Faces of Costa Rica

The Role of Agriculture in Costa Rica

Banana trees, fruit protected by light blue plastic bags, are a common sight on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. Between December and February, coffee fields are dotted with workers hand picking coffee beans in the Central Valley area. At times, cars must stop on country roads, especially in the north, to wait for a herd of cattle to pass.

Agriculture represents 15 percent of Costa Rica's gross domestic product: bananas, coffee, and sugar take up the majority of arable land. Cattle are also raised for beef in the north of the country. In addition, staple foods such as rice, beans and corn are produced for national consumption. Twenty percent of the Costa Rican population works in the agricultural sector.

Despite the fact that agriculture is still important to the economy, it no longer plays a major in Costa Rica's finances. In 1992, agricultural exports totaled 46 percent of all money earned through exports. Today, they total about 24 percent.

• A Banana Republic?
• Costa Rica: A Coffee Culture