The Ministry of Agriculture will launch a nationwide distribution of seeds and fencing materials in 2026 as part of a broader push to strengthen the country’s farming base, Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith announced during the Budget Debate.

Smith said the initiative forms part of a wider programme aimed at giving farmers practical tools to expand food production, improve safety on their properties and boost overall output.

“We are undertaking a comprehensive nationwide initiative… to support our farmers by distributing seeds, all types of variety of seeds to our farmers as well as fencing equipment,” he told Parliament, adding that the materials will help farmers “secure their farms even better.”

He framed the support as one of several measures designed to deliver immediate assistance to the men and women who “feed our nation,” a theme he repeated throughout his presentation.

Smith said the ministry is focused on offering on-the-ground help that responds directly to farmers’ day-to-day realities, including the need for materials that protect crops from theft, roaming animals and weather damage.

The distribution comes as the ministry works to build out new infrastructure, expand land preparation services and modernise operations through mechanisation.

Smith said these broader changes — combined with small but meaningful interventions like seeds and fencing — are intended to lift the sector’s productivity and create conditions for long-term food security.

In his presentation, Smith also emphasised the importance of supporting both experienced farmers and younger entrants. He noted that Antigua and Barbuda’s farming population is aging and said the government must put systems in place that allow new farmers to grow and secure their holdings. Providing seeds and fencing, he suggested, is one of the ways the ministry is lowering barriers for new participants.

Smith said the programme aligns with the administration’s wider commitment to ensuring that local food producers have the resources they need to deliver affordable, accessible food for the country. He described the initiative as a practical step toward strengthening food systems and sustaining the nation’s agricultural base.