(Cabinet Notes) The Cabinet identified a 100 acre site not so far from Diamonds Estate, and will divide it into 50 two-acre farms for distribution to new farmers who wish to participate in the agricultural sector.
The object is to increase the food security which many nations are now seeking to establish in light of the disruption in trade caused by the coronavirus and the states’ attempts to reduce its harm to domestic populations.
Already, backyard farmers have increased the yield of agricultural products, and have begun to cause others to move to bigger ambitions.
The Cabinet has promised that more land, scarce water, and other help will be forthcoming from the Ministry of Agriculture as the nation seeks to provide more food from its soil and to rely less on imports.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Should have done that a long time ago
Just everything is criticised in Antigus and Barbuda…. its not the first plot the government has made available….. y’all so silly bout “should have done it a long time ago” chups. Rome wasn’t built in a day
…children go to school and learn well;
…otherwise, later on in life you going to catch real hell!
I might have missed, a word or two but the Mighty Sparrow’s song, reminds me of how we have approached Agriculture within the past Fifty years, and Sparrows song is probably, just as old.
20/20 has really lived up to its association with “vision.”
I hope, the VISION regarding the revitalization, of this vital Industry includes, the same incentives which the Tourism Sector offers, to investors.
That’s great, but the prices charged on the side of road by vegetable vendors is way too high. It’s hard to shop local when some are charging almost twice as much as grocery stores or other road side vendors.
@Mary…quite interesting, as to the 100% price difference, between local(side of the road) and store bought(imported).
Why do you think is the reason, or some of the reasons, as to why this is the case?
Greed is the only reason. Some people just want to get rich quick. E.g. a mango tree or avocado tree for that matter doesn’t need any care whatsoever. They bare fruit every year and all that the farmer needs to do or owner of the tree is pick them when ripe. Yet when you go to the market your imported avocado cost less or sometime the same as your local avocado. And when you compare the price of a mango with that of lets say an apple, an apple imported cost less. This is how Antiguans think they can make a quick buck and when you do not support them they get wecks. But one has to look after their own pocket. How the hell is an avocado imported from Dominica cheaper than one picked right here from a tree.
We have to change the culture. I will not support local to my own detriment.
@From The Sidelines…The revitalization, of the Agricultural Industry MUST include processing, marketing and distribution, otherwise, we will be at this same juncture, several years from now!
Private venture capital is desperately needed, and I am not talking loans from China, to stabilize the Agro Industry. The sea is wide open for Aqua Farming from sea weeds to sea moss to cultured pearls(we should have negotiated for training and education from the Japanese regarding Pearl Farming, as part of, the Trawling and whaling agreements with Japan).
I agree the industry is much bigger than we can imagine. But I was only responding to ten reason for choosing imported over local. And by now we should be tired of calling locals to invest in their country. I really don’t know what it will take, but each time its only the Syrians , Lebanese or some Caucasian investors that come forward and when they do we complain.
FTS, look beyond your narrow-minded view and look at this with wider lens. It’s more than greed. Big supermarket chains can afford to sell their vegetables at a cheaper rate because of all the concessions they get. What sort of concession is being afforded to the local farmers? Do you know how expensive it is to truck water to their farms on a weekly, sometimes daily basis? Fertilizers and other farm equipment? In relation to those vegetables imported from Dominica (on the Fig Boat), do they pay import duties? They are sold cheap in DA and STL, but do they incur duties when they arrive in Antigua?
Antiguans are quick to cry down their own but fail to look at the underlying cause of why a local Antiguan has to sell his items more expensive. Also, your example with the mango makes absolutely no sense. You have to clear around the mango trees, which in some instances need backhoes. Also, have you ever tried climbing a mango to pick mangoes? Until you do, I suggest you stay away from the topic.
Not forgetting the cost of pesticides. You know the cost for a bag of snail bait? Chupse
What has become of that plan to sell lands at Cades Bay.Those lands would be sold to Nationals in the Diaspora.Where does that plan stands at this time.ANR,you ran that story about 3 weeks ago on that lan.
@ BLACK MAN
Why don’t you stay out of ANTIGUA and BARBUDA business. You just stay OVERSEAS in some HIDDEN place and write CRAP. Quite sure You have NOT been to Antigua for many years. You are nothing but a RECLUSE. Find work to do. You have too many FREE time. You complain about every DARN thing. Get a LIFE.
@PHILLIP G.I have money to spend.I can buy any lands available to Nationals.It was your Government(ABLP) Cabinet Notes from Max Hurst.About the lands at Cades Bay being prepared for sale to us in the Diaspora.I am asking about it and you are whining your backsides.By attacking me.You need to get a damn life.I have money to spend and lots of it.
This is fantastic news as long as we make sure that we are farming with organic and ecological techniques. If we continue to destroy our precious soil by filling it with synthetic fertilisers and poisoning groundwater with pesticides/herbicides (like various gov managed farms have done) then we simply remain dependent on foreign imports for those commodities instead (as well as leaving the land LESS healthy for our grandchildren).
We need to be BUILDING soil through agroecology and integrating ecosystems into our farms and contouring land and looking after watersheds, techniques which were and are practiced by many small farmers around these islands. We need government emphasis to align with the understandings of people close to the land, and stop incentivising the use of imported synthetic chemicals which are destructive to all life here.
As for fertilizer(s), pesticides, GMO, Organic etc., the horse has already bolted; and, this is in part, due to the lack of oversight, proper legislation(s), lack of respect for the Industry for the past FIFTY plus years.
Can some of the negatives be reversed, of course; however, education is KEY, but with the influence of major corporations from China, Monsanto’s, ADM etc., it’s an uphill battle.
Comments are closed.