Why did agriculture remain relatively unimportant in Aruba?

Agriculture remained relatively unimportant in Aruba primarily due to the island's challenging environmental conditions. The island features barren soil and lacks natural irrigation, receiving low and variable annual precipitation of only about 17 inches (430 mm).1

These arid conditions support only drought-resistant vegetation, such as cacti, shrubs, and trees, making large-scale farming difficult. Although there were efforts to cultivate aloe for pharmaceutical products, these attempts did not lead to agriculture becoming a significant pillar of the economy. Instead, the island's economic history shifted from early colonial horse breeding to gold mining, oil refining, and eventually a service-based economy centered on tourism.1