FAO Mission Concludes After Advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture and Water Management in Antigua and Barbuda by Brent Simon

The FAO technical mission under TCP/ANT/4001 (D): Sustainable Water Management and Access for Better Production officially wrapped up on Friday, following six days of focused field work and sector engagement aimed at strengthening protected agriculture across Antigua and Barbuda. Led by Dr. Omardath Maharaj/ Agri-Business Finance Specialist, the mission worked alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy (MALFBE) and the Department of Environment, to evaluate production systems, improve water-use efficiency, and guide future investment plans.

Throughout the week, the technical team assessed six protected-crop farms, examining water management, infrastructure performance, production cycles, and operational constraints. These assessments provided the data foundation for five upcoming business case models that will support national decision-making and strengthen the financial viability of protected-crop production.

A half-day training session brought together extension officers, technical staff, and farmers for practical guidance on record-keeping, financial literacy, and data-driven decision-making. Participants welcomed the emphasis on improving farm management and profitability, noting the value of more structured support in this area.

The mission also included consultations with farmers and sector agencies to gather insights on challenges and opportunities within protected agriculture.

On Friday, representatives including Mr. Gregory Bailey / Director of Ageiculture, Dr.  Omardath Maharaj / Agri – Business Finance Specialist, Permanent Assistant Secretary Mrs. Denise Matthias-Thomas, Mr. Ika Fergus / Senior Extension Officer, Mr. Adrian Bowen / Extension Officer, and Mr. Brent Georges / FAO Focal Point, met for a final debriefing session. Dr. Maharaj presented preliminary findings, outlined emerging recommendations, and discussed the next steps toward the full mission report.

By the end of the week, the mission had delivered:

• Completed data sets from six protected-crop farms
• A half-day training session
• A formal debriefing with national partners
• An outline for the final mission report
• Positioning Agriculture for the Future

With the mission now completed, Antigua and Barbuda has a stronger platform for improving water management, boosting climate resilience, and refining investment strategies within a protected agriculture sector. The results from last week’s work will assist to form a national policy, guide financing decisions, and support farmers as they adapt to changing climate and market/economic realities.

FAO and MOA Ground-Level Farm Assessments in Antigua and Barbuda by Brent Simon

The FAO Mission is spending this week on the ground across Antigua and Barbuda, visiting farms, interacting with farmers, and testing the real-world conditions behind the country’s agriculture sector. FAO Agri-Business Finance Specialist Dr. Omardath Maharaj, is working closely with Mr. Brent Georges/MOA Project Coordinator/FAO Focal Point in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as Mr. Adrian Bowen/MOA Extension officer, gathering data and assess the progress of project TCP/ANT/4001 (D): Sustainable Water Management and Access for Better Production in Antigua and Barbuda.  

Dr. Maharaj says the most consistent complaint on every farm is the “relatively high cost and unreliable access to water and energy.” Farmers are trying to survive inside an increasingly expensive operating environment, yet many have still been investing in harvesting and storage systems to stay afloat. According to him, these constraints directly limit production consistency and profitability — two ingredients protected agriculture depends on. Their business models, now in development, aim to plug those gaps with climate-smart, financially viable solutions.

But the field visits were not just confirming old data; they’re expanding the story.

“Field reality both confirms and deepens our understanding,” Maharaj explains. The mission is verifying long-known challenges like water scarcity but also picking up nuances that data sets don’t capture — start-up struggles, planting material costs, and how willing (or hesitant) farmers are to invest. These details are critical to building business cases that actually reflect Caribbean farmers’ realities instead of dropping cookie-cutter templates from abroad.

The mission is also focused on what can be done right now, not five years down the road.  Dr. Maharaj pointed to a set of immediate gains: tighter irrigation scheduling, low-cost rainwater harvesting upgrades, and simple monitoring tools that cut waste and decrease monthly costs. On the marketing side, he sees tremendous potential in value-added products — salad mixes, fresh produce bundles, and other creative offerings that reposition farmers’ crops for stronger income. Despite the challenges, Maharaj says the farms they visited are already positioned to benefit from protected-agriculture business models. Many growers have the structures, the initiative, and the drive — they just need more efficient systems and better market coordination. “With the right water-energy efficiencies and linkages, these farms can unlock their full potential,” he noted.

The Ministry of Agriculture and its Extension Division also appear ready to push the next stage of development. Maharaj describes the team — led by Permanent Secretary Walter Christopher and supported by Mr. Ika Fergus/Senior Extension Officer and FAO National Correspondent — as having strong foundational capacity and local knowledge. The upcoming recommendations will reinforce their need for specialized agribusiness tools so they can guide farmers through the investment and implementation steps ahead.

The mission continued its assessments throughout the week, shaping five business-case models that may influence the next wave of agricultural modernization in Antigua and Barbuda. If the solutions match the realities seen on the ground, the country’s protected-agriculture sector could be heading for a smarter, more resilient phase and one where farmers would not be fighting with basic utilities just to stay in business.

FAO Mission Strengthens Climate-Smart Agriculture Through Water Management and Protected Farming Systems in Antigua and Barbuda by Brent Simon  

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.

Solar-Powered Desalination Boosts Agricultural Innovation in Antigua by Brent Simon

The Blubber Valley Osmosis Plant has reached a key milestone under the solar-powered desalination initiative, a partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Texas Tech University.

Professor Shane Walker, from the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering at Texas Tech University, explained that the project demonstrates solar-powered reverse osmosis technology for converting brackish groundwater into usable irrigation water for Antigua and Barbuda’s priority crops.

The system draws water from a nearby APUA well. The brackish water is first collected in a holding tank, then processed through the reverse osmosis unit, and finally stored for agricultural use. Each full cycle produces roughly 2,000 gallons of low-salinity permeate and 1,000 gallons of brine concentrate.

While the permeate is well suited for crop irrigation, Professor Walker noted that the management of the brine will be critical to avoid salt buildup in the soil over time. The Ministry’s technical team is therefore exploring salt-tolerant crops that can utilize slightly brinier water without long-term soil degradation.

Given Antigua’s distinct soil types—calciferous in the north, clay-heavy in the central plains, and volcanic in the south—the system’s performance will be evaluated across these regions to determine the most effective agricultural applications.

Professor Walker expressed appreciation to APUA for its support in providing the well and pumping infrastructure that made the project possible. “With both the solar array and desalination plant now fully operational, the next phase involves engaging farmers directly to put the technology to productive use, helping to strengthen the nation’s water security and agricultural resilience.”, he said.

According to Luke Nedd, FAO National Project Coordinator, the initiative aligns with FAO’s broader goal of promoting climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices across the region.

“This project represents a forward step in helping our farmers adapt to changing conditions,” Nedd said. “By harnessing renewable energy to produce irrigation water, we’re showing that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand in building a more resilient agricultural sector.”

CDB and FAO Climate Resilient Agriculture Programme Second Mission by Carol-Faye Bynoe-George

The Caribbean Development Band (CDB) and the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) Preparation team made its visit to Antigua and Barbuda during October 27 to 29.

This was the second mission of the Climate Resilient Agriculture Programme: Strengthening Adaptation and Productivity for Sustainable growth project to be supported/financed by the Global Adaptation Fund.

This mission is not limited to the twin island state of Antigua and Barbuda but also includes St. Kitts and Nevis along with St Vincent and the Grenadines.  Collectively these countries through their beneficiaries would gain their portions of thirty million dollars (30M) for projects pertaining to the advancement, resilience and productivity in the agriculture sector.

The meeting on October 27^th, the CDB/FAO team engaged the management and technicians of the Ministry of Agriculture, representatives from the Department of the Environment and the Gilbert Agricultural Rural Development Center.  Doctor Yerania Ramos Sanchez/co-ordinator and Economist presented her colleagues and then submitted the report from her first visit.

On Tuesday 28^th the visiting quintuple was divided into two teams since that would have allowed coverage of more ground in limited time. One group was stationed at the Fisheries Conference room while the other was located at the GARD.  Both teams conducted two workshops with Agricultural extension officers and farmers.

During these sessions pertinent information related to the development of the project with specifications for Antigua and Barbuda were obtained.  This exercise is a key component of the mission and integral for its success.  Since farmers/producers are referred to in the project as the beneficiaries are “co-authors” of this individualized CRA programme.  Both FAO and CDB through their representatives are making sure that everything will be in order, be it from governance/legislation to execution/implementation.

Tomorrow October 29^th, the mission continues in Barbuda.  While there for the day all activities achieved on Antigua will be replicated there.  Mandated and inspired by the mottoes such as “Zero Hunger, Leaving No One Behind, Sow the Seeds of Success, growing with Innovation, Growing Greatness and Keeping the Sector Alive onward we forge with Climate Resilience Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Projects for the ultimate goal in the quest of Food Sovereignty and Security.

Fresh Hope Flows: Farmers Welcome Solar-Powered Desalination Pilot by Brent Simon

For farmers in Antigua and Barbuda, water is more than a resource — it’s survival. Each dry season brings the same worry: cracked soil, wilting crops, and dwindling income. But this morning, hope took a tangible form with the launch of a pioneering solar-powered desalination pilot under the FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP/3901).

The Nanophotonics Enhanced Direct Solar Membrane Distillation (NESMD) system, developed in collaboration with the University of Texas at El Paso, was installed beside APUA Well Pump No.8, in Blubber Valley, Jennings, and can transform brackish water into life-sustaining irrigation.

Operating entirely on solar power, the mobile unit produces 2 cubic meters of fresh, low-salinity water per day for delicate crops such as tomatoes, while also generating 2 cubic meters of concentrate water suitable for hardier crops like sweet potato.

“This project is important because it gives farmers access to water when they otherwise would have none,” said Brent George, Projects Coordinator at the Ministry of Agriculture. “By making water with high salinity usable through reverse osmosis, we ease pressure on our limited freshwater supplies. Farmers from all around the country will be able to benefit from this resource.”

The pilot’s engineering expertise comes from Julius Pohjola, CEO of Solar Water Solutions, a Finland-based company specializing in off-grid clean water technologies. Pohjola is no stranger to Antigua; he has already overseen installations of solar desalination units in Lightfoot, providing pensioners with reliable water, and in Christian Valley, directly supporting local farmers. These early successes proved that the technology could thrive under Caribbean conditions.

Standing beside the unit at its unveiling, Pohjola stressed the simplicity and reliability of the system: powered only by the sun, requiring minimal maintenance, and producing no waste. For farmers, that translates into something rare and priceless — predictability.

FAO Project Coordinator Luke Nedd framed the initiative as a turning point. “This is about building resilience. It’s not just technology — it’s giving our farmers the confidence that even in times of drought, they can keep producing, keep feeding the nation.”

As the pilot moves forward, data on water quality, crop performance, and cost-effectiveness will be closely monitored to guide future expansion. The hope is that with support from the Government, private sector, and climate funds, similar units could soon dot the island, providing farmers everywhere with a shield against climate stress.

For now, the hum of the solar-powered unit carries more than the sound of machinery. It carries the sound of reassurance — proof that in Antigua and Barbuda, resilience is not just a slogan, but something farmers can see, touch, and taste in the water that sustains their land.

Government Technicians and Farmers Trained in Water-Saving Practices and Integrated Pest Management by Brent Simon

Ministry of Agriculture – March 24,2025

The United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is presently facilitating a training in Water-Saving Practices and Integrated Pest Management and hosted by the Agricultural Extension Division.  Facilitated by Mr. Luke Nedd /FAO Project Coordinator, the sessions are ongoing and aims to equip both government employees and food producers with crucial knowledge and skills to build climate resilient agricultural practices.

The day began with a focused session on water-saving techniques tailored for government technicians including staff members from Agricultural Extension Division (AED)and Department of Environment (DoE) officers. Held at the AED Conference Room, the session covered the practical reasons of installing, operating, and maintaining climate-resilient model farms. Participants gained hands-on insights into water conservation practices that are vital for sustainable farming amidst climate challenges.

This morning after a short break, the training resumed but shifted focus to Integrated Pest Management (IPM), with Mr. Nedd, providing participants with advanced strategies to manage pests while minimizing the use of harmful chemicals. Emphasis was placed on environmentally friendly approaches to pest control, which are essential for long-term agricultural sustainability.

This evening, it is anticipated that farmers from various agricultural districts, including backyard gardeners and farmer’s groups, will attend the concurrent training session. A key component of the training will emphasize the importance of involving women in agricultural initiatives, with a goal of 40% of the participants being women.

As the training progresses, this FAO project will continue to empower stakeholders, fostering a community of climate-smart agriculture advocates, ready to face the challenges of water scarcity and pest management.