A multi-agency soil testing and survey project which has as its long-term goal
better management and use of the natural resources of the country to enhance food
production, is being launched in Antigua and Barbuda.
The 3-week exercise commences with an official launch at the Ministry of
Agriculture’s Headquarters today, following which, technicians will then begin
surveys in Barbuda from June 6 th to 10 th and in Antigua from June 12 th to 21 st
which will cover the five agricultural districts.
A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture said, given the vast number of
samples, it is highly likely that some sites may fall on private properties and the
sampling team would require access, to successfully undertake the activity. “In this
regard, the Ministry of Agriculture kindly requests the cooperation of the public
and private property owners in facilitating the technical project team access to
designated sites. Team members will be identifiable with their respective uniforms,
IDs, and government-issued/branded vehicles,” the release indicated.
The Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with the Partnership Initiative for
Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), the Global Environment Facility (GEF),
the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the University of the West
Indies (UWI) – St. Augustine and national stakeholders in executing this national
soil survey in Antigua and Barbuda, as part of the regional project ‘Caribbean
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Multi-Country Soil Management Initiative
for Integrated Landscape Restoration and Sustainable Food Systems: Phase 1
(CSIDS_SOILCARE Phase 1)’.
The 4-year project, which was launched in August 2022 in Antigua & Barbuda
involves seven other participating countries namely: Barbados, Belize, Grenada,
Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia.
These partnerships in collaboration with country governments allow cooperation
between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and
technology transfer for sustainable land management to meet SDGs. This will
assist Antigua and Barbuda to increase its capacity to prioritize measures that will
advance integrated landscape management and rehabilitate degraded areas.
