Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced plans to establish a nursery for ornamental plants in Barbuda and expand livestock and poultry production in Antigua and Barbuda.

Speaking recently on his radio programme, Browne said the government will be looking to increase agricultural production for the new year through the purchase of another chicken abattoir.

The plans include encouraging small-scale farmers to raise broilers that can be processed at the facility for distribution to local supermarkets.

The move comes as part of efforts to reduce the nation’s $52 million annual poultry import bill.

“Dr [Patrick] Lay had gotten the Cabinet … to partially fund this abattoir but even if he doesn’t participate, I think the government should accelerate it,” he said.

The prime minister also discussed implementing a tilapia farming initiative to help farmers establish ponds and water catchment systems.

According to Browne, the project will also be led by Dr Lay — who will be meeting with farmers for further discussions — alongside the government’s plans to establish a nursery in Barbuda for ornamental plants to support beautification efforts along major highways and roads across both islands.

“We are going to scale up agriculture and what is happening even with these hotel properties—all of them have farms.

“So PLH, Nobu, the Rosewood will have their farms, but outside of that in terms of food security, I believe that Barbuda could make a more significant contribution towards it,” he said.