Diamonds to Become Agro-Industrial Hub; Christian Valley Chosen for Eco-Park, Cabinet Spokesman Says

Cabinet spokesman Maurice Merchant says the government has approved plans to establish two major agricultural installations — an agro-industrial park at Diamonds and an eco-park at Christian Valley — as part of a national push to strengthen food security, reduce reliance on imported feedstock and expand local agro-processing.

Merchant said the Cabinet identified both sites as strategically suited for large-scale agricultural development, noting that their natural environments “are conducive to this sort of productivity” and will require minimal preparation before work begins .

According to Merchant, the Diamonds agro-industrial park will focus on agro-processing, small-ruminant production and the manufacturing of locally formulated animal feed. He said the goal is to strengthen agricultural value chains, reduce dependence on imported feed and create opportunities for agribusiness, exports and employment .

Merchant said the Christian Valley eco-park will complement the agro-industrial site by serving as a hub for agricultural innovation. Cabinet ministers traveled to Christian Valley on Friday morning to assess the area, a move Merchant said demonstrates the government’s intention to move quickly on the project. “Government is serious about this policy,” he said, noting Cabinet’s directive for the Ministry of Agriculture to prioritize the parks’ development with “feverish” urgency .

The two new facilities form part of a broader set of decisions taken by the Cabinet to increase domestic agricultural production amid what Merchant described as rising geopolitical uncertainty in regional waters. He said the government believes Antigua and Barbuda must be prepared for potential disruptions to food imports and is therefore intensifying its investment in local farming capacity .

Merchant said the parks will work alongside other support measures ordered by the Cabinet, including expanded nursery production, new wells and ponds, increased seedling distribution, fencing for farms, upgraded access roads and broader state assistance for farmers and fisherfolk .

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