Dealing with drought: Small farmers and environmental hazards in southern St. Elizabeth, Jamaica

This paper reports on ongoing research on the impact of global environmental and economic change on small farming in Jamaica using a case study of southern St. Elizabeth. The area is one of the principal small farming regions in the country and supplies both the domestic market and the Jamaican tourist industry. Farmers in this rain shadow region are susceptible to multiple hazards, and have been particularly badly affected by hurricanes, droughts and bush fires in recent years. This paper focuses on farmers’ responses to and perceptions of drought hazards, and explores contrasts between drought hazard impacts and hurricane hazard impacts in three communities in the study area. Farmers’ coping strategies are examined.