Incentives to Propel Growth In Agriculture

In 2004, the UPP launched a rescue mission for agriculture, marine resources and food production. After the destruction of our country’s agricultural sector by 28 years of the ALP’s neglect and lack of vision, it was a major challenge to harness the significant potential and competitive advantage that Antigua and Barbuda possesses. We cannot be daunted by this challenge inasmuch as the world food situation in respect of rising prices and diminishing supplies presents a threat to our people’s right to be properly nourished and to have food supplies readily available at affordable prices. To boldly confront this challenge and ensure measurable success in the next term, a UPP Government will:

• Complete the National Land Use Policy and implement it aggressively
• Expand the Program of Secure Land Tenure for our nation’s farmers to provide for leases ranging from 25 to 40 years
• Establish the National Agricultural Training and Research Institute (NATRI) which will offer short- and mediumterm training courses
• Build a number of regional Producer Service Centres to decentralize the Ministry and realize greater efficiencies
• Establish an Agro Industry Incubator Unit to facilitate the development of a food-processing industry
• Build on the successes in Home based production (formerly known as backyard gardening) realized during our first term and which were highlighted in a feature article in the Miami Herald newspaper
• Support the development and application of all forms of irrigation technology through a system of tax and duty exemptions on the importation of related equipment and supplies
• Support and facilitate the organization of a National Farmers Union
• Provide funding, technical and material support to new farmers; and
• Deliver a range of financial incentives to food exporters and processors using local produce, seafood, poultry and livestock inputs.