The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced a major investment in agricultural infrastructure aimed at strengthening national food security and reducing reliance on desalinated water for farming.
The initiative was outlined by Anthony Smith Jr., Minister for Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, who emphasized that the plan forms part of a broader strategy to modernize the agricultural sector and ensure the sustainability of local food production.
I am happy to see someone so eager to see this sector grow. While we cannot move away from tourism we should embrace this sector as it is a potential money maker for the country. the bigger the investment and output from farmers the lesser our food import bill will be
We should brace both agriculture and manufacturing together. Everything we use and consume comes out of agriculture and manufacturing. I know that we don’t have much natural resources like Africa and other countries; however, what we grow can be manufactured into finished products. For example, we grow tomatoes which can manufactured into tomatoes paste and ketchup. Other crops like Mangoes, coconut, sorrel, tamarind, etc…can be manufactured into several finished products. We wasted a lot of crops during it seasonal especially tomatoes, mangoes and cucumbers. Cucumbers can be manufactured into pickles. Even though they would be small quantities manufactured, we can do it.
Other things, like too much of our rich prime agricultural lands have been destroyed and turned into housing. It is time we make our housing projects into uprising three or four storage building’s complex.
This is exactly the kind of investment we need! Food security is a matter of national importance, and by improving our agricultural infrastructure, we are taking a huge step towards self-sufficiency.
Finally, a Minister with the courage to bring this vision to fruition(pun intended)! Food security is a must and any extras can be exported to other caribbean islands or even farther afield.
Reducing reliance on desalinated water is smart. Fresh water is precious, good move.
Finally, some real investment in our farmers! This is exactly what Antigua and Barbuda needs.
Superkalafragalistic espialidocious.