Antigua and Barbuda is moving forward with a targeted infrastructure investment strategy designed to shore up domestic food production and reinforce long-term food security, according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne. The government’s initiative targets critical gaps in the nation’s agricultural sector, focusing on three core areas: improved water infrastructure, upgraded storage capacity, and modern slaughtering facilities to support local producers.\n\nTo address persistent water scarcity that hampers smallholder and commercial farming operations across the islands, Browne confirmed that multiple new ponds and dam systems are currently under development. These projects are intended to give farmers reliable access to irrigation, even during extended dry periods that have increasingly threatened crop yields in recent years.\n\nA central component of the plan involves repurposing the abandoned Kennedy’s Club property located in Cassada Gardens. Browne revealed that the government is moving to acquire the site, which will be transformed into a centralized agricultural hub featuring cold storage for perishable produce, dry storage for non-perishable crops, a public farmers’ market, and a dedicated supermarket to showcase and sell local food products directly to consumers. While the prime minister noted that the acquisition process is on track to wrap up imminently, he acknowledged that he could not confirm whether the final transaction has been completed as of his latest update.\n\nOn the processing side of the supply chain, the government has already purchased two prefabricated abattoir structures, and has allocated funding to launch construction of the new facilities. Browne confirmed an initial $2 million has been set aside for the project, though he did not specify which currency the allocation is denominated in.\n\nSpeaking on the government’s commitment to the initiative, Browne emphasized that Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership is taking the expansion of national food security seriously. He explained that boosting domestic food production requires more than just incentives to encourage farmers to plant larger volumes of crops. Without adequate infrastructure to store, process, and distribute harvested goods, a large share of produce goes to waste before it can reach consumers, eroding farmer incomes and limiting the impact of increased planting efforts.\n\nWhile the investments lay the groundwork for a more resilient local food system, Browne also offered a realistic outlook on the timeline for results. The improvements to agricultural output and reduced dependence on imported food will not happen overnight, he noted, with tangible changes expected to become gradually more visible over the course of the coming several years.
Antigua and Barbuda plans storage, slaughtering facilities and dams to boost food supply
