St. John's - July 6, 2011 - Antigua & Barbuda is seeking close to EC $1million (€235,294) from the European Union (EU) to fund agricultural and social transformation programmes. The proposal was made around two weeks ago by the Office of the National Authorising Officer for the European Development Fund (EDF).

This comes after positive reports for the country, following its mid-term review of EDF programmes. The proposal aims to secure the funding to provide those in poverty with the means of lifting themselves out of it.

The plan is to provide training in agro-processing, livestock rearing, small business development and management to those identified as living in poverty.

The project also plans to speed up programmes such as backyard gardening and provide seedlings and young livestock to more persons in need.

The proposal points to a 2007 poverty assessment that measured poverty levels in the island. That report found 18 per cent or around 3,200 persons living in poverty and a further 3.1 per cent or 970 as indigent or unable to provide the basic necessities of life.

Persons were deemed as poor in that study if they earned less than EC $6,318 a year and categorised as indigent if they earned less than EC $2,449 per year.

The project is expected to take between 15 to 18 months and hopes to shrink the poverty gap and reduce the indigent population to less than 1 per cent.

The Ministry of Social Transformation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands are expected to head the project if it receives EU approval.