Cabinet Targets 15% Cut in Food Imports Through Expanded Local Production
The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has endorsed a national strategy aimed at reducing selected food imports by 15% through expanded local agricultural production, in line with the CARICOM “25 by 2025 plus five” food security initiative.
Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office Maurice Merchant said Cabinet approved proposals from agriculture officials outlining a phased approach to import substitution, focusing on livestock, root crops and vegetables.
“The proposal was informed that Antigua and Barbuda has adopted the 15% target as a realistic and achievable milestone towards strengthening food security, improving farmer resilience, and supporting rural employment,” Merchant said during the weekly Cabinet briefing.
Cabinet was told that increased domestic production could significantly reduce the country’s import bill, particularly in livestock.
“It believes that about 1,200 heads of livestock, representing about $1.7 million imported, can be reduced and produced here in Antigua and Barbuda,” Merchant said.
The strategy targets priority commodities including onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers, cassava, sweet potatoes, sheep and swine, with an emphasis on expanding production and replacing imports in those categories.
“The increased production of sheep and swine will make a significant dent in the import bill of the government of Antigua and Barbuda,” Merchant said.
The plan is built around production expansion, enhanced farmer support, access to financing, youth engagement and innovation, as well as strengthening marketing and supply chains. Cabinet was also briefed on related initiatives, including the development of an agro-industrial park at Diamonds Estate to support processing, value addition and post-harvest management.
Merchant said Cabinet views food security as a critical national issue and has directed agriculture officials to move quickly with implementation.
“Food security is a very, very serious matter for the Gaston Browne administration,” he said.
The measures form part of broader efforts to reduce reliance on imported food, strengthen resilience against external supply disruptions and support the long-term sustainability of Antigua and Barbuda’s agricultural sector.
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I believe Gaston and ABLP will soon bring Heaven on Earth before the next election, and if he wins it will be Hell’s fire in or collective backsides. Just as a leopard cannot change its spots, neither can a CHARLATAN change his deceitful ways
Antigua has flat out regress in the past 20 years..if that wasn’t the case, these politicians wouldn’t have had to promise so much.
The progress of a country is in the affordability of living..more money going home to the citizens than in the pockets of politicians and business people, especially in a socialist country.
It should be about the social network of the people, not greed.
Antigua is a suffering place to live, and that’s a fact. When 60-75% of your earnings goes to your bills, then what is left for your pleasure and happiness?
That’s why the youths and young parents are leaving the island GB, because it’s too much stress just to live. Also, is why suicides are up in the Caribbean, because the psychological drain on the youths when their parents left them to seek better opportunities abroad,is just too much.
The Carribean is filed with what you call ” Barrel Babies” and Antigua tops that list.
This administration just sucks, plain and simple..just talk talk talk. They are more about spitting out news worthy articles, than actually carrying out their duties as leaders.
Many of them are just there to be knighted or get a road or school name after them. Self grandizing more than anything else.
Just look at the leader, that’s all he does.
Wasn’t he just on center stage the other day masquerading like a pappyshow for the crowd, talking bout him a “Rasta”.
These people are not serious,just braggadocios and pompous for nothing.
This is an insult. Nice fancy words covered in lies and hypocrisy. I was told by land division and national housing that the land surrounding my farm was being cut up for housing, when I said I would buy it they told me it’s already been allocated to people. I said right next to my livestock? Their response was if the people do not like it your animals will have to move. From MY land. That has been a farm for 60yrs! This is only being said because the politicians want land for farming and grants for themselves. Lying stinking hypocrites
Farming in Antigua and in most countries is a serious challenge. Some of the major issues preventing the growth of the industry locally are;
1. The inconsistent water supply.
2. The high incidence of Praedial larceny
3. Access to financing to operate 21st century farms
Until those 3 issues are addressed I don’t see us ever reducing food imports in a meaningful way.
I will certainly be one helping to reduce the bill by planting some of the crops they mentioned. I really think if we all play start a little backyard garden that can help reduce that multi-million dollar food bill
Do you want agriculture to grow? SImple..Remove any kind of Tax to farmers. Simple. Agriculture is National Security issue. If you tax them, then your action talk louder, isn’t so important then. Let farmers produce without restrictions, lets farmers produce without paying taxes, let them become rich doing farming. If someone is jealous of them, is their problem. Farmer need to be on top. I laugh when people congratulate someone for having a Tertiary Education., but look down the person who we are dependable 100% FARMERS. Every single day we just need to eat. Being Vegetarian or meat lovers, doesn’t matter we just need to eat something daily. We don’t eat a House Plan, we don’t eat pencils, we don’t eat concrete, we don’t eat metals, we don’t eat cars. So let’s putting Farmers in the position they deserve and take out any kind of obstacles they have. One of them is TAX .
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