Plan of Action 2013-2014 Zero Hunger Challenge in Antigua and Barbuda.

The Plan of Action is a national policy with a cross‐sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Plan of Action is 2 years between 2013 and 2014. The goal of the Plan of Action is to eliminate hunger and extreme poverty in Antigua and Barbuda. The objectives of the Zero Hunger Challenge are (i) access to adequate food all year round, (ii) elimination of malnutrition, (iii) sustainable food systems, (iv) growth in the productivity and income of the smallholders, and (v) zero food loss and waste.
The level of poverty, food insecurity and vulnerability will be reduced. The access of vulnerable groups to nutrition, health care and social protection will be increased. The nutrition status of infants, young children and pregnant women will be improved with respect to right to food. Public awareness will be raised on health and nutrition through information, education and communication campaigns. The dietary consumption of vulnerable families will be improved. In order to ensure the availability of sufficient quantities of food, measures will be taken for the sustainable production of food crops, livestock, fish and other food products. Food availability at the household and school levels will be increased through school gardening and feeding programs with special focus on women and youth. Early warning and monitoring and evaluation systems of food security vulnerability will be established for decision making.
The agricultural sector will be revitalized to improve rural economy. Agricultural extension services will be provided to farmers to boost production. Pro-poor employment and income generating opportunities will be enhanced. Access to education and vocational training of farmers and smallholders will be increased to ensure capacity building and self-sufficiency, as well as to meet the labour market demand. Women and youth participation will be promoted in the process of agricultural sector development. A Central Registry of Beneficiaries will be established to implement social protection programs for all. Furthermore the coordination mechanisms for the social protection programs will be strengthened.
Food safety will be ensured through sanitary and phytosanitary measures, improved post-harvest handling, storage and value addition. More efficient agricultural systems will be developed through economic expansion and diversification of the agricultural sector. Value added processing and consumption of locally produced staples, fish and livestock products with emphasis on white potato, cassava, sweet potato, small ruminants and poultry, will be promoted. Innovative technologies will be adopted to increase productivity. Furthermore marketing support and trade facilitation will be provided with the improved market information system to increase export. Financial support will be provided to small- and medium- scale enterprises. The support for smallholders will be increased to promote entrepreneurship and home food production. The links between agriculture and tourism will be strengthened to promote ecotourism. Legislative framework will strengthened regarding access to and use of lands, livestock resources and praedial larceny.
An Early Warning System on Food and Nutrition Insecurity will be established to mitigate the adverse impacts of economic crisis, climate change and other natural disasters.