Yams are the new agricultural crop now with US$37.4 million in export earnings in 2020, a 45 percent rise from 2017 and an area that grew 14 percent in 2018 over 2017 but rose just two percent in 2019 and up a strong 24 percent in 2020.
Ackee one of the best loved food items in Jamaica had a mere 3 percent rise in 2020 over 2017 but has fallen 25 percent in 2018 versus 2017, it grew 27 percent in 2019 and 7 percent in 2020. Other Food Exports grew 33 percent between 2017 and 2020 to reach US$33 million after rising 23 percent in 2020 over 2019. Meat & Meat Preparations export segment is not large in monetary terms with just US$9.4 million in export earnings in 2020 but it grew 38 percent over the four year period, since 2017, with an 11 percent increase, 15 in 2019 and 8 percent in 2020 over 2019.
The big question is whether all is being done to encourage continued growth in many of the promising areas that have emerged and could make meaningful contributions to export earnings, create increased employment and help in boosting the wider economy?
The Agriculture export star performers
April 30, 2021 by