The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved the commencement of Phase One of the proposed Agricultural Development Corporation Agro-Industrial Park (AIP) at Diamonds Estate, following a comprehensive presentation outlining the project’s scope, structure, and national importance.

According to Maurice Merchant, Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Cabinet had previously agreed to the establishment of the Agro-Industrial Park and was updated this week on its detailed implementation plan.

The AIP is being positioned as a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening national food security, modernising agricultural production, and supporting economic diversification. The presentation highlighted long-standing structural challenges within the agricultural sector, including supply-chain inconsistencies, limited value-added processing, and high post-harvest losses.

Cabinet was advised that the Agro-Industrial Park will be developed in phases, with initial focus placed on priority crops such as cassava, sweet potato, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and legumes. The project will emphasise efficient water use, modern irrigation systems, mechanisation, and improved post-harvest management practices.

The operational model places strong focus on value-added processing, cold storage, and structured market access, including long-term supply arrangements with major domestic buyers. These measures are intended to reduce food imports while improving the consistency and reliability of local supply.

The presentation also outlined a Public-Private Partnership management approach, supported by the creation of an autonomous management unit under the Ministry of Agriculture. This unit will be responsible for overseeing commercial operations, governance, and revenue generation.

Cabinet was further informed of the project’s social inclusion component, which includes incubation plots, shared services, and targeted skills training for youth and women farmers, aimed at building sustainable livelihoods and strengthening capacity across the agricultural sector.

Following the presentation, Cabinet issued directives to ensure timely funding, coordinated inter-ministerial collaboration on infrastructure and utilities, and formal recognition of the Agro-Industrial Park as a project of national priority.

Merchant said Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to transforming agriculture into a modern, resilient, and commercially viable sector, viewing the Agro-Industrial Park as a critical pillar in advancing food and nutrition security for Antigua and Barbuda.