The Role And Importance Of Agriculture

Front 1

The importance of agriculture in national,regional and international economies

Back 1

Agriculture comes from the latin word agri cultura, meaning'cultivation of the field'. It covers all the skills,sciences,industries and services used by humans to obtain food from the land.

Cultivation of crops and the rearing of livestock,together with the related industries supplying seeds,chemical fertilizers,machinery, finance and technology.

Front 2

Foreign exchange

Back 2

Agriculture is very important to the economies to all Caribbean countries,both regionally and internationally.When Caribbean goods and services are sold to other countries, foreign exchange is earned.

Front 3

Foreign exchange earnings

Back 3

For example,the export of bananas and coffee earns foreign currency. However when foreign agricultural goods and services are imported, Caribbean currency is converted to foreign exchange; importing agricultural machinery from abroad is therefore a loss to the local community.

Front 4

Contribution to Gross National Product

Back 4

The gross national product (GNP) is a measure of the current value of goods and services from all sectors of the national economy.Agriculture is a vital sector of the national ecomony and contributes to the GNP.

Front 5

Food Security

Back 5

Food security means being self sufficient in food.Most Caribbean countries are now boosting their local food production and reducing food imports.

Front 6

Factors affecting food security

Back 6

▪Low agricultural productivity, resulting from inefficient use of water and other inputs.

▪A decline in earnings from traditionalcrops resulting from the loss of trade preferences.

▪Increased poverty in many countries because of a loss of agricultural jobs.

▪A dependency on imported food resulting from inability to produce food locally at competive prices.