AGRI-Invest Country Profiles

Agri Investment Forum & Expo, 2022

MONTSERRAT

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR

The goal of the Department of Agriculture is “To redevelop agriculture (crop, livestock, aquaculture and marine resources) to promote food security, satisfy

Crops targeted include:

Green leafy vegetables

Sweet Peppers

Seasonal Peppers

Sweet Potatoes

String Beans

local demand and to target specific markets for import substitution and export.”

Onions

Cabbage

Cucumbers

Sorrel

Including the reintroduction of the production of white potatoes for 2021/22.

Incentives/Concessions for the Agricultural Sector: Duty concessions on any imports directly related to agriculture • Highly subsidized services such as the provision of vegetable seedlings, tillage operations, irrigation tanks and equipment, veterinary medicines and drugs • Direct grant support to producers • Duty free concession on the importation of a pick up once certain criteria is met • Outreachand technical services suchas information transfer and irrigation set up.

The Department is in the process of establishing an agro-processing plant geared at utilizing excesses of fruit and vegetables. Montserrat has been self- sufficient in eggs for a number of years and the production of poultry meat increases annually. The focus on improving the breeds of small ruminants and pigs using artificial insemination with a steer towards meat production. Advances have been made in the marine environment with ongoing development of a marine spatial plan and the introduction of Fish aggregating Devices to ease some of the fishing pressures on the reefs.

For further information, please visit our website: https://www.gov.ms/government/ministries/ministry-of-agriculture-lands-housing-environment/ department-of-agriculture/

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