually produced to be consumed by the family – an excess may be sold at the
roadside by way of stalls or sold to higglers. Some crops like coffee are sold to the Coffee
Board. Market
9. Transport is in the form of a cart/donkey, bus or trucks.
10. The farmer practices polyculture or the planting of many crops on the same piece of land.
FP
11. Use is made mainly of animal manure/droppings and the refuse from the kitchen as
fertilizer. Technology
N.B Some farms are bigger and as such they may be involved in sales of their product, have
machines, hire people to work etc.

Peasant farming is classified as subsistence or small farming where the farmer produces goods to
support himself and his family. Where surplus exist he may sell to hagglers or put up a stall and
sell by the roadside.

The commercial peasant farmer:

1. Larger farm space

2. Produce goods for the home, local market and for export through marketing boards like
Agro-Business.
3. Labour is usually provided by himself and hired labourers.
4. Mixed farming is done but crops are planted on a larger scale, crop rotation is also done.
5. His land is usually owned, rented, leased or inherited.
6. Use is made of machinery.
7. He uses artificial fertilizers.

Characteristics of Sugar Cane Farming

1. The land is large, flat or gently undulating/rolling plain (well-drained) as it allows for
cultivation by hand or mechanical equipment and the transportation of reaped canes to
the factory. Acreage
2. The soil must be rich, deep and well drained (fertilizers are used to assist in maintaining
fertility).
3. An annual average temperature of 26º C.
4. An annual rainfall of 2000 mm with most of it falling in the growing season. Where it is
inadequate, irrigation is used.
5. A dry, warm season to enable the canes to ripen so that a high sugar content forms in the
pith of the canes.
6. A large labour force to carry out the many tasks involved in planting, caring for, reaping
and processing the crop – manual and tractors for land preparation, harvesting and
technology used for spraying chemicals etc. Technology
 SUGAR PRODUCTION IN THE CARIBBEAN

In some Caribbean territories, sugar is produced from sugarcane. When sugarcane stalks are
brought to the sugar factory, the juice is extracted by crushing them. The remains of the cane
stalks, known as bagasse, can be used as raw material in making bagasse board or as fuel for the
boilers. The juice is filtered to remove any solid particles such as dirt or bits of cane. Lime is
added which causes the impurities in the juice to settle. The juice is then boiled under a vacuum,
releasing much of the water from it. This results in a mixture of sugar crystals and molasses. The
mixture is then placed in a centrifuge where it is spun at high speeds. This separates the sugar
crystals from the molasses. Molasses can be used in the making of animal feed or rum.

Trends in the Caribbean Sugar Industry

The nature of the sugar industry in the Caribbean has changed throughout the years. Generally,
the importance of sugarcane has decreased. Some small countries have stopped producing sugar
for export while others have greatly reduced sugar production.

In the past, Caribbean countries relied very heavily on sugar exports. This meant that changes in
the price of sugar had a great effect on these territories. The extensive cultivation of sugarcane
also meant that there was less land available to produce food for local use. In recent times,
Caribbean countries have made a greater effort to diversify. These territories have explored other
export crops. They are also growing more food and rearing more livestock for local markets.

Other uses of sugarcane are being explored in the region. One such use is the production of
ethanol, which can be mixed with gasoline. This mixture can be used to run motor vehicles. The
video below shows how Brazil has greatly reduced its need to import fuel by producing ethanol.
Cuba is trying to do the same.

Sugar Production in Guyana

Guyana is the largest sugar producer in the Caribbean Community. Sugarcane is grown in
several areas near the coast. Temperatures are high all year round and the area receives about
2000 mm of rain each year. This is good as sugarcane requires high temperatures and at least
1500 mm of rain annually to thrive. Also, there are two rainy seasons and two drier periods.
Therefore, there are two sugarcane harvests per year. The sugarcane is allowed to grow during
the wetter periods and harvested in the drier periods.

The soil near the coast is deep and fertile. It is therefore suitable for growing sugarcane. Most of
Guyana’s population lives on the narrow coastal plain, providing the sugar estates with an
adequate supply of unskilled as well as skilled labour. The main road which runs along the coast
makes estates easily accessible and also provides the estates with access to other areas.

The fact that the estates are located near the coast makes it easier to export their finished product.
All sugar estates are located relatively close to one of the ports from which sugar is exported.
Sugar is transported by ship from Blairmont,  Skeldon or Georgetown.

Growing Sugarcane

The system of sugarcane cultivation in Guyana makes controlled flooding possible. Before
sugarcane is planted, the fields may be flooded for months. This kills weeds and also deposits
minerals and nutrients in the soil. It also helps to control pests. This lessens the need for
weedicides, pesticides and fertilizers. Parasites such as the amazon fly are used to control pests.

The planting of sugarcane is usually done by hand. Cane is usually planted in beds to aid
drainage and this makes the use of machinery difficult. In some cases, the soil is too soft for
heavy machinery to operate. Heavy machinery is used in only a few places.

There are many canals which cross the sugarcane fields. Almost one eighth of the area of the
average sugarcane field is taken up by canals. This elaborate system of canals is used for
irrigation. These canals are also used for transporting the canes to the factories. Sugarcane is
transported in small flat bottomed boats (known as punts) from the fields to the factories.
Sugarcane is usually harvested manually. After the cane is harvested, the roots are sometimes left
in the ground to produce new plants. This is known as ratooning. This is done up to four times.
Then the fields are ploughed and replanted.

It is important to note that much of the work involved in sugarcane cultivation is done by hand.
This includes planting and harvesting. Therefore sugarcane cultivation in Guyana can be
described as labour intensive.

Marketing Sugar

In Guyana, eight sugar factories are operated by a government owned sugar company called
Guysuco. It grows sugar on 470 square kilometers of land. Some sugarcane is also grown by
independent farmers. Sugar production in Guyana was over 218,000 tonnes in 2013.

Most of the sugar produced in Guyana is exported to the European Union. Some is exported to
the United States. Some is sold to other Caricom member states including Suriname, Dominica,
Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada and Jamaica. These markets pay more than the world price, allowing
the sugar industry to remain profitable. After supplying these markets, any remaining sugar is
sold on the world market.

WHEAT FARMING IN CANADA

The prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) are the most important agricultural
regions in Canada. They encompass an area of approximately 1.96 million square kilometers.
This area experiences a large annual range of temperature, ranging from below freezing in winter
to about 18 degrees Celsius in summer. Rainfall is generally light with most areas receiving
250mm – 500mm of rain per year. The soil is deep and has a high humus content. Wheat farming
is an important activity on the Canadian Prairies.

Wheat is one of the world’s important cereal crops. More land is used for growing wheat than
any other crop in the world. Wheat is processed to produce wheat flour which in turn is used to
make many of the things we eat. In order for wheat to thrive, the following conditions are
necessary:

 Annual rainfall between 300mm and 500mm, most of which should occur in the growing
season.
 Temperatures should be between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius during the three month growing
period.
 Large areas of flat land to enable the use of large machines.
 Deep, humus rich soil.
All these conditions exist on the Canadian Prairies. Therefore, this area is ideal for growing
wheat.

Growing Wheat

After the snow melts and the ground thaws out, the fields are ploughed using large tractors with
special attachments. This usually takes place in May. The seeds are planted using large machines
and they germinate within a week. As the wheat grows it is fertilized. The crop is also sprayed to
control pests and diseases.

The wheat ripens between the end of August and early September. The crop turns a golden
yellow colour. Wheat must be harvested quickly before colder weather causes frost (which can
damage the plants and reduce yields). Combine harvesters are used to cut the crop and separate
the grain from the rest of the plant. The wheat is then transported by truck to the nearest grain
elevator. The video below shows wheat being harvested in Canada.

Trends in Canadian Wheat Farming

Wheat farms are very large. Many are over 600 hectares in size.  This is an extensive form of
agriculture. The yield per hectare is low; however, farms are so large that farmers are able to
make large profits.

Wheat farming is capital intensive. There is a very heavy reliance on machinery for ploughing,
planting, spraying the crop and harvesting. A large proportion of expenditure goes toward
machinery, chemicals and other equipment. Most of the work can be handled by just a few
workers using machines such as combine harvesters and harrows. One or two extra helpers may
be hired during planting or harvest time.

The trend on the Canadian Prairies is towards larger farms. For instance, average farm size in
Saskatchewan is now about 675 hectares. The number of farms has decreased significantly
during the past few decades. There is also a trend toward using less labour and more machinery.
The machinery being used is also becoming more sophisticated.

Peasant Farming

Peasant farming refers to a type of small scale agriculture. Peasant farmers grow crops and often
rear some livestock on a small scale. Some of the produce is used to feed the family and the
surplus is sold. In Guyana, many farmers practice this type of agriculture on the narrow coastal
plain.

An average peasant farm in Guyana is less than 10 acres in size. The farmer and family members
provide most of the labour. Most of the land is used for growing crops. Peasant farmers grow a
variety of crops including tomatoes, cabbages, peppers, ginger, yams, legumes and rice. Crop
rotation is usually practiced. For instance, small farmers often rotate legumes with peppers or
vegetable crops. Peasant farmers often rear some livestock including chickens, ducks and other
small animals.
Farming is done using mostly labour intensive methods and traditional hand tools. Several
irrigation channels or canals are used to supply crops with water. Manure and compost are used
as fertilizers.

More modern methods are sometimes employed especially for the cultivation of rice. Tractors
may be used to prepare the land. Chemical fertilizers are used. Combine harvesters are
sometimes hired to harvest rice when needed.

Farming practices, technology (tools, use of materials, techniques and sources of power to
improve productivity, markets)

Changes in Commercial Farming

Govt policies e.g. issues of food security, bio-fuels, value-added products, technology, shade
houses, new markets)

Impact on Economic Development

1. Cost and availability of traditional products

2. Income
3. Government revenue
4. Job opportunities
5. Diversification

Agriculture Contribution to Environmental Degradation

1. Deforestation
2. Soil erosion
3. Soil exhaustion
4. Flooding
5. Pollution