b. Sugar and rum

 Up to 1969 the sugar industry will enjoy the benefits to be derived from the Common-
wealth Sugar Agreement. However, the success of the industry after that date will depend
on the following factors: (a) whether the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement continues,
(b) whether the United Kingdom enters the European Common Market, and (c) whether
the Island is allocated a United States quota.

 In view of the uncertainties which surround the sugar industry at the present time it
is not unrealistic to be somewhat pessimistic about the future of the industry.

 It is not expected that production within the near future will exceed the record 1961
crop of 245,700 tons. It is, however, anticipated that local consumption will increase,
both for household and manufacturing requirements.

 The projections for this sector are:

 1959 1965 1970 1975
Index 100 126 134 140


c. Agriculture
 The relative contribution of this sector to gross domestic product decreased from
18.0% in 1951 to 12.5% in 1959. In absolute terms, however, it increased by BWI$42.7
million during the period.

 The major commodities entering the export market are cocoa, citrus and coffee.
Exports during the period 1958-60 were as follows:

 1958 1959 1960
 Commodity Q V Q V Q V


Cocoa 18.2 12.7 15.9 10.1 15.9 8.7
Citrus 1/ 23.6 1.9 N. A. 0.7 25.8 1.6
Coffee 4.5 2.0 5.4 2.4 4.1 1.3

1/ Fresh fruit only.
Source: Data and material developed during the study and other available data.
Q = million lbs. V = BWI$million.


 In spite of government subsidies to agriculture, especially for cocoa and coffee, pro-
duction has not increased as rapidly as had been anticipated because adverse weather
during the past five years destroyed many of the cocoa seedlings distributed to farmers.
It is, however, expected that production will show an appreciable increase when the re-
maining new clonal plants come into bearing.