The FAO project TCP/ANT/4001 (D): Sustainable Water Management and Access for Better Production is underway in Antigua and Barbuda from, 1 – 6 December, 2025, bringing renewed focus to climate-smart food production and efficient water use across the agricultural sector.
Leading this mission is Dr. Omardath Maharaj, Agri-Business Finance Specialist, who is working alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy (MAFLBE), the Department of Environment, and the MAFLBE Extension Division to assess how protected -crop farms are performing presently and what it will take to make them more resilient, profitable, and investment ready.
The mission aims to gather real-time, on-the-ground data to guide development of five comprehensive business case models for protected agricultural systems. This work is supporting the sector’s shift toward smarter water management, stronger financial planning, and wider adoption of climate-smart and digital technologies.
The mission opened with an inception meeting to refine objectives and confirm the identified farms for assessment. During the week, Dr. Maharaj will conduct a half-day training session for Extension officers, technical staff and farmers on the importance of collecting financial and operational data – information that directly shapes investment decisions and long-term profitability.
Following the training, the team is carrying out detailed assessments across the selected farms, examining water-use efficiency, protected-structure performance, production practices, and overall economic sustainability.
Stakeholder consultations will take place concurrently, allowing the mission to validate field observations and identify opportunities to strengthen protected agriculture across the island. Preliminary findings will be presented to national counterparts before the close of the mission.
As Antigua and Barbuda navigates the challenges of climate variability and rising production costs, the on-going mission contributes essential data and analysis that will guide future investment, strengthen farmer competitiveness, and support long-term food security.