Farmers benefiting from a government land-clearing programme in Antigua and Barbuda will be required to establish a viable crop within 90 days of the work being completed, Cabinet spokesman Maurice Merchant said Thursday.
The requirement forms part of an initiative to bring more agricultural land into production, reduce land-preparation barriers and strengthen the country’s food security.
Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith updated Cabinet on the programme Wednesday, reporting that the Agricultural Extension Division has been authorised to provide clearing services to existing and prospective farmers across key agricultural districts.
“Beneficiaries will be required to establish a viable crop on the cleared land within 90 days of completion of the land-clearing service,” Merchant said during the post-Cabinet briefing.
Existing registered farmers and people seeking to enter agriculture, particularly young farmers, will be eligible to benefit.
Merchant said the programme addresses the cost and availability of land preparation, which can prevent farmers from cultivating available acreage.
The ministry will encourage production of sweet potatoes, cassava, sweet peppers, tomatoes and onions as part of efforts to increase the local supply of key agricultural commodities.
Farmers will not be restricted to those five crops, but the Agricultural Extension Division will actively encourage and provide incentives for their production, Merchant said. He did not outline the incentives during the briefing.
The initial phase covers land in the southeast, south central, northeast, southwest and northwest agricultural districts. Other districts and settlements are being considered for subsequent phases.
Merchant also reported that the government had repossessed 680 acres of agricultural land that had not been under production.
Cabinet welcomed the clearing initiative as a way to increase cultivated acreage and encourage greater domestic food production.
The briefing did not specify how farmers should apply for assistance or what action would follow if a beneficiary failed to establish a crop within the 90-day period.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Farmers Given 90 Days to Establish Crops After Government Clears Land.