The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy in Antigua and Barbuda, recently completed a week-long mission aimed at transforming local protected agriculture farms into bankable investment opportunities. The initiative brought together 15 farmers alongside over 20 government officials and private sector stakeholders. Through farm surveys, field interviews, and a focused agribusiness training session, the mission sought to create investment-ready opportunities while promoting the growth of the island’s agricultural sector.
Led by FAO Agribusiness Finance Specialist Dr. Omardath Maharaj, the mission emphasized improving the financial viability of greenhouse, hydroponic, and shade house farming systems. It also supported national efforts to scale up climate-smart and digital agricultural technologies, building on prior initiatives addressing water security, nature-based solutions, and the Water–Energy–Food Nexus under the Mexico–CARICOM–FAO Initiative for climate change adaptation and resilience.
The mission aimed to strengthen investments in water management, digital tools, and protected crop production by collecting operational and financial data at the farm level and confirming market demand. This process laid the foundation for developing investment-ready business cases to attract capital and foster sustainable agricultural innovations in Antigua and Barbuda.
A key component of the mission was the workshop, “From Data to Dollars: Building a Profitable & Resilient Farm Business,” held on December 1, 2025, at the Agricultural Extension Division in St. John’s. The training brought together 19 participants, including extension officers, agri-entrepreneurs, and protected agriculture farmers, to learn how to link farm records and production costs to business models ready for investment. Farmers like Ms. Kathleen Forde of Seasonz Hydroponics Farm highlighted the session’s practical value and expressed optimism about improving farm operations and national agricultural output.
Mr. Ika Fergus, Acting Chief Extension Officer and FAO National Correspondent, noted that the mission’s outcomes aligned with the Ministry’s strategic goals, providing farmers with financial planning tools to advance commercialization and attract investment, particularly in climate-resilient protected agriculture systems. Dr. Maharaj emphasized that consultations with major buyers, including supermarkets and hotels, revealed strong demand for high-value crops such as tomatoes, lettuces, and bell peppers. Engagements with the Antigua and Barbuda Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) and Epicurean Fine Foods & Pharmacy confirmed market realities and operational feasibility, highlighting farmers’ readiness to adopt new technologies if supported with viable business plans.
The next phase of the project will focus on analyzing the collected data to produce five tailored business cases by February 2026. These business cases will help farmers access financing, support import substitution, promote a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, and improve livelihoods across Antigua and Barbuda.
