Government of Antigua and Barbuda Policy of Assistance to Small Scale Farmers

Land Tenure

• Land rental rates are characterized by Peppercorn prices which are paid on an annual basis.

• The Extension Division rents up to 5 acres at a price of $10.00 per acre per year.

• The Agricultural Development Corporation rents up to 100 acres at a price of 25.00 per acre per year

Subsidized land Preparation

• Extension provides land preparation services for over 1200 small farmers on holdings of 0.5 to 10 acres.

• The subsidized cost for three basic operations; ploughing, second cutting and banking is $360.00 compared to the commercial cost of $600.00 dollars.

Duty Free Concessions`

Government provides duty free concessions on Vehicles, equipment, agro-chemicals, seeds and other inputs used by farmers.

Special water utility rates

Farmers pay a rate of $21.00 per 1000 gallons as compared to $31.00 per gal 1000 for domestic use and $41.00 per 1000 gal. for commercial use.

Maintenance of ponds and dams

Extension is responsible for the cleaning of ponds , dams and streams to maximize rain water catchment for use by farmers.

Free seedlings

• Since the implementation of the Initiative on Soaring Food Prices in 2008 , the Government supported a programme of free seedlings for the home based production sector. To date over 250,000 seedlings have been distributed.

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