Exit and voice in Jamaica's export agriculture: The organizational dimension of agricultural decline

Abstract

Jamaica's export agriculture, once one of the country's leading industries, has collapsed during the past two decades. Many explanations have been put forward to explain this economic debacle, but most observers have overlooked the role played by commodity associations—producer groups sponsored by the government to support and promote export agriculture. This paper shows how the failure of these organizations to provide valuable services contributed to the farmers' decision to withdraw from the export market. It also seeks to answer the question of why farmers chose withdrawal over working within these organizations for change.