Antigua and Barbuda Secures US$9 Million Grant for Dams and Water Infrastructure

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has secured a US$9 million grant to finance the construction of dams, water catchment ponds and other water conservation infrastructure, as part of a broad effort to strengthen food security and expand domestic agricultural production.

According to Antigua News Room, the announcement was made at Thursday's post-Cabinet media briefing, where Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith Jr. updated Cabinet on the funding. The grant will be provided through the Caribbean Development Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization's Soil and Water Management Programme.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant confirmed that the funds will support the construction of dams, water catchment ponds and other critical soil and water management infrastructure across the country.

Merchant described the initiative as a key pillar of the government's strategy to increase domestic food production, improve water security for farmers and reduce reliance on costly desalinated water for agricultural use.

"The initiative is expected to significantly enhance irrigation capacity and provide farmers with more reliable access to water, particularly during periods of drought and prolonged dry seasons," Merchant said.

Merchant also disclosed that eight locations have already been identified for dam construction, with two additional sites selected for large-scale "super dams." Together, these facilities will form a national water storage network designed to capture and retain water for agricultural purposes, bolstering the farming sector's resilience during increasingly dry conditions.

The government said the investment will strengthen the country's long-term food security strategy by ensuring farmers have a more dependable supply of irrigation water while reducing production costs associated with purchasing desalinated water.

The grant represents one of the largest recent investments in agricultural water infrastructure and comes as the government continues to prioritize greater domestic food production and climate resilience.