Agriculture only contributes 2% of the gross domestic product of the Bahamas. However, many residents, particularly in rural communities on several of the less developed central islands, depend on subsistence agriculture for at least part of their livelihood, as a means of achieving social and economic stability. Households, particularly in the drier central and southern islands, depend on either rain water or manual irrigation to irrigate their land for agriculture. Additionally, many of the crops planted on the Family Islands, such as corn, sweet potatoes and pigeon peas, are seasonal. Salinization of the soil and groundwater is another threat to crops and may be a consequence of higher temperatures, or saltwater intrusion caused by storm surges and sea level rise. The occurrence of hurricanes also directly impacts the agricultural sector by delaying planting seasons, eroding the soil, destroying crops, and causing soil salinization and resulting in loss of revenue for farmers. While more than 90% of the food consumed in the Bahamas is imported, the Bahamas Government has made efforts to increase local food production with the aim of reducing the import bill and generating foreign exchange. However, as Bahamas’ climate becomes increasingly warmer and drier with more intense hurricanes, storms and droughts, the food supply of the islands is threatened with diminishing supplies and crop destruction.

This section provides insights into the climate change impacts on agricultural productivity indicators and the trends in agriculture related socio-economic indicators.