Trinidad & Tobago 
The twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the leading producer of oil and gas in the Caribbean. As a result, the agricultural sector is small by comparison but is still regarded as a socially and commercially important sector, as it accounts for use of some 16.7% of the land area. While the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP of the country is less than 1%, it contributes 5% to total employment, and is particularly beneficial to those living in rural communities.
A national economic policy and strategy has been conceptualised which places greater emphasis on the growth of the non-oil foreign exchange earnings and relatively labour-intensive sectors of the economy, such as tourism, agriculture, agro-processing, and financial services.
Action Plan for Agriculture
The National Food production Action Plan 2012-2015 was developed out of this strategy and aims to:
- reduce the food import bill
- reduce food price inflation
- create sustainable, long term productive employment
- contribute to the diversification of the economy; and increase the country’s food security
Staples selected to be developed under the food security component of the plan were:
- Rice
- Dasheen
- Cassava
- Eddoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Breadfruit
Vegetables earmarked to be grown to support the domestic market were:
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Peppers
- Pak Choi
- Lettuce
- Melongene
The plan also seeks to encourage the growth of legumes and pulses like:
- Black Eye Peas
- String Beans
- Pigeon Peas
- Bodi (long beans)
- Seim (Dolichos lablab)
It also focuses on producing a year-round supply of fruits like:
- Citrus
- Sucrier
- banana
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Dwarf Pommecythere (golden apple)
- Papaya (Pawpaw)
- Avocado
- Watermelon
- Banana/Plantain
- Coconuts for water
Livestock/ Aquaculture
The strategic plan in this area is to increase the levels of pork and poultry production as well as fish stock.
The 2012 – 2015 Action Plan outlines several challenges to the development of the sector including:
- an inconsistent supply of vegetables during the year
- inconsistent quality of vegetables
- misuse of pesticides
As a result, a number of strategies have been developed to address these challenges. They include: the development of technology and infrastructure for post-harvest storage and the handling of produce; developing and encouraging farmers to use protected production systems; improving the system of farm certification; and, working with the Ministry of Health to develop the capability of pesticide testing of plant produce for consumption.
Suriname 
Suriname, officially known as the Republic of Suriname is a sovereign state on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. At 165,000 km2 it is the smallest country in South America. In 2010, agriculture accounted for 10% of the country’s GDP. Agricultural activities take place mainly along the coast and account for 16% of the country’s economically active population.. However agriculture continues to be important to Suriname because:
- It is a major source of employment in rural areas
- It provides around 5% of the country’s generation of foreign exchange
- It is responsible for the production of the population’s main staple food, rice
Crops cultivated in Suriname include rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, peanuts, plantains, cassava and citrus fruits. Forest production also takes place. Rice and bananas continue to be the main exports showing an upward trend from US $69 million in 2007 to US $115 million in 2011.
In the fisheries sector, fish and shrimp continue to be the main exports, while livestock commodities including beef, poultry, pork and dairy are all net imports.
All eggs consumed in Suriname are domestically produced.
St. Lucia 
St. Lucia is one of the Windward Islands within the Eastern Caribbean. Currently, agriculture contributes 3% of Saint Lucia’s GDP and there are many small and medium sized agricultural enterprises. However, the country’s economy also depends significantly on its major natural resources – beaches, minerals and mineral springs, in addition to its services.
Trading partners for St. Lucia are the United Kingdom, US, Brazil, Peru, France, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Bananas have been the major crop for many decades although production levels have declined considerably.
As a result, government, with the assistance of the Taiwanese government, has taken steps to combat the Black Sigatoka disease, also known as the banana leaf spot disease, and has been paying close attention to existing and emerging challenges and threats such as Panama Disease.
With regard to the coconut industry, there is an effort to further develop production and to find increased export opportunities.
In the area of livestock, government is trying to increase production, primarily for food security reasons and to reduce the import food bill.
St. Lucia produces the following crops:
- Bananas
- Coconuts
- Vegetables
- Mangoes
- Papayas
- Pineapples
- Soursops
- Passionfruit
- Guavas
- Root crops
- Cocoa
St. Kitts & Nevis 
The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is a two-island country in the Leeward Islands chain and is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, both in area and population. Its economy is characterised by tourism, agriculture and manufacturing.
About 15,700 acres of land in St. Kitts and Nevis is used for agricultural purposes. This represents some 24% of the total land area. Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after several decades of losses. Subsequently, the government embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as export-oriented manufacturing and offshore banking.
Over the period 2009 – 2014, agriculture, on average, contributed 5.07% to 2.5% to GDP. The government’s agricultural diversification programme is continuing with emphasis on crops and livestock such as hot pepper, Irish and sweet potato, vegetables, dairy, beef, mutton, pork and poultry.
In Nevis, sea-island cotton and coconuts are the major agricultural products. On both islands, holdings are small and farmers grow vegetables for local consumption but less than 10% of the fresh produce consumed on the islands is grown locally.
The livestock sector includes cattle, small ruminants and pigs.
The country has a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons that aid farming of most crops. In 2013, the total population contributing to agriculture was estimated at 5,000 (21% of the working population), with 20% female and 80% male.
Crops primarily grown as agricultural products in St. Kitts and Nevis are:
- Peanuts
- Sea island cotton
- Coconuts
Crops primarily grown for local consumption in St. Kitts and Nevis are:
- Sweet potatoes
- Rice
- Yams
- Bananas
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Cabbages
- Carrots
- Breadfruit
St. Kitts and Nevis are beneficiaries of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF). Through this, the Republic of China-Taiwan provides humanitarian aid, technical assistance, education and training and loans and investments to the industry.
Current Economic Contribution of Market Infrastructure in St Kitts Nevis [1]
|
|
|
|
Million EC$ |
|
Million US$ |
|
No. |
Year |
Contribution by Agriculture |
Total G.D.P |
% Contribution (P) |
(1 US = 2.7 EC) |
|
1 |
2009 |
15.86 |
1,914.01 |
0.8% |
1.00 |
|
2 |
2010 |
18.80 |
1,869.64 |
1.0% |
1.28 |
|
3 |
2011 |
19.54 |
1,965.74 |
1.0% |
1.33 |
|
4 |
2012 |
18.04 |
1,976.18 |
0.9% |
1.24 |
|
5 |
2013 |
20.61 |
2,125.68 |
1.0% |
1.41 |
|
6 |
2014 |
19.85 |
2,300.95 |
0.9% |
1.37 |
[1] Data adapted from ECCB Statistical Report - GDP Estimates by Economic Activity in Current Prices (1977-2017)
Saint Vincent & The Grenadines 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is another promising agricultural country. The main island, St. Vincent, is the largest of 150 islands and cays (the Grenadines), which are located to its south. Volcanic in nature, St. Vincent is forested and mountainous. Its fertile lands, forests and marine life are some of the island's best assets.
The country has had mixed economic performance in the last decade (2006 – 2016) and it has been noted that the agriculture and industrial sectors were declining while service sectors (Government services, wholesale retail trade, and financial services) were increasing in importance and relative contribution to GDP. Agriculture’s contribution to GDP declined from 12.55% in 1996 to 6.2% in 2013. Even with the decline of the island’s primary crop, banana, due to the dismantling of the special European Union access arrangements, agriculture remains the major economic contributor and source of employment. The country’s agro processing/value-adding sector is performing well. There is room for investment.
As outlined in the St. Vincent & the Grenadines National Economic and Social Development Plan 2013-2025, government is committed to diversifying the industry by investing in modern technology and by creating linkages with sectors such as tourism and manufacturing.
Government also aims to expand and encourage private sector investment in agro-processing, encourage entrepreneurship among farmers, and increase youth involvement in the sector through training and access to land. There is an effort to diversify crop production beyond bananas to include coconuts, arrowroot and root crops such as cassava, yams and sweet potatoes.
The mountainous terrain and small size are restrictive to large scale farming. As a result the majority of agricultural activities take place on small farmer holdings.
The livestock industry consists of small ruminants (sheep and goats). Chicken is also produced but imports of chicken meat exceed local production.
St. Vincent is a beneficiary of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF). Through this, the Republic of China-Taiwan provides humanitarian aid, technical assistance, education and training and loans and investments to the industry.
Crops primarily produced in St. Vincent include:
- Banana – the island grows approximately 12 varieties
- Arrowroot - St. Vincent is the world’s largest producer of this crop
- Root crops (dasheen, cassava, yam and sweet potato)
- Fruit bearing vegetables (tomato, ochra, eggplant, cucurbits, sweet pepper)
- Fruits (mango, coconut, citrus, pineapple, guava, avocado, wax apple, breadfruit and dragon fruit)
- Leafy and flower bearing vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, pak choi)
- Vegetables with edible roots and tubers (carrot, radish & beet)
- Coconuts, flowers, spices and limited sugar cane
- Fish, plantain and peppers
- Beekeeping and honey production are emerging
Montserrat 
Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory located in the Leeward islands, measuring 16 km long and 11 km wide. Since the devastation of Hurricane Hugo and the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano, the Montserratian economy has been effectively halted and imports include virtually everything available for sale on the island. Half of the island remains uninhabitable, and economic activities particularly in agriculture and tourism, continue to be determined by the volcanic activity as the agriculture sector has been affected by the destruction of crops and limited land for farming.
Jamaica 
Jamaica is the third largest island in the Greater Antilles and the fourth largest in the Caribbean. Agriculture is one of its major sectors.
The sector currently contributes 7% to the GDP and employs 17% of the workforce, with 27% being female and 73% male. The island produces sugar, molasses, rum, bagasse, bananas, coffee, cocoa, citrus fruit, ground provisions, canned fruit, essential oils, marmalade, coconuts, Jamaican ackee, pimento, ginger, tobacco, beans, tomatoes, rice, poultry, pork, beef, goat meat and dairy products.
Regarding livestock, the country boasts substantial holdings. However meat and dairy products such as powdered milk, butter and cheese are not enough to meet local requirements for a growing population.
Jamaica supplies half of its fish requirements. It continues to employ a vast majority of workers in the agriculture sector, with over 14,000 registered fishermen in 2002. Exports include conch, and lobster.
Haiti 
Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti is a sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles. With an estimated size of 27,750 square kilometers, Haiti has 10.6 million people, making it the most populous country in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-- approximately 61% of the CARICOM population.
Half of all Haitians work in the agricultural sector with 40% depending solely on the sector, although the country relies on imports to supply 44%of their food needs. Agriculture, along with forestry and fishery accounts for 25% of Haiti’s gross domestic product (2012).
Notably, Haiti is the world’s leading producer of vetiver, a root plant used to make luxury perfumes and produces half of the world’s supply. The country also exports:
- Mangoes
- Cacao
- Papayas
- Mahogany Nuts
- Spinach
- Watercress
- Coffee
Haiti also produces corn, beans, cassava, yams, sweet potato, peanuts, bananas, millet, pigeon peas, sugarcane, rice, sorghum and wood. It also has a small fishing industry with catches totaling 5,000 tons in recent years.
In terms of livestock, the national herd is over 4.6 million head with 45% goats, 24% cattle, 23% pigs and 8% sheep and also produces high quality baby chicks for export to poultry farmers.
Manufacturing is also an emerging industry producing beverages, butter, edible oils, and flour..
Despite the variety of crops that this country is able to produce, it remains vulnerable due to damage from frequent natural disasters.
Guyana 
Guyana is a sovereign state on the northern mainland of South America. Agriculture is one of its main economic activities with 51,000 (14%) of the working population in the sector. Given the size of Guyana, and the importance of the agriculture sector, as well as the large volumes of products available, it is expected that the country would have a sophisticated marketing network. And what might be deemed small scale production in Guyana would yield three to four times more than a similar producer in other Caribbean countries.
In 2015, agriculture accounted for 21.8% of Guyana’s GDP , 30% of employment and 40% of export earnings with the production of:
- Rice
- Demerara sugar
- Livestock production
- Shrimp
Other products produced by Guyana include:
- Edible oils
- Beef
- Pork
- Poultry
- Fish
- Ginger
- Coconuts
- Pineapples and other citrus fruits
- Bananas
- Ground provisions
- Tomatoes
- Boulanger
- Eschallot
- Bora
- Cucumber
Agriculture remains central to the country’s food security, supplying significant amount of fruits and vegetables, chicken, beef, and pork to satisfy local consumption. The rice industry especially has recorded consistently high levels of output, breaking the 400,000 tonne bar, in 2011, and the 500,000 tonne bar, in 2013. For 2014, rice output attained an impressive 635,238 tonnes, an increase of 18.6%. Other crops such as vegetables, staple crops, fruits and spices are being produced in larger quantities to satisfy local needs as well as to meet the requirements of export markets.
The vast majority of agricultural activity takes place in Guyana’s coastal plains. The local climate is tropical, generally hot and humid, with two rainy seasons from May to mid-August and the second from mid-November to mid-January.
The fisheries sector continues to be a major source of animal protein in Guyana and contributed G$157 million (2.8%) to total GDP in 2004, greater than that of rice (2.6%). In aquaculture particularly, species grown are queriman, snook, croaker, bashaw, tilapia, tarpon, shrimp, tilapia, and catfish.
Grenada 
Grenada’s primary natural resources are its fertile arable lands, forests, and marine resources. The agriculture sector is the main user of these resources and is a major contributor to the country’s economic and social development. Activities in the agriculture sector also have significant impact on the sustainability of the resources it uses.
Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005) severely damaged the agricultural sector in Grenada. Banana, one of Grenada’s major export crops since the 1960s, was totally devastated and the island has had to import banana from Suriname to meet local needs. Grenada is the world’s second largest producer of nutmeg which accounts for more than 50 per cent of the country’s agricultural export earnings.
Agriculture which employs 11% of the island’s labour force has been recovering slowly and contributed 5.6% to the island’s GDP in 2014.
With regard to the economy, it is slowly recovering from a protracted recession following the 2008-12 global financial crises. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) projected modest positive economic growth in the short to medium term averaging 2.6% between 2013 and 2015.
Agricultural findings for Grenada include:
- Between 2010 and 2014 growth in the agricultural sector averaged 7.4% per annum compared to average real GDP growth of 1.5% during that period. Overall the sector has been one of the major contributors to the country’s recent improved economic performance.
- Earnings from agricultural exports, which accounted for 47% of total exports between 2010 and 2014, have shown robust growth since 2007, increasing at an average annual rate of 5.5% between 2007 and 2014, although this growth has been fuelled mainly by increases in export prices.
- The main exports were nutmeg and mace, fish, milling products, cocoa, and fruits;
- The main imports for the 2010-2014 period were meats (mainly chicken), cereals and cereal preparations, and dairy products which together accounting for over 60% of food imports. Fruits and vegetables accounted for only 3% of food imports;
- There was significant decline in the amount of lands under agriculture (24%) and number of farmers (22%) between 1995 and 2012. The largest decline was in farms larger than 25 acres. Based on the 2012 Grenada Agricultural Census (GAC), 25% of the available agricultural lands were uncultivated in 2012. Average farm size also dropped slightly from 2.62 acres in 1995 to 2.54 in 2012
- The agriculture sector accounted for 9.6% of the labour force in 2012 and was the second largest employment source by sector.
- Agro processing is carried out mainly at a cottage level but recently there has been significant private investments in cocoa and nutmeg processing
- There has been a decline in the use of agricultural inputs (fertilizer, herbicides, etc.) but increased use of farm machinery and equipment
The sector is highly vulnerable to climate change, and increased incidence of natural disasters and other extreme weather events.
Dominica 
The Commonwealth of Dominica, also known as the nature island of the Caribbean, is the most northerly and largest of the Windward Islands. It is heavily forested and is renowned for its lakes, waterfalls and over 365 rivers.
The Dominican economy has largely been dependent on agriculture, primarily bananas; but government is also seeking to promote the country as an "ecotourism" destination.
The agricultural sector is a significant contributor to the economy of Dominica, contributing approximately 17%, or US $93.4 million to the country’s GDP. It is also a major source of jobs in Dominica, employing an estimated 7,000 out of the estimated 32,000 persons actively seeking employment. This represents 21% of the active work force.
Crops
An estimated 34.7% of land is used for agriculture in Dominica, with permanent crops making up 24% of that number. There is also an additional 8% of arable land. While Dominica’s rocky and mountainous terrain makes it unsuitable for plantation production, the climate, fertility, and topography are favorable for tree crops.
Dominica experienced a "banana boom" in the 1980s when it was assured access into the UK market. At that time, banana exports accounted for as much as 70% of export earnings. With the decline in the European market as an export destination, more emphasis has been placed on diversification into other crops such as citrus fruits, vegetables, coffee, cocoa, coconuts, herbal oils, extracts, patchouli, aloe vera, cut flowers, mangoes, guavas, and papayas.
Livestock
Livestock is a minor but significant contributor to the sector. Laying hens, poultry, cattle, goats, sheep, and pork are grown primarily for local consumption.
Fishing
There is a relatively large fishing industry in Dominica, but it is small-scale and almost exclusively serves the domestic market. A successful experiment in fresh-water prawn farming, supported by Taiwanese aid, has produced substantial amounts of prawns for the domestic and local markets. Japan has provided support for a fish landing and processing plant in Roseau.
Belize 
Belize is a country on the eastern coast of Central America, and while over 60% of Belize’s land surface is covered by forest, some 20% of the country’s land is covered by cultivated land (agriculture) and human settlements. Belize has a small, mostly private enterprise economy that is based primarily on export of agriculture, agro-based industry, crude petroleum, and tourism. In agriculture, citrus and sugar remain the chief crops accounting for nearly half of exports while the banana industry is the population’s largest employer.
In 2011, the country’s gross exports amounted to US $345.7 million with citrus (14.8%), sugar (13%), banana (9.1%), marine products (7.1%) and papaya (3.3%).making up the largest categories.
Bahamas 
The chain of islands known as the Bahamas, officially called the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, consists of 700 islands, cays, and islets in the Atlantic Ocean. The Bahamian economy is heavily dependent on the tourism and financial services sectors. Agriculture and fisheries sectors account for 5% of both GDP and employment. Despite this, the importance of these sectors to the socioeconomic well-being of the country cannot be ignored.
An estimated 80% ($250 million worth) of the Bahamian food supply continues to be imported. Expansion of the agriculture and fisheries sectors in sustainable, cost effective ways can only assist in the diversification of the local economy and reduce its dependency on imports.
Agricultural production in the Bahamas focuses on four main areas: crops, poultry, livestock and dairy, with most agriculture products consumed domestically.
The Bahamas exports lobster and some fish but does not raise these items commercially.
Action Plan for Agriculture
The government aims to:
- expand food production to reduce imports and generate foreign exchange
- increase foreign investment in beef, pork, fruits and nuts, dairy production, winter vegetables, and mariculture (Shrimp farming)
- develop the Family Islands by increasing imports of machinery, excise taxes on farming and construction and increase the number of farmers and entrepreneurs in the Family Islands
- expand exports and facilitate technology sharing between countries
- make each island self-sufficient in poultry and pork products
- expand production in sweet potatoes, bananas, onion, Irish potatoes and pigeon peas
Land
With regard to land use, agriculture is carried out on small plots throughout the most of the islands with about 1% of the land area cultivated. The government has taken steps to expand and improve agriculture in reserving 182,000 hectares (452,000 acres) exclusively for farming, of which 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) is for fruit farming.
Most of the land earmarked for low-cost agricultural leases are found on Andros, Abaco and Grand Bahama.
Agriculture is done on a small scale, producing mainly for domestic consumption. The most lucrative export is grapefruit, generating US$459,000 in 2010.
Barbados 
The major thrust in the agricultural sector in Barbados is to reduce the food import bill. Among the issues that hinder the achievement of this goal are, high energy costs, insufficient sector investment, and insufficient human resources involved in production. This all results in a marked reduction in the contribution of agriculture to GDP and an overall low level of food security.
In the area of fisheries, Barbados’ fishing industry, says the FAO, comprises nine main fisheries:
- shallow shelf reef fishes
- deep slope fishes
- coastal pelagic
- large pelagic
- flying fish
- sea urchins
- turtles (now closed)
- lobsters
- conch (seasonal fishing permitted)
The FAO goes on to say that in 2002 flying fish (Hirundichthys affinis) was the most important species for fisheries in Barbados comprising approximately 64% of the total annual landings. The second most important species was dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) which comprised 22% of the total annual landings.
Barbados is also known for a number of superior quality agro-based products such as:
- Sugar and rum
- West Indian Sea Island Cotton
- Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
- Barbados cherry
A country report commissioned on behalf of CARICOM indicates that the sugar and rum segments have been receiving attention through restructuring to enhance efficiencies while attempts at the revival of the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep industry, a much-sought after meat and a prominent hair sheep, continue.
Still, on a per capita basis, Barbados imports the most food amongst the countries studied to feed its local and visitor population. Total annual imports of food products averaged USD $315 million between 2010 and 2015 with imports of:
- beverages and spirits at USD $43 million
- edible preparations at USD $31 million
- dairy products, eggs, honey and edible animal preparations averaged at USD $29 million
- cereal, flour, starch, milk preparations’ averaged at USD $27 million
In the case of fruits, Barbados imports 93% of its requirements.
According to Chapter 3 of Barbados’ Medium Term Development Strategy 2010-2014: “The Agricultural sector has undergone and will continue to undergo significant changes in order to combat the challenges inherent in the domestic and external environment.
On the domestic front, agriculture continues to compete with other sectors for scarce resources such as land, labour and capital.”
This clearly indicates that the agricultural sector will continue to face severe challenges and suggests the continuing need for policy measures aimed at stimulating sector growth. The Country Report commissioned on behalf of CARICOM also noted that in 2013, Barbados developed a Strategic Plan for the transformation of the agricultural sector based on the theme “Food Security” as the current level of food imports was deemed unacceptable by the Minister of Agriculture.
Barbados’ land area is 431 square kilometres (sq. km) with 140 sq. km. available for production. And of this amount, 12,000 hectares are classified as arable. Permanent crops occupy 2.33% of this area and other crops and livestock on 69.77% (2011) with about 5,400 ha or 12% irrigated (2013).
Increasing competitiveness of sugarcane
The sugarcane industry, once a major occupier of arable lands, has been restructured to improve international competitiveness by emphasizing the provision of biomass for the cogeneration of electricity in order to augment the energy supply to the national grid, as well as strengthening linkages with the Tourism/Services sectors.
Cotton, once a vibrant export commodity is now only occupying a small acreage despite the potential to produce high quality cotton.
Overall, the agriculture sector continues to be affected by:
- adverse weather conditions
- labour shortages and relatively low labour productivity
- decreased acreage under cultivation
- declining yields
- larceny
- high cost of inputs and services
Looking to the future with strategic plan
In the National Strategic Plan of Barbados (2005-2025), a series of strategies to enhance the Competitiveness of the Agriculture Sector so that it can compete in both the domestic and international markets and increase output are outlined.
One of the strategies is to restructure and modernise the entire agricultural sector to enhance productivity and product quality, reduce cost and post-harvest losses and create value-added to increase local consumption and export potential. This will be achieved through:
- The development and revitalisation of the sugar industry, by radically transforming the profile of the local industry from sugar based to sugar cane based production, with emphasis on utilising modern, efficient technology to produce various by-products for export such as, fuel, molasses, branded sugar and specialty sugar, and capitalising on available intellectual property.
- The development and promotion of the regional integrated cotton industry based on the production and sale of value-added West Indian Sea Island Cotton products to export markets.
- The development of the food crop sub-sector using measures to increase yields and create value-added through food processing and marketing to facilitate export; in addition to the development of measures to become self-sufficient in the production of tropical vegetables.
- The development of the livestock sector to increase and satisfy local market demand by instituting measures to ensure: the production and supply of quality, inexpensive feed; a fair price to farmers for their products; the development of value-added products and the quality of local meats.
- The implementation of a programme for sustainable fisheries development.
- The integration of new technologies to expand floriculture for export in Barbados
- The institution of a regulatory system to source the necessary skilled labour and the encouragement of the establishment of service providers for agricultural related labour activities
- The implementation of a mechanization strategy with a view to reducing per unit costs and increasing on-farm productivity
- The promotion of manageable forms of multi-farm usage of machinery (such as the establishment of machinery rings to improve the economics of machinery usage)
- The promotion of modern technologies including hydroponics, green houses, and the utilization of new product varieties
Antigua & Barbuda 
The Antigua and Barbuda economy is dominated by the service sector, led by tourism, and a relatively small agriculture sector, comprising less than 4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The value of such contributions averaged US$121.5 million over the 2001-2004 period, led by fisheries, which contributed 50% of the total.
In spite of these economic indicators, the weight of the contribution of agricultural activity must be measured in its significant contribution to employment of approximately 5,000 persons, including female producers, food security and social welfare, that supports the current Human Development Index (HDI) rank of 55. The continued development of the food, agriculture and natural resources sector is critical to maintain and improve the HDI, as well as contribute to economic growth.
