What was the main agricultural use of enslaved laborers in Cayman Islands history?

The primary agricultural use of enslaved laborers in the history of the Cayman Islands was logging. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the islands had abundant resources of native timber, particularly mahogany. Enslaved individuals were used extensively to harvest this timber, which was highly sought after both locally and internationally for shipbuilding and construction purposes. The logging industry also supported other economic activities, such as providing raw materials for the growing trade networks across the Caribbean.

While other options such as rice cultivation and fruit harvesting were also present in the Caribbean, they did not play a significant role in the economy of the Cayman Islands as compared to logging. The emphasis on timber reflects the unique ecological conditions and the economic needs of the islands during that period. Rotational grazing, while practiced in some settings, was not a predominant use of enslaved labor in the context of local agriculture at that time.