For a few weeks every year the orange economy is in full view of locals and visitors alike, as thousands participate in the annual Crop Over Festival. Actual receipts from economic activity are not readily available but researchers project that some $100 million is generated in economic activity from the festival each year.
In an $8 billion economy this represents just over one per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Compared to neighbouring Trinidad & Tobago, whose Carnival accounts for 4-6 per cent of GDP, Barbados’ one per cent signifies an opportunity for greater monetisation of the festival.
The Crop Over Festival is Barbados’ most prominent annual celebration, with its origins going back over 300 years to the island’s colonial period, when enslaved Africans created a harvest festival to mark the end of the sugar cane season—a time of intense labour on over 500 plantations across the island.
Rooted in the sugar industry, which was historically the backbone of Barbados’ economy, the early version of the festival combined African and European traditions. It merged elements of the African Yam Festival with the British ‘Harvest Home’ celebration. Enslaved people transformed plantation mill yards into vibrant spaces of music, dance, and ritual, developing a unique cultural expression that persisted after emancipation.
The festival continued for centuries until 1943, when it was discontinued due to economic hardship during World War II. It was revived in 1974 by local cultural advocates with support from the Barbados Tourist Board. The modern festival expanded to include a grand opening gala, calypso competitions, art showcases, weekly events, and a large, costumed street parade similar to Trinidad and Brazil’s Carnival.
There are many sectors and stakeholders that benefit directly and indirectly from the annual event. While top of the list for many will be the artistes, event promoters and band leaders, scores of small businesses downstream also benefit from Crop Over. Appreciably, attention is placed more on the former stakeholder groups as these represent the foundational stakeholders, without which the festival will lose its value proposition.
However, businesses do benefit. Whether it’s small retailers trading in clothing, hair products and cosmetics; vendors, farmers and agricultural producers; taxi drivers, small hotels and car rental firms, they all share in the millions being generated during the June-August period. Crop Over creates employment opportunities in areas such as event planning, logistics, music, dance, costume design, and hospitality. The influx of tourists also increases demand for accommodation, food, entertainment, transportation, and retail, creating a wide-ranging economic ripple effect.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of the holistic impact of this national festival on the economy. Leaders of several farming and vendor associations, retailers and artisans were able to quantify the losses on account of the country not having the event for two years. The poultry sector reported significant growth thereafter—especially those supplying ingredients for baked goods—realising up to a 50 per cent surge in egg sales, driven by elevated demand during the festive season. Former Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes emphasised Crop Over’s importance in stimulating spending, tourism, and foreign exchange earnings. Even without large numbers of tourists, the festival still generated substantial local economic activity. According to the Central Bank of Barbados, the revival of Crop Over contributed to an estimated 4.4 per cent economic growth in 2023, mainly through its support of the tourism sector.
Feedback from key practitioners of the festival suggest there is much that needs to be done for the festival to contribute even greater to the economy and society. An article in this section of the press highlighted the concerns of some cultural practitioners particularly at the 50th anniversary milestone of the festival. Issues raised included declining band participation, limited artist support, the lack of meaningful investment in the sector and overall decline in cultural standards. A lack of data and insufficient support for non-traditional cultural expressions as local artists often feel forced to leave the island to advance their careers due to limited opportunities at home.
Practitioners called for long-term investment in artist development rather than short-term financial assistance and more sustainable development strategies that prioritise talent cultivation and create viable economic pathways for creatives in Barbados.
Event promoters lament the over compliance experienced from the tax collecting agency. The jury is out on the effectiveness of this approach to the collection of tax revenue. It stands to reason, however, that the country will benefit more from stimulating economic activity than applying burdensome regulations on sectors that appear to have the potential for significant revenue generation. This is clearly an area that the authorities should revisit if the festival is to do more in monetising its activities.
Economic considerations must now play a central role in festival planning. Organisers must carefully balance cultural heritage with financial sustainability. One researcher opined that rising inflation, climate change, global instability, and increased operating costs challenge both vendors and organisers. These pressures affect decisions about ticket pricing, sponsorship, and marketing. For suppliers, inflation may force them to either absorb higher costs or pass them on to consumers, while sponsors face tighter budgets.
Moreover, tensions sometimes arise between preserving tradition and adapting for economic viability. For example, changing the festival route to wider roads helps manage crowds and improve vendor sales, but can disrupt historical or sentimental aspects of the event. As Crop Over continues to evolve, stakeholders must navigate the intersection of cultural values and economic realities to ensure the festival’s long-term success.
The Small Business Association of Barbados (www.sba.bb) is the non-profit representative body for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
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