A landmark step in Antigua and Barbuda’s push for strengthened food security has been confirmed, with the nation’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy announcing it has taken delivery of a record 4,000-bag shipment of fertilizer donated by the Kingdom of Morocco. The delivery, secured after months of diplomatic and technical negotiations between agricultural officials from both nations, marks the largest single fertilizer consignment delivered under a bilateral cooperation framework that launched in 2018.
Distribution of the critical agricultural input to local farmers began this week, and will continue through the end of the week, according to Minister Anthony Smith Jr., who shared the update with the nation’s Cabinet. This shipment builds on years of incremental agricultural support from Morocco: in 2023, the North African nation delivered 1,700 bags of fertilizer for local crop producers, and followed that up with an 1,800-bag shipment in 2025. Beyond the direct donation of inputs, the partnership is structured as a broader technical cooperation initiative focused on boosting soil fertility, increasing on-farm productivity, and improving overall farming efficiency across Antigua and Barbuda.
Minister Smith emphasized that reliable access to high-quality fertilizer is a non-negotiable foundation for boosting domestic crop yields. Quality fertilizer replenishes the key soil nutrients depleted by repeated cultivation, he explained, allowing farmers to unlock greater productivity from existing agricultural lands without clearing new territory for production.
The new fertilizer delivery complements a suite of parallel government initiatives designed to expand domestic agricultural output, advance food self-sufficiency, and cut reliance on costly imported food. Earlier this year, the ministry repossessed roughly 150 acres of long-underutilized agricultural land, with Cabinet approving the allocation of 75 acres of that parcel specifically to young and women farmers. This policy aligns with the government’s broader goal of putting productive land into the hands of producers ready and able to increase domestic output.
In a separate major investment in agricultural resilience, the government secured approximately US$9 million in funding from the Caribbean Development Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization earlier in June. The funding will support the construction of new dams, water catchment ponds, and other critical soil and water conservation infrastructure, addressing longstanding water access challenges that have limited local production.
Cabinet members formally welcomed the new fertilizer shipment, and extended formal gratitude to both the government and people of Morocco for their consistent, long-term support for Antigua and Barbuda’s agricultural development. Officials noted that the combination of expanded access to productive farmland, improved irrigation and water infrastructure, reliable access to key inputs like fertilizer, and ongoing technical support for producers is the core of the government’s strategy to boost local food production and reduce import dependence.
Cabinet also commended Minister Smith and his ministry’s negotiating team for successfully securing the expanded shipment, which marks a major milestone in the bilateral partnership. Minister Smith urged farmers who receive the donated fertilizer to use the support to maximize their output, expanding the supply of affordable, fresh locally grown produce for domestic consumers. He reiterated that national food security is a shared national objective that requires close collaboration between the government and the local farming community, and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to continue delivering the resources producers need to expand output.
The government renewed its gratitude for Morocco’s long-standing friendship and cooperative partnership, noting that the 4,000-bag shipment is a tangible, impactful contribution to Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing work to build more resilient agricultural systems and achieve long-term food security. Local farmers seeking more information about the ongoing distribution process are advised to contact the Ministry of Agriculture and its Extension Division for updated arrangements.