Agricultural specialist Owolabi Elabanjo is calling on local banks to invest directly in farming, arguing that growers currently bear months of production costs on their own before earning any revenue. According to Antigua Observer, Elabanjo made the remarks at the "Food as Medicine, Soil as Life" workshop held at the American University of Antigua.
Speaking from his own experience as a working farmer, Elabanjo said the financial burden on growers begins from the moment they plant. "Farmers are subsidising their own production from day one," he said.
He argued that soft loans at interest rates of two to three per cent would give farmers the capital needed to expand operations, adopt new technologies, and increase output — reducing the financial exposure many endure while waiting on a harvest.
Elabanjo also identified gaps in local seed and varietal selection as a persistent weakness in the sector. He pointed to the tomato industry as a clear example, noting that Antigua has yet to identify a tomato variety capable of withstanding the high temperatures of the July to October period. As a result, local supply runs thin during those months.
"What is lacking with us is the selection of our seeds," he said.
Elabanjo acknowledged that the government has already provided meaningful support to the agricultural sector, including affordable land rental rates and duty-free access to agricultural inputs. However, he stressed that private investment and improved crop planning are now essential to help farmers expand and stabilise production over the long term.
