tidings
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley uses a coffee grinder at the Agri-Investment Forum and Exhibition in Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Friday. – SURESH CHOLAI
VISHANNA FAGO
Minister of Public Services Marvin Gonzales and technocrats from Caricom countries underlined the importance of agriculture and what they expect from the people in the region in its efforts to achieve food security.
Gonzales said his ministry was essential to the economic development of Trinidad and Tobago, as it provides water and electricity. He was speaking at the Agri-Investment Forum and Exhibition at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Friday, where the exhibition runs until 10pm on Sunday.
“So, what we are seeing here…, the great show, the innovation and the great push of development in our agricultural sector cannot be done if the Ministry of Public Enterprises does not have the government’s policy in terms of public services. It can’t happen because we have to make sure we have enough water to irrigate our crops, we have to make sure the energy is put into our farms.”
He said there are many farmers in TT, and perhaps across the region, who operate off the grid. Gonzales said the ministry plans to install solar panels on farms so they have access to energy.
“Even though they are not integrated into the world of electricity, they can now access solar energy to power their farms.”
In addition to the solar panels, Gonzales said the ministry will use its modular water treatment plants to increase water supply.
Ariaponics manager Alex Jones shows lettuce grown using his hydroponic system at the Agri-Investment Forum and Exhibition, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain on Friday. – VISHANNA FAGO
“There is a lot of groundwater and surface water that we have not harvested, and a number of rural communities do not have access to water, and with the use of modular water treatment plants that we will bring to TT, we will target communities rural because they have access to rivers and water wells. So we will treat the water from those plants because they can be easily and strategically placed around communities.”
He said this will provide water to homes and farms resulting in more locally sourced food.
He said that those interested in receiving electricity supply can apply to the electrification and solar electrification programs of the ministry. The cost is between $50,000 and $60,000 to provide power to their homes or farms.
Meanwhile, at the National Academy of Performing Arts, Caricom technocrats discussed the need to promote healthy food, the benefits of incorporating technology into agriculture, financing for small and medium farms and how to boost trade and investment in the region.
Shaun Baugh, Guyana’s agricultural and agro-industrial development program manager, said there are many projects underway, some of which include de-risking the regional agriculture sector, regional insurance, looking into alternative sources of financing and de-risking of tariff barriers. .
Also speaking on the food and nutrition panel, co-founder and director of Empower Nutrition Ltd Mweia Elias said nutrition is neglected when it comes to discussing food security.
“There is no conversation about food security without food security,” she said.
Elias said that discussions about Covid19 have overshadowed that of chronic diseases and said that at least 60 percent of TT’s population suffers from overnutrition. She said many patients express a love-hate relationship with flour and said there should be more options that are easily accessible.
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Ariaponics manager Alex Jones said all their produce is grown using hydroponics and a solar power system. – VISHANNA FAGO
During the agriculture, finance and marketing panel, Karen Yip Chuck, general manager, commercial and retail banking of Republic Bank Ltd (RBL), said the bank has committed GYD 2 billion (TT$64.9 million) to help micro-projects flourish on a large scale in the country.
“The RBL can provide the funding but it may not be accessible to the people who need it unless they have a business case, they have to show the financials of the performers – what is their cash flow.”
She said that TT has the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), but other countries in the region may not have the RBL’s commitment to the cause.
ADB Chairman Sekou Mark said 25 percent of the 650 loans ADB issues each year were for young entrepreneurs.
After the forum, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Caricom Private Sector Organizations, the Caribbean Supermarket Association, the Producers Association and the Agribusiness Association, as well as the signing of the statement by the Prime Minister and the Caricom Private Sector.
At the exhibition, Dr Rowley and other delegates visited the booths. Each stand had representatives from companies such as Ariaponics and Trintrac, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries and the TT Agricultural Society. The representatives explained the benefits, challenges and solutions that come from agriculture.
At the Ariaponics booth, manager Alex Jones showed how big and fresh lettuce and chadon beni were grown with the help of food circulating in the hydroponic system and said the entire process is solar powered. He said the lettuce only takes a little over 30 days before it’s ready for consumption.
