The Antigua and Barbuda government is closing the tissue culture laboratory in Bethesda as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at strengthening agricultural production and supporting local farmers.
The decision was disclosed during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing. Director General of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, confirmed the current facility will cease operations within days while a replacement agricultural facility is established.
"The tissue culture laboratory located in Bethesda will be closed in the next few days," Merchant said.
The new facility will focus on producing high-quality, disease-free planting material for distribution to farmers across Antigua and Barbuda. "The new facility will support agricultural development by producing disease-free, high-quality plant material for farmers and agricultural programs across Antigua and Barbuda," Merchant said.
Officials say the initiative is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits for the sector. "The Bethesda facility is expected to help increase crop production, improve plant quality, strengthen food security, and support the resilience of the local agricultural sector," Merchant added.
The government also announced that new agricultural equipment has arrived at the port and will soon be deployed to help farmers boost crop production and improve yields.
