BVI developing water policy to assist farmers

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands (CMC) – The British Virgin Islands is developing a new water policy outlining assistance and subsidies for farmers as it moves ahead with plans to improve water storage at the Paraquita Bay Agricultural Station. Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said the policy is expected to be completed soon and is intended to address long-standing water challenges affecting the agriculture sector. “The Ministry of the Premier’s Office should produce for us very soon a water policy for our farmers that will help to clarify what types of assistance and subsidies our farmers get as it pertains to water,” Wheatley said.

The premier made the disclosure during a recent news conference while responding to questions about the impact of drought and water shortages on residents and farmers. He said the government is also advancing plans to construct reservoirs at the Paraquita Bay Agricultural Station, with the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) overseeing the project. “I got a good update on the reservoirs we’re seeking to build at the Paraquita Bay Station, an agricultural station, which will provide water for our farmers,” Wheatley said.

He said the RDA is moving ahead with the project, which the government hopes will be completed next year. Efforts to establish a reliable water supply for farmers at Paraquita Bay have been underway for several years amid complaints about unreliable supplies and the high cost of purchasing water. In May 2025, the RDA signed a US$224,639.60 contract for the design and construction management of the Farmers’ Reservoir.

The project includes engineering design and oversight of water mains and other infrastructure to support irrigation and livestock. Five farmers also received 1,000-gallon water tanks in March under an Organization of Eastern Caribbean States-supported programme aimed at improving rainwater harvesting, irrigation and water reserves for livestock. Wheatley said the government is providing assistance to farmers while work on the reservoir project continues.

“In the meantime, we’re doing our best to provide water to our farmers,” he said, acknowledging the challenges facing the sector. The premier said the territory’s broader water problems are also being addressed through investments in pipelines, reservoirs and distribution infrastructure, with water designated as a critical national priority.