The national soil-testing project that will seek to identify soil types across both
islands – Antigua and Barbuda – is now underway with a team of technicians, in
Barbuda, carrying out the exercise.
A team of fifteen persons consisting of Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land
Management (PISLM) and Ministry of Agriculture technicians, will be there for
the next four days as part of the samplings of the various soil types, on the sister
island.
The project was launched on Monday by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in
collaboration with PISLM under the theme ‘Caribbean Small Island Development
States (CSIDS) Multi-country Soil Management Initiative for Integrated
Landscape Restoration and Sustainable Food Systems: (CSIDS_SOILCARE
Phase1)”. The project has several phases that are expected to span over the next
four years.
In her opening remarks, Parliamentary Secretary Senator Knacyntar Nedd-Charles,
who joined via ZOOM, expressed gratitude for this and such projects that would
foster sustainability, offer more yield, and healthier foods for everyone to benefit
from. Further, she explained her profound approval of Barbuda’s inclusion in the
CSID project.
The project implementation, executing agency support, and overview were
delivered by Simone Dias, the PISLM project assistant. During her statement, Dias
identified several other stakeholders including GEF, FAO, the Department of
Environment (DoE), and Farmers.
To conclude her remarks on behalf of the project coordinating office, she extended
heartfelt gratitude to the DoE, MoA, and the government for the support given to
the CSID project thus far.
The technicians will be on the ground here in Antigua, from Monday 12 th to
Wednesday 21 st of June. It is intended that a total of a hundred and twenty (120)
samples will be collected.
Soil-testing project launched with a bang!
255