Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith Jr. says the government is preparing to build two new abattoirs and upgrade the existing facility as part of efforts to slash the country’s heavy dependence on imported meat.

Speaking on ABS Television’s _Government in Motion_, Smith said one abattoir will focus on poultry while the other will serve pork and small ruminants. The current facility is being retrofitted to handle beef processing.

According to the minister, Antigua and Barbuda imports roughly EC$175 million in livestock products annually, a figure he described as unsustainable. “We are investing in infrastructure that will give local farmers the opportunity to supply more of what we consume,” he said.

Smith noted that the abattoir projects are part of a wider strategy to strengthen food security and create new markets for local producers. He said the government is working with stakeholders to expand access to financing, land and technical training to ensure farmers can take advantage of the increased processing capacity.

The minister added that boosting domestic livestock production would not only reduce the import bill but also generate jobs and keep more revenue circulating in the local economy.

The projects, now in the planning and procurement phase, are among several flagship initiatives the ministry aims to deliver by 2028, alongside aquaculture training, a new tissue culture lab for the Antigua Black pineapple, and expanded agro-processing facilities.