Vegetables

"" ------ Photo Credit:Unsplash.com

Description

A vegetable is a plant cultivated for an edible part such as the leaf, stem or root. In 2010, China was the largest vegetable producing nation, with over half the world’s production. The scale of production varies from subsistence farmers supplying the needs of their family for food, to agribusinesses with vast acreages of single-product crops. Depending on the type of vegetable concerned, harvesting the crop is followed by grading, storing, processing and marketing.

Current Situation

A 2011 study titled “Developing an Action Plan for Promotion of a Regional Agribusiness Sector and Targeted Commodity Enterprises” by Landell Mills Development Consultants estimated that in 2008 the region produced 417,000 metric tons, with the main contributors being Haiti and Jamaica accounting for 77.6%.

CARICOM Vegetable Production 2013 (Tonnes). (Source: FAOSTAT)

 

COUNTRY

ITEMS

 TONNES

 

 

 

Antigua and Barbuda

Cabbages and other brassicas

               131

 

Tomatoes

               477

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

               341

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

                 86

 

Eggplants (aubergines)

               395

 

Chillies and peppers, green

                 94

 

Carrots and turnips

               303

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

               160

Sub total

 

            1,987

 

 

 

Bahamas

Cabbages and other brassicas

            1,342

 

Lettuce and chicory

               111

 

Tomatoes

            6,151

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

            2,087

 

Onions, shallots, green

               604

 

Okra

               461

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

         17,719

Sub total

 

         28,475

 

 

 

Barbados

Cabbages and other brassicas

               294

 

Lettuce and chicory

               493

 

Tomatoes

               945

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

               154

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

            1,188

 

Chillies and peppers, green

               423

 

Carrots and turnips

                 90

 

Okra

               331

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

            4,851

Sub total

 

            8,769

 

 

 

Belize

Cabbages and other brassicas

            1,539

 

Tomatoes

               768

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

               299

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

               157

 

Chillies and peppers, green

               733

 

Onions, shallots, green

               641

 

Carrots and turnips

               315

 

Okra

                 48

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

            4,599

Sub total

 

            9,099

 

 

 

Dominica

Cabbages and other brassicas

               790

 

Lettuce and chicory

               307

 

Tomatoes

               385

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

               897

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

            1,409

 

Carrots and turnips

               800

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

            2,300

Sub total

 

            6,888

 

 

 

Grenada

Cabbages and other brassicas

               203

 

Lettuce and chicory

               113

 

Tomatoes

               320

 

Cauliflowers and broccoli

                 19

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

               367

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

               148

 

Carrots and turnips

                 76

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

            2,473

Sub total

 

            3,719

 

 

 

Guyana

Cabbages and other brassicas

            2,255

 

Tomatoes

         11,657

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

            9,622

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

            3,144

 

Eggplants (aubergines)

            5,741

 

Chillies and peppers, green

            7,968

 

Onions, shallots, green

 

 

Okra

            3,394

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

            2,495

Sub total

 

         46,276

 

 

 

Haiti

Cabbages and other brassicas

         13,000

 

Lettuce and chicory

               550

 

Spinach

            1,200

 

Tomatoes

            2,600

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

               600

 

Eggplants (aubergines)

               850

 

Garlic

               600

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

       125,000

Sub total

 

       144,400

 

 

 

Jamaica

Cabbages and other brassicas

         34,584

 

Lettuce and chicory

         11,368

 

Spinach

         15,840

 

Tomatoes

         29,128

 

Cauliflowers and broccoli

            2,212

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

         52,072

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

         17,425

 

Eggplants (aubergines)

               481

 

Chillies and peppers, green

         15,204

 

Onions, shallots, green

         16,296

 

Carrots and turnips

         33,274

 

Okra

            6,701

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

         22,383

Sub total

 

       256,968

 

 

 

Montserrat

Tomatoes

               219

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

                 62

 

Chillies and peppers, green

                 26

 

Carrots and turnips

               160

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

               225

Sub total

 

               692

 

 

 

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Cabbages and other brassicas

                 68

 

Tomatoes

               220

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

               107

 

Chillies and peppers, green

                 61

 

Carrots and turnips

               156

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

               307

Sub total

 

               919

 

 

 

Saint Lucia

Cabbages and other brassicas

               460

 

Lettuce and chicory

               213

 

Tomatoes

               306

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

               285

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

               540

 

Carrots and turnips

                 16

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

            1,258

Sub total

 

            3,078

 

 

 

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

               263

 

Chillies and peppers, green

               613

 

Carrots and turnips

               569

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

            4,172

Sub total

 

            5,617

 

 

 

Suriname

Cabbages and other brassicas

            1,021

 

Tomatoes

            1,284

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

            1,131

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

         13,028

Sub total

 

         16,464

 

 

 

Trinidad and Tobago

Cabbages and other brassicas

               336

 

Lettuce and chicory

            2,281

 

Tomatoes

            1,501

 

Cauliflowers and broccoli

               215

 

Pumpkins, squash and gourds

            2,751

 

Cucumbers and gherkins

            1,217

 

Eggplants (aubergines)

            1,113

 

Chillies and peppers, green

               758

 

Carrots and turnips

 

 

Okra

            1,411

 

Vegetables, fresh nes

            1,146

Sub total

 

         12,729

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

       546,080

 

Current production is mainly for local production and the sector is under-capitalised. A wide range of vegetables are produced, but only a few such as pumpkins and hot peppers are consistently exported with the major deterrents being cost of production and quality.

Also there is currently no real standard or quality assurance for the region. This limits the ability to adequately market and export these products.

An FAO sponsored study titled “Fresh and Processed Produce Market - Opportunity Study” by Fitzroy James notes that in 2006, export of vegetables from mainly Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana were sent to the U.S., Canada and other CARICOM country markets, with primary focus on:

  • Mixed vegetables (71%)
  • Cabbages (8%)
  • Peppers (7%)

In the same report, vegetable imports to the region saw a significant volume of frozen and canned vegetables, and also primarily focused on:

  • Cabbage (22%)
  • Cauliflower (22%)
  • Mixed vegetables (22%)

The Landell Mills study presents an overview of the most popular vegetables as follows:

  • Pumpkins, squashes, and gourds. Produced by small and medium sized growers mainly in Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. They are sold both domestically and in North America
  • Tomatoes. Total production was estimated at around 35,000 metric tonnes in 2006 and is deemed self-sufficient. However the region continues to import during the rainy season which causes shortfall when demand is at its highest
  • Cabbages and other brassicas. Jamaica produces the bulk of cabbage and is also the exporter. However, exotic varieties such as red or purple cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and lettuces continue to be the shortfall resulting in import dependency
  • Cucumbers and gherkins. Produced throughout the region by small and medium scale farmers under greenhouse conditions. Main production stems from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, who are able to supply the local domestic market, although exports are minimal
  • Ackee. Technically a fruit, it is consumed as a vegetable, and Jamaica continues to be the major producer, with over 80% being consumed locally. Exports however reach the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands and other CARICOM countries. Although now also being produced for export in other countries, Jamaican ackee is preferred and therefore allows for a premium price on the market

Business Case

Why invest in vegetable production?

  • The region continues to be self-sufficient in gourds
  • Opportunities exist especially for small and medium size growers
  • Growing demand for organic vegetables which can create premium prices and a niche for the Caribbean trade if standards and protocols are generated and agreed upon
  • Potential to introduce modern farming techniques to increase yields and quality
  • The increased use of technology and innovation can result in higher yields for the small and medium size farmers
  • Green house technology can cater to shortfalls in seasonal supply

Share it now!

Product Benefits



Social Stream

Caribbean Agribusiness
Top


This website has been produced by the CARICOM Secretariat with the kind assistance of the European Union under the Caribbean component of the Intra-ACP Agricultural Policy Programme

      

Website developed by eCaribbean Ltd.
Content Management Consultant (2016) - Clearly Content Communications Inc.

Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, but make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, including the warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Through this website, you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of the CARICOM Secretariat or any of its partners or associates. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites and the inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorsement of the views expressed within them.