Celebrate Cayman
Agriculture: A Brief Historical Perspective

For some 450 years, agriculturesustained life in the Cayman Islands. Everyone had a garden, andalmost all the trees planted in the yard bore fruit.

Those fortunate enough toown larger tracts of land planted provision grounds of pumpkins,sweet potato, melons, yams and cassava or raised cattle.

Indeed agricultural andmarine products formed the basis of the economy for example conch,lobster and coconuts from Bodden Town being traded for Lower Valleybeef, avocado pear and citrus.

A number of residents stillplant basil, seasoning peppers and fruit trees in their yards.

Many, knowing the nutritionalvalue of fresh produce, shop at the Farmers' Market.

And almost everyone loves(and can't imagine life without) fried plantain, Christmas beefand cassava cake.

The MassiveHydroponics Ltd., greenhouse located in Airport Industrial Park(Photo by Angela Piercy)

1773 A visitor writes that Grand Caymanproduces "a great quantity of Cotton" for export. Residentsgrow corn, yams, plantains, melons and "most kinds of fruitand vegetables that are to be found in Jamaica" for themselvesand for sale to passing ships. There are goats but no cattle andonly two horses.

1865 The Legislative Assembly passesa law: Cattle, horses, mules, asses, sheep and goats that trespass,damaging someone's pasture, provision ground or trees, will beimpounded until the owner pays for the damage.

1907 Coconuts from Cayman Brac and LittleCayman are listed among the Islands' exports in a report to Britain'sParliament. Cattle and horses are also exported and describedas "hardy and good working animals".

Bananas growingin East End (Photo by Suzette Ebanks)

1908 The Agricultural Society holdsits first show on the grounds of Government House. Produce displaysare called "small" and "disappointing" (dueto a drought) but are offset by a "good display of horses,cattle and poultry."

1909 A livestock census counts 1,619cattle, 293 horses, and 47 asses.

1910 The Agriculture Show of 19 Decemberin Victoria Park, George Town, displays entries in five adultcategories: canning and preserving, needlework, thatch work, produceand livestock. A sixth category is for schoolchildren. Gates openat 1:00pm; admission is threepence.

1943 A livestock census records 1,858cattle, 79 horses, and 101 asses.

1952 A Government report highlightsthe difficulties farmers must overcome: the November-to-Aprildry season; the rocky, shallow soil that requires manual labour;hurricanes that destroy permanent crops and annuals.

Mid-1970s The Department of Agriculture prints"Agriculture Straight Talk" in the Northwester magazine.The column covers such topics as weed control, hydroponics, managementtechniques and instructions for growing specific plants.

1978 The Agriculture Society opens afarmers' market on Fridays and Saturdays. Soon it's open fivedays a week. Limes sell at $.30 per dozen while supermarket limescost $.30 each!

1979 During the 1970s, banana, plantainand tomato production increased. In 1972 the Islands' harvested965 bunches of bananas, but seven years later, the harvest was20,500 bunches.

1986 Cayman Islands Economic DevelopmentPlan's goals for agriculture include developing self-sufficiencyin bananas and tomatoes, developing plant varieties best suitedto local conditions and strengthening the marketing system forproducers.

1991 200,000 pounds of bananas are imported.

1992 No bananas are imported. (By theend of the decade, bananas are once again being imported as wholesalersfind Central American bananas to be less expensive than localones.)

2003 As part of the Quincentennial Celebrationsthe Agriculture show will become a two day event, bigger and betterthan ever.

Return