Why did sugarcane production decline on Antigua?

Sugarcane production on Antigua declined due to a combination of labor, environmental, and economic factors. Following the emancipation of enslaved people in 1834, the sugar estates faced significant difficulties in securing a reliable labor force. These challenges were compounded by natural disasters, specifically an earthquake in 1843 and a hurricane in 1847, which caused further economic instability.1

Over time, the agricultural sector, which had long been dominated by sugar, was largely supplanted by tourism. Today, sugarcane production on the island is considered insignificant.1