Agricultural Drones Boost Climate-Smart Farming in Antigua and Barbuda

Through the GEF-funded PATH to 2020 Project, the Sustainable Island Resource Framework (SIRF) Fund and the Department of Environment (DOE) have introduced DJI Agras T40 agricultural drones to support local farmers, including Simmons Pepper Farm and the Rastafari Food for Life Community. These state-of-the-art drones are part of a transformative initiative under the Pilot Blended Finance Programme for Farmers, which promotes sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture.

During a recent mission to Antigua and Barbuda, representatives from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), along with DOE and SIRF Fund staff, visited Simmons Pepper Farm to observe the drone technology in action. The delegation praised Antigua and Barbuda’s innovative, community-led approach to climate adaptation.

This initiative forms part of a broader blended finance strategy spearheaded by the DOE and SIRF Fund, which combines concessional financing with technical support to help farmers adopt advanced technologies that would otherwise be financially inaccessible.

The DOE and SIRF Fund extend heartfelt thanks to the GEF, UNEP, technical partners, and the dedicated farmers of Antigua and Barbuda whose efforts are steering the country toward a more sustainable, resilient, and food-secure future.