Cabinet Orders 30-Day Ultimatum for Idle Farmlands

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Cabinet Orders 30-Day Ultimatum for Idle Farmlands as Food Security Push Intensifies

The Cabinet has ordered that all leased farmlands left idle must be placed into production within 30 days or be reassigned to active farmers, as the government accelerates its food-security strategy amid concerns about rising geopolitical tensions in regional waters.

Cabinet spokesman Maurice Merchant announced the decision during Friday’s post-Cabinet briefing, saying the directive is part of a wider effort to increase domestic agricultural output given the vulnerability of imports to external shocks ** **.

According to Merchant, the Cabinet agreed that any farmer holding leased government land must show activity on the acreage within 30 days. If no work is observed, the Ministry of Agriculture will remove the lease and reassign the land to farmers or cooperatives “who are ready to cultivate” ** **.

Merchant said the move is “not punitive” but necessary as approximately 90 percent of the country’s food supply is imported, leaving Antigua and Barbuda exposed if shipping routes are disrupted. He noted that the government is particularly concerned about military activity involving Venezuela and the United States in nearby waters, warning that any escalation could affect cargo movements to the island ** **.

Compliance monitoring will be handled by the Ministry of Agriculture’s dedicated unit, Merchant said. Officers will check leased plots, report to senior officials and then to Minister Anthony Smith, who will update the Cabinet on enforcement ** **.

In addition to reclaiming unused land, Merchant said the Cabinet instructed the ministry to accelerate a suite of support measures for active farmers, including fencing to reduce praedial larceny, expanded nursery production, wider seedling distribution, new wells and dams, lighting for farms, improvements to access roads, and fuel subsidies for both farmers and fisherfolk ** **.

He added that the government will meet with a group of farmers next week as part of its new weekly sector-engagement program, following this week’s session with 14 building contractors.

The Cabinet said the combination of land reassignment and expanded support is intended to ensure Antigua and Barbuda is better positioned to withstand external shocks and strengthen domestic food resilience.

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8 COMMENTS

  1. This is long over due. And I hope they take back lands from everyone with idle farm lands regardless of their political persuasion, and not just from persons who don’t support the governing party.

  3. Are these fuckers crazy? Just another attempt, to repay the Chinese for all of their trinkets handed out to these overseers.

  4. I absolutely agree with this. I have been saying this for years. When people try to do their jobs with regards to this, it becomes political. if you nah do nutten wid um, ge um to smaddy who willing fu put een de work.

  5. Just take back the lands from the so-called farmer with the ONE PAPAW Tree. He should have never gotten so much land. We need to investigate the procedures followed in Agriculture as to who sign these leases and on what basis.

  6. I suppose that there is no concern whether the farmer has issues that might have prevented him from actually producing. This is just another land grab to divvy the lands for their friends and supporters. Does Dunbars sound familiar? Keep a very close watch on this development.

  7. And the promises to assist with; A tractor service that is either down or busy? APUA providing water? Dealing with theft? Digging and cleaning of streams and ponds? Access to finance to help yourself?

  8. Soooo the government plans to take away lands from farmers who been hoarding the lands cuz they can’t afford to upkeep it thru the changes in economic struggles and is now prioritizing these lands to give to active farmers( more than likely foreigners with money) to apply tax to them and make the food in reverse cost the same as the imported varieties already cost. Meanwhile your PRIME MINISTER A PUBLIC SERVANT OWNS A FARM and the power to own MULTIPLE FARMS instead of this manner and push food to the local Economy but he doesn’t and y’all parade this PRIME MINISTER AND HIS FARM as he’s doing a good job?

    PUBLIC SERVANT DONT MEAN WA E MEAN???

    If a PUBLIC SERVANT OWNS A FARM ITS NOT FOR THE PUBLIC????
    YALL MAKE A PUBLIC SERVANT BEFORE HE EVEN HAD THE POWER IF HE CREATED THIS FARM FINE NO PROBLEM. BUT A PUBLIC SERVANT CREATED A FARM WITH HIS FACE AND FOOD PROCES STILL HIGH!!!

    Y’all DUNCE???? Like how the fuck y’all make these decisions really!?!??????

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