The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture held a brief recognition ceremony in the Agriculture Minister’s Office on Friars Hill Road in honor of Mr. Michael Joseph/Crop Farmer and President of the Antigua and Barbuda Agricultural Forum for Youth (ABAFY).
Mr. Joseph recently was named Caricom Young Farmer of the Year at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) which was held last week in St. Kitts.
In a brief ceremony organized by the (IICA) local office here on Antigua that was hosted by Mr. Craig Thomas/IICA National Specialist Mr. Joseph not only received commendations but also a monetary award which was a symbol and token of appreciation.
The event brought together several leaders within the Ministry of Agriculture to include Permanent Secretary Walter Christopher, Director of Agriculture Gregory Bailey, and Mr. Ika Fergus Extension Officer.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary Christopher commended Mr. Joseph’s boldness, engagement, and passion for agriculture.
“We are very proud of him for being recognized at this level.
This is a local recognition ceremony for Mr. Joseph, and we’ll continue to support him — whether it be with land or other resources — to ensure he continues to progress as one of the top young farmers, not only in Antigua, but the Caribbean,” Christopher said.
Director of Agriculture Gregory Bailey emphasized the scale of Joseph’s accomplishment, noting that he competed against top young farmers from across the region.
“This is a testament to Mr. Joseph’s ability to innovate and use technology to transform the agricultural landscape. As you said in your own remarks, this is not just your achievement — it’s one for youth in Antigua and across the region,” Bailey stated.
Additionally, Mr. Thomas praised Joseph’s commitment and growth as a young leader.
“When I met him, he reminded me of myself — the same drive and love for Agriculture. When we decided to revive the Antigua and Barbuda Agricultural Forum for Youths (ABAFY), his name came up immediately as a potential leader.
IICA’s work program is strongly aligned with youth and women in agriculture, and I just want to congratulate him on behalf of IICA and the regional network.
In addition to the trophy, he received in Saint Kitts and Nevis, we’re also pleased to make a monetary contribution of US$1,000 to support him in continuing the great work he’s doing.”
Reflecting on the honor, Mr. Michael Joseph described the award as both a milestone and a motivator for greater accomplishments ahead.
“It’s a big accomplishment, and yes, I’m glad for the recognition.
Although it’s a big recognition, it’s just a small step on this long journey.
We have much greater things to accomplish in the future — especially the reduction of the national food import bill, which we’re going to tackle soon.”
When asked what advice he would share with other young people interested in agriculture, Joseph offered a simple but powerful message:
“If you have interest, or even if you’re not too sure, don’t wait for the perfect time to start — there’s no perfect time to start anything. Just start, even if it’s small. You expand and grow as you progress.
Don’t be afraid to fail — failure early only teaches you, and the key thing is learning from your experiences and continuing to progress.”
The ceremony served as a proud national moment, recognizing Mr. Joseph’s leadership and dedication to youth in agriculture — a testament to the growing role of young innovators shaping the future of “FOOD SECURITY” in Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean.
