Farmers and communities in Antigua and Barbuda are better equipped to withstand drought, improve food production, and ultimately enhance the country’s resilience to the negative impacts of a changing climate. The United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Linda Taglialatela, highlighted this positive development while addressing a close out ceremony for the Antigua arm of the US$9.5 million “Rallying the Region to Action on Climate Change (RRACC)” Project in the OECS.

Ambassador Taglialatela told the gathering that the U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and in partnership with the OECS Commission, provided local farmers with climate-smart technology, technical assistance, and other important resources totaling US$1.3 million to reduce the impact of climate-related incidences including droughts, floods, and sea level rise.

“The hydroponic greenhouse technology seen here today is one example of the climate-smart approaches that Antigua and Barbuda has embraced. In addition, local community partners, farmers, and other stakeholders will learn first-hand the necessary steps to reduce crop losses and improve water usage in extremely dry conditions. These efforts will build the resilience of Antigua and Barbuda’s agricultural sector, as well as the national economy,” the Ambassador said.

Ambassador Taglialatela said food security, individual livelihoods, and key sectors of the country’s economy were threatened by the impacts of climate change. Barbudan farmers, she also noted, were also experiencing decreased food production due to the lack of freshwater for farming.

In addition to providing greenhouses equipped with rainwater infrastructure in Antigua, USAID also funded the construction of a water catchment area and a storage drip irrigation system in Barbuda resulting in the revitalization of several acres of farmland and farmers’ ability to successfully cultivate various staple crops.

“Together with the Ministry of Agriculture, we have trained over 100 farmers in greenhouse farming and organic methods of increasing yields and reducing pests. By working together to develop and implement climate-smart agricultural practices, we will ultimately help improve crop viability, ensure food security, and reduce related risks in the face of increasing water scarcity,” the US envoy revealed.

Reiterating the U.S Government’s continued support for Antigua and Barbuda’s climate change efforts, Ambassador Taglialatela stressed that the same was true for the wider region given the Caribbean’s extreme vulnerability to climate change.