The Ministry of Agriculture staged a distribution of seedlings on Monday in
recognition of World Food Day and as part of the national efforts to strengthen
food security.
The Ministry’s Agricultural Extension Division presented its first Seedling
Distribution and Veggie Fair Day on the compound of the PDO Compound in St
John’s.
Along with the distribution of seedlings of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables,
there were also local fruits and vegetables on display, local drinks, and several
traditional Antigua and Barbuda dishes including cha-cha dumplings and bam-
bulla.
There were also several samples of fruit and vegan-based food products, and local
arts and crafts.
Agriculture Minister, E.P. Chet Greene, visited the exhibition/distribution event to
encourage those involved in the agricultural sector, whether as farmers or as agro-
processors to continue to produce not only for themselves and their families but
also for the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
“Food security is more than a catchphrase; it is a deep commitment by my ministry
and the government to work towards achieving this goal, for our own sake and for
our children’s sake,” he added.
Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of CARICOM have set a goal of 25 by 25; that is
to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 percent by the year 2025.
