The first day of “Citrus Day” opened at the Multipurpose Center with farmers, students, and agricultural officials gathering to learn practical strategies for boosting citrus production in Antigua and Barbuda.

The session was led by Dr. Lennox Andrew, a regional agricultural specialist, who focused on two key issues: grafting techniques to strengthen citrus plants and the growing threat of Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease.

Dr. Andrew explained that grafting is critical to building more resilient trees capable of producing higher yields. He warned, however, that HLB remains one of the most destructive citrus diseases worldwide. Spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, the disease prevents trees from transporting nutrients, leading to yellowing shoots, misshapen fruit, and eventual tree death.

Participants were split into groups for a hands-on field exercise, where they examined different citrus trees for signs of stress or disease. They compared healthy plants with those showing early symptoms of greening, discussed their findings, and shared observations with the wider audience.

By the end of the day, attendees left with a sharper understanding of grafting as a tool to improve production and the urgency of detecting HLB early. Organizers said the lessons from Day One laid the groundwork for deeper exploration of disease management and best practices in the sessions to follow.