Farmers’ Aging Population Is a Concern, Minister Warns

Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith says Antigua and Barbuda’s farming population is aging rapidly, warning that the country must bring in younger farmers to secure the future of its food supply.

Speaking during the 2026 Budget Debate, he described the demographic shift as one of the most serious long-term challenges facing the sector.

Smith said the average age of many local farmers is now “55 and 60 plus,” noting that the country’s most experienced producers are “aging out” of the sector and leaving behind a widening gap.

He stressed that this reality affects food security, succession planning, production stability and the ministry’s ability to push modern methods across the industry.

To counter the trend, Smith highlighted the relaunch of the Antigua and Barbuda Agricultural Youth Forum (ABAYF), which he described as one of the ministry’s most important tools for attracting the next generation of agricultural workers.

Since its relaunch less than a year ago, the programme has enrolled “75 registered members… young men and women… attracted to agriculture,” he told Parliament.

Smith said the youth forum is not just a club but a structured pipeline designed to expose young people to agricultural careers, teach them the value of food production, and connect them with ministry departments.

He used the example of Chief Extension Officer Iker Fergus, who “came through the ABAYF ranks” before rising into leadership, as proof that youth initiatives can produce skilled professionals who go on to guide national policy.

The minister added that ABAYF is part of a broader push to modernise the image of agriculture in Antigua and Barbuda.

He said young people must be encouraged to see agriculture not only as traditional farming but also as a field connected to technology, agribusiness, research, sustainability, food systems management and national development. Smith repeatedly emphasized that young people are essential to “moving the sector forward,” especially as older farmers retire.

He linked the demographic issue to several of the ministry’s wider programmes aimed at supporting current and future farmers, including training initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, new equipment, food-security projects, and expanded opportunities for hands-on involvement. Smith said these investments are meant to create a sector that young people want to join and can see themselves leading.

According to the minister, combining support for the aging farmer population with aggressive recruitment of young people is critical to ensuring that Antigua and Barbuda can maintain stable, local food production for years to come.

“Our young men and women are attracted to agriculture,” he said, adding that the ministry intends to build on that momentum.

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