Michael Joseph has been farming for as long as he could remember. From sea to soil, he has built his livelihood with resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to modernising agriculture.
A 21-year-old national of Antigua and Barbuda, Michael is the proud recipient of the 2025 CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year Award which was presented to him by Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Ian Hanley, at the opening of the 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in the twin island on 29 September 2025.
Coming from a household of commercial fishers, it was only natural that Michael’s first exposure to earning a living came through the sea, working on boats, setting lobster pots, and paying his own school fees. He transitioned much later to crop farming, cultivating just over 1.5 acres of land. He currently produces watermelons, cucumbers, ochroes and tomatoes, but intends to add lettuce to the produce he offers for sale to local supermarkets and vendors.
Driven by a desire to reduce food waste and support local food security, Michael plans to launch a tomato paste line, using surplus or bruised tomatoes that otherwise would have been discarded.
Currently the President of the Antigua and Barbuda Agricultural Forum for Youth, Michael champions the message that farming can be modern, sustainable, and profitable. He pointed out that his model demonstrated how young farmers can move beyond primary production to build full-scale agribusinesses that support food systems, technology adoption, and rural development.
To Michael, agriculture is a “recession-proof business” — one that remains resilient in the face of crises such as the global pandemic.
“People still have to eat… and the world population is still growing,” he pointed out.
Directing his remarks at young people of the Region in particular, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector, he said:
“Our generation has the responsibility to feed the future, and the ability to do so sustainably. An investment in young farmers is an investment in food, and an investment in food is an investment in life itself.”
Here’s Michael’s story:
Listen to his acceptance speech:
Here are excerpts of an interview with the CARICOM Communications Unit:
