The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has initiated a project aimed at restoring the Antigua Black Pineapple, with plans to produce over 200,000 plant heads by next year. Agriculture Minister Anthony Smith, in a radio interview, disclosed the employment of tissue culture technology to rejuvenate this renowned fruit. The process began with the selection of premium strains from local cultivars, involving approximately 10 farmers who possessed superior strains of the Antigua Black Pineapple. These selected strains underwent a tissue culture clean-up process.
Due to the lack of necessary facilities on the island, the cleaned tissue cultures were sent to St Vincent for multiplication. Minister Smith revealed that from the initial 10 strains, the team successfully expanded to 15,000 plant heads for the Antigua Black, which is now being transported back to Antigua. The ambition extends to escalating production to 200,000 plant heads by 2025, with a significant contribution from local farmers.
Smith emphasized the pivotal role of local farmers in reaching this milestone and announced plans to distribute pineapple heads among them. He also encouraged the youth to engage in this sector, highlighting its profitability and government support. The Antigua Black Pineapple, known for its unique sweetness, stands as a symbol of the island's agricultural heritage, with the initiative marking a significant step in its preservation and promotion on a local, regional, and international scale. The government is also expanding operations at Cades Bay and other agricultural stations to ensure sustainable production.
Source: WIC News