Livestock infrastructure to receive major boost

By Shermainbique-Charles
[email protected]

Major improvements and additions are in the pipeline for the agricultural sector in Antigua and Barbuda.

This is according to the Minister of Agriculture Anthony Smith.

One of the major avenues is the livestock industry.

Smith revealed during an interview on state media that plans are in the work to construct two new abattoirs.

An abattoir is a facility where livestock animals are slaughtered to provide food.

“What we would have realized in the livestock section just last year alone, we are spending, importing over just around $170 million in livestock. We see that there is a big need here for us in farmers investing in the livestock, but we need the facilities to process the meat after the farmers would have invested in this livestock.

“So, we are investing in abattoirs at the moment. The government has made a down payment that we can have two new abattoirs here in Antigua and Barbuda, alongside the current abattoir that we have. So, we can facilitate processing the meats faster. Because while, you know, farmers would want to get into the livestock section, you have to be able to process the meats after they would have done the work,” Smith said.

The abattoirs would be ready made and are expected to arrive in the country “probably within the next six months or so”.