Impacts of Hurricanes on Fruit Tree Crops in the Caribbean with Emphasis on Hurricane Tomas on Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) and Breadnut (Artocarpus camansi) in St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines

Abstract

Agriculture, the most important productive sector for many Caribbean countries, is also the most susceptible to climate disasters such as hurricanes, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. Based on assessments in the crop sub-sector, certain crops have been recognised as being highly prone to negative impacts of hurricanes while others are relatively little affected. There is a dearth of post-hurricane assessment information for fruit tree crops that make substantial contributions to food and nutrition security in the region, both directly and indirectly. This paper reviews the effects of hurricanes in the Caribbean on fruit tree crops and the implications for food and nutrition security and also livelihoods. A case study on the impact of Hurricane Tomas on damage on fruit tree crops with emphasis on breadfruit and breadnut in St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines and lessons on the potential of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for the fruit tree crop subsector are presented.