Construction of two modern abattoirs is expected to begin shortly as part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen agriculture and improve food security, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced Sunday.

Speaking on the Brown and Brown Show, Browne said the facilities form part of a series of agricultural projects designed to increase local food production, reduce the cost of living and expand opportunities for farmers.

“Within the agriculture subsector we have the Christian Valley agro-tourism project and the agro-industrial park at Diamonds,” Browne said. “Within that whole project, we also will have two abattoirs, which construction should start shortly.”

The prime minister said the government is also moving ahead with the acquisition and redevelopment of the former Central Marketing Corporation (CMC) facility at Cassada Gardens.

He said the government is spending EC$9 million to acquire the 5½-acre property, which will be converted into a food distribution and storage hub with cold storage, retail space and facilities to receive produce and meat from local farmers.

“We want to position CMC to be in a position to take the produce and meats from local suppliers because that’s going to be one of the major ways to drive down the cost of living,” Browne said.

The prime minister said expanding local agricultural production is central to the government’s long-term strategy for reducing reliance on imported food while creating new markets for domestic producers.

Browne said the abattoirs, agro-industrial park and upgraded CMC facility form part of a wider programme to modernize the agricultural sector and encourage consumers to purchase locally produced food.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Government to Begin Construction of Two Modern Abattoirs.