The crops category is the largest within agriculture, but its share has fallen slightly, from 66.1 % in 1980 to 63.3 % in 1985. During that time, crop production was erratic, and annual growth averaged a mere 1.7 %. The major crops and foreign exchange earners were bananas and sugar. In the 1980s, crop production became increasingly diversified. The production of corn, coffee, beans, and tobacco has increased, as has that of such nonorthodox products as melons and flowers. Fruits (particularly citrus), cacao (the bean from which cocoa is derived), plantains, vegetables, and potatoes were produced on a minor scale; nevertheless, they were valuable cash crops for small farms.

From 1982 to 1985, poultry production grew rapidly, from 4.5 million chickens to 6.1 million. During the same time, annual egg production also increased, from 28,859 dozen to 31,205 dozen. Pork production has remained steady; the number of pigs in 1985 totalled 210,000.