Agricultural Resources Throughout the Islands of New Afrika (so-called Caribbean)

Afrikan souls have been gifted with abundance by the Creator Supreme from their origination upon Afrikan soil. Even with the advent of disruption, interruption and dispersion by other that mean the Afrikan ill powerful abundance continues. Within the Islands of New Afrika (so-Caribbean) where  most of the countries are overwhelmingly populated by Afrikan souls. In the realms of economic empowerment Afrikan self-governance throughout the region is surely key. With a cursory glance at agricultural resources that exist throughout the islands there is much economic growth and development that can surely take place to lift the lives and economic functioning of Afrikan souls in the world. Afrikan souls can surely trade with and empower each other throughout the world. From fragrancies and scents used to service popular fashion or cosmetic industries packaged and processed to attract high designer pricing, to spices, vegetables, sugar and coffee and a plethora of other stuffs the islands are a rich resource.

The following selected commentaries reflect some the detail:

Cuba

“Apart from sugarcane, the chief crops are rice (the main source of calories in the traditional diet), citrus fruits (which are also an important export), potatoes, plantains and bananas, cassava (manioc), tomatoes, and corn (maize)”.

Dominica

“Bananas are vital to the Dominican economy; they account for 70 percent of foreign exchange earnings. In addition, limes and coconuts are important products of the agricultural sector. Bay trees, timber and vanilla trees are also common. Dominica exports most of the world’s supply of bay oil. The US firm, International Flavours and Fragrances, exports tropical scents and flavours from Dominica. Small farmers in addition grow coffee, cocoa and nutmeg in small quantities”.

Grenada

“Because a variety of spices grow in Grenada, the island is called Spice Island. Nutmeg, pimento, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, etc., are some of trhese exotic spices. The famous nutmeg crop goes to the Netherlands to be processed according to an agreement which thereby guarantees a market and a price for it. Mace is also exported separately from nutmeg”.

Guyana

“Rice, which thrives in the hot, humid lowland conditions, is abundantly grown in the coastal areas. Much of it is exported within the Caricom countries and abroad. Guyana is the only [so-called] Caribbean which is self-sufficient in a cereal crop, that is, rice. The country has the potential of becoming the rice bowl or basket of the [so-called] Caribbean region and meeting the cereal needs of the entire [population of the islands and beyond]”.

Haiti

“Many farmers concentrate on subsistence crops, including cassava (manioc), plantains and bananas, corn (maize), yams and sweet potatoes, and rice… A mild arabica coffee is Haiti's main cash crop”

Jamaica

“A number of diverse products are grown: onion, tomato and scallion in the cool hills of St Elizabeth; potato in Guys Hill, Christiana and Hounslow; yams in Portland, oranges and grapefruit in Manchester; rice in Westmoreland, red bean in most areas, like cabbage, cauliflower, limes, pumpkin, plantain and a number of fruits. This reveals the potential for increased production for not only the local market but also the external market. It is possible to produce major feed ingredients such as soybean, corn and rice locally. Jamaica produces a good quantity of cocoa and coffee. Its blue mountain coffee is one of the best in the world and fetches a premium price in the world market. Jamaica has a local fishing industry geared for its local market. However, its freshwater fish industry is rapidly expanding”.

St. Kitts-Nevis

“St. Kitts sugar is one of the very few sugar industries in the [so-called] Caribbean which is still profitable. This is because the industry was bought out by the government…The whole process was then reorganised. The new organisation stimulated the industry to boom conditions, which were reflected in increased acreages, greater cane and sugar production, improved factory conversion ratios, substantial wage increases and a doubling of export receipts…in what must be one of the more efficient sugar production operations in the [islands]…there is one foreign investment in distillery producing 600.000 litres of cane spirit per year for export”.

St. Lucia

“Apart from bananas, coconut (copra) is the second most important export crop…Other tree crops grown in St. Lucia are cocoa, coffee, nutmeg, avocado, mango and citrus. They are grown , mostly in estates, throughout the country. Yams, dasheen, sweet potato and tannia are the staple food crops of the island and are grown widely on small farms. Production of vegetables such as tomato, cucumber, carrot, cabbage and cauliflower has increased in recent years”.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

“Agriculture is the major earner of foreign currency for St. Vincent-Grenadines. It also takes care of employment for more than 50 per cent of the working population, especially in the rural areas. Of this, banana grown mainly on farms of less than 1 hectare is the most important crop, accounting for over 60 percent of St. Vincent’s agricultural earnings…The island also produces coconuts and nutmeg, and has begun to cultivate sugar again after several years of inactivity. The arrowroot, its second largest export crop…The USA and UK buy 95 percent of St. Vincent’s arrowroot crop”.

Trinidad and Tobago

“Trinidad and Tobago produces a variety of food for local consumption, a range of vegetables, cassava, corn, rice, dasheen, fruits, green bean and dry bean…It is perhaps the only [so-called] Caribbean island which produces seeds of a number of vegetables and corn for local farmers. The majority of the population is East Indian and also dominates agricultural production”.    

Ujamaa Kiburi Siku is a wonderful part of the spiritual-cultural observance calendar of the Universal Royal Afrikan Nation. It takes place in the first week of June marking the time of significant occurrence both on the continent of Afrika and in the diaspora concerning Afrikan economy. Ujamaa Kiburi Siku as with the other observances on the Afrikan cultural calendar is just that – an observance. Therefore, wherever the Afrikan is whether at home, at a community gathering or elsewhere it can be observed.

The Universal Royal Afrikan Nation (URAN) is an Afrikan-centred spiritual and cultural mission for ascendancy that embodies living spiritually and culturally rooted life. To find out more about URAN and its spiritual-cultural mission for liberty and nationhood click here. The exquisite URAN pendant can be obtained online by clicking here.

In his capacity as an Afrikan-centred spiritual cultural practitioner this author is available for further learning in this regard and also for the carrying out of ceremonies such as naming and name reclamation. For details please click here.

Afrikan World Studies programmes are an important forms of study in understanding the Afrikan experience. There are a range of subjects covered on these programmes including History, Creative Production, Psychology and Religion. To find out more about these learning programmes please click here. For the video promo for these learning programmes click here.

Select resources are available online via the website  of Yemanja.

At nominal cost, also consider acquisition of an a4 laminate poster of articulations by this author when visiting the Yemanja institution to enrol, consult, learn, gather or otherwise.