Output for some traditional export crops declined by 23.5 per cent during the first quarter of 2025, largely due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl in late 2024, data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has shown.

According to preliminary estimates released by the entity last week, key crops such as bananas and sugar cane were severely affected. This, as banana production fell by 24.9 per cent, while sugar cane declined by 6.8 per cent, significantly weighing down the sector’s overall performance.

“Relative to other agricultural crops, this crop group requires a longer gestation period — that is, a longer maturity time from planting to harvest, upwards of nine months,” PIOJ Director General Dr Wayne Henry explained during a recent briefing.

The banana industry was among the hardest hit by the hurricane. Preliminary assessments by the island’s Banana Board indicated losses of nearly 80 per cent for that crop as well as plantains. In the powerful storm’s aftermath major producers such as JP Farms and other large growers reported substantial damage to their fields which saw approximately 1,200 of some 1,500 hectares of commercial banana crops becoming affected.

Sugar cane production also suffered significant setbacks, with an average loss of 40 per cent islandwide. Of that amount, 20 per cent occurred in the east while the south-west accounted for 80 per cent of the losses.

In contrast, the “other agricultural crops” category grew by 5.8 per cent, buoyed by increased production in eight of nine crop groups. The most notable gains were recorded in cereals (up 21.7 per cent), yams (up 7.9 per cent), legumes (up 7.7 per cent), vegetables (up 7.3 per cent), other tubers (up 6.4 per cent), and fruits (up 3.8 per cent).

Despite the overall flat performance, the local agriculture sector showed signs of resilience, posting a modest 0.1 per cent increase in real value added for the quarter. The PIOJ attributed this to various social and economic support measures. This follows sharp contractions of 12.5 per cent and 10.6 per cent in the July-September and October-December quarters, respectively.

“The industry’s performance reflected continued recovery, facilitated by favourable weather conditions and targeted assistance provided to farmers. These efforts supported replanting initiatives and boosted production levels, particularly for short-term crops,” the PIOJ noted.

The quarter’s results were also supported by improved productivity, with output per hectare increasing in five of the nine main crop groups. Additionally, there was a 2.0 per cent increase in the hectares of domestic crops harvested.

“Compared to the corresponding quarter in 2024, output rose in seven parishes, led by Manchester [up 16.1 per cent] and Trelawny [up 5.5 per cent],” Henry also said.

However, growth in the sector was tempered by a 1.5 per cent decline in animal farming. This downturn contributed to a 20.5 per cent reduction in egg production, which outweighed a slight 0.3 per cent increase in poultry meat.

Agriculture, which registered the smallest output within the goods-producing industries, is nonetheless expected to play a vital role alongside tourism and construction in driving the estimated economic growth of 0.5 to 1.5 per cent during the current April–June quarter, according to the PIOJ’s short-term outlook.

“This performance will be supported by increased output in agriculture due to continued strengthening in domestic crop production and a reduction in the drag on growth from the export crop component, as longer-term crops begin to recover,” the PIOJ said in its report.

“The projection for fiscal year 2025/26 is for growth within the range of 1.0 per cent-2.0 per cent. All industries are forecast to record growth, as the recovery from the weather-related shocks in 2024 will become more pronounced in the latter half of calendar year 2025,” it added.