Unlike many other Caribbean island nations, Dominica was never a suitable site for sugarcane cultivation, as rocky and mountainous terrain made plantation production impossible. Only about one-quarter of the island is cultivatable. Climate, fertility, and topography are favourable for tree crops, however, and Dominica has been a producer of coffee, cocoa, and citrus fruits in its history.
Citrus crops are still important, being grown for export to other Caribbean islands, but the biggest share of agricultural production since the 1950s has belonged to bananas. Whilst under British rule, Brits at home were becoming increasingly partial to bananas and Dominica was identified as one of several ideal locations for banana production.
Prices were good and many farmers were lured into abandoning their other crops in favour of growing bananas. Soon the landscape became dominated by this one crop. During the 1960’s banana’s accounted for 68 per cent of domestic exports, with the main destination being the UK.
Details
- Designer: S Scott
- Printer: Harrison & Sons Ltd.
- Process: Photogravure
- Paper:
- Watermark: St Edwards Crown C.A. Block (Sideways)
- Perf: 14.5 x 14 (comb)
- Gum: PVA
- Cylinders: 1A 1A 1A 1A
- Sheet: R5 x 10 (horiz)
- Quantity:
Sheet Numbers
