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Saint Lucia agriculture accounts for 5% of this East Caribbean island's GDP. The agricultural produce of Saint Lucia island includes root crops, coconuts, bananas, vegetables, cocoa, and citrus fruits. Agriculture in Saint Lucia engages 21.7% of the available labor force.
Of the total available land, 22.58% is used permanently for growing crops and 6.45% is put to other agricultural use. 30 sq. kilometers of land is put under irrigation.
Fruits and cash drops are more importantly grown in Saint Lucia as compared to food crops. Banana is the most important crop grown in this Caribbean island, followed by coconuts. In 1999 Saint Lucia produced 80,000 tons of banana most of which was exported. In that same year 12,000 tons of coconut was produced. Coconut is used for manufacturing oils, and copra.
Vegetables are vital agricultural food products cultivated in Saint Lucia. Breadfruit, tomatoes, carrots, onions and cabbages are grown in sufficient quantities. The government is encouraging Saint Lucia farmers to grow mangoes, avocados and cocoa as additional fruit or cash crops.
Saint Lucia agriculture as of now is going through a developmental phase. Improved irrigation facilities together with better farming techniques are encouraging the farmers to grow new fruits and vegetables in their farms.
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