Sea Island Cotton Production in Antigua and Barbuda By Jedidiah Maxime and Lesroy Grant 25 th January, 2011.

Sea Island Cotton Sea Island Cotton Production in Antigua Production in Antigua

and Barbudaand BarbudaByBy

Jedidiah MaximeJedidiah Maximeandand

Lesroy GrantLesroy Grant2525thth January, 2011 January, 2011

22

OUTLINEOUTLINE

Production (History,Status of Production (History,Status of 2010-2011 crop,Projections for 2010-2011 crop,Projections for 2011-2012 crop,Challenges) By 2011-2012 crop,Challenges) By MaximeMaxime

Ginnery(Gins,Building,Bales, Ginnery(Gins,Building,Bales, Challenges) By GrantChallenges) By Grant

ConclusionConclusion

33

HISTORYHISTORY Cotton production commenced around Cotton production commenced around

19031903

Commercial production began 1907(2000 Commercial production began 1907(2000 acres)acres)

1920 production decreased1920 production decreased

1939-1942 production increased1939-1942 production increased

44

HISTORY- Cont’dHISTORY- Cont’d 1950-1960 further production increase 1950-1960 further production increase

(5,958 acres)(5,958 acres)

Late 1960’s significant declineLate 1960’s significant decline

1960 - present production fluctuates 1960 - present production fluctuates annually with cotton produced by ADC, annually with cotton produced by ADC, Cotton Station and small farmers.Cotton Station and small farmers.

55

STATUS OF 2010/2011 STATUS OF 2010/2011 CROPCROP

9 acres currently under cultivation at 9 acres currently under cultivation at Central Cotton Station .Harvesting to Central Cotton Station .Harvesting to commence by Feb 2011. 3,000 lbs commence by Feb 2011. 3,000 lbs lint expected lint expected

40 acres currently under cultivation 40 acres currently under cultivation at ADC. 14,000 lbs lint expected.at ADC. 14,000 lbs lint expected.

66

PROJECTIONS FOR PROJECTIONS FOR 2011/2012 CROP2011/2012 CROP

ADC ADC 100 acres100 acres Central Cotton StationCentral Cotton Station 20 acres 20 acres Small farmers Small farmers 30 acres 30 acres

Total expected Yield Total expected Yield

Seed cotton Seed cotton 150,000lbs150,000lbs

Lint Lint 50,000 lbs50,000 lbs

77

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES Weather conditions ( wet) affected land Weather conditions ( wet) affected land

preparation and other mechanical preparation and other mechanical activitiesactivities

Harvesting of crop - Lack of skilled Harvesting of crop - Lack of skilled pickers pickers

Land availability for cotton production – Land availability for cotton production – Competition with land for housingCompetition with land for housing

88

GINNERY GINNERY State of GinsState of Gins 3 Gins currently working efficiently and 3 Gins currently working efficiently and

are capable to gin quantities projectedare capable to gin quantities projected

99

GINNERY (Cont’d)GINNERY (Cont’d)

Building-In a state of disrepairBuilding-In a state of disrepair

1010

GINNERY-Cont’dGINNERY-Cont’d

Bales of Lint for marketing( 28 Bales)Bales of Lint for marketing( 28 Bales)

1111

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

State of the BuildingState of the Building

Cost price for LintCost price for Lint

Frequency of purchase of Lint from Frequency of purchase of Lint from Antigua and Barbuda.Antigua and Barbuda.

1212

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Government is committed to cotton Government is committed to cotton production in Antigua and Barbudaproduction in Antigua and Barbuda

Budgetary allocations are made for Budgetary allocations are made for the seed multiplication, production the seed multiplication, production and distribution programme and and distribution programme and ginning of cotton seedsginning of cotton seeds

1313

CONCLUSION –Cont’dCONCLUSION –Cont’d

Support to cotton farmers are Support to cotton farmers are provided by the Extension Division provided by the Extension Division and Cotton Stationand Cotton Station

Options of Crop Improvement would Options of Crop Improvement would be explored for the revitalization and be explored for the revitalization and viability of the cotton industry.viability of the cotton industry.