The Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries has committed over Five Million Dollars to Phase One of the revitalization and modernization of the rice industry project in Trinidad and Tobago. This revelation was made by Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein during a meeting convened with a group of rice farmers at Farmers Choice Vegetable Mart located on the Old Southern Main Road in Caroni.

The meeting, which was held on last week (Wednesday, 15th February), opened dialogue between technical teams from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) and key industry stakeholders. During the discussion, Minister Hosein informed that the funds would be used for the first phase of the project, and funding would increase as the project develops in the medium and long term. “The government is committed to reducing the food import bill. We recognize that rice is one of the most important staple foods in Trinidad and Tobago, constituting a regular part of the daily diet of most citizens. Today’s discussion isn’t about me; we must work together to get it right. We are working towards the same goal, boosting local rice production.”

Senator Hosein indicated that the initial phase would lay the foundation of the project rollout, “This phase will entail rehabilitating and repairing rice field access roads, irrigation and drainage channels and other supportive infrastructure works. It will also include land clearing and drainage/irrigation upgrades. It’s a mammoth project that may span years, but we are committed to starting and completing it.” He further described the project as strategic saying, “revitalizing and modernizing the local rice industry will increase regional food security and reduce the nearly 100 per cent dependence on imports for this crucial staple food. ”

After listening to the concerns of the farmers, the Minister pledged to meet with key stakeholder agencies, including the Ministry of Trade, National Flour Mills and the Agricultural Development Bank officials, to discuss the issues facing them and by extension the sector.

Since 2008 local rice production has been accounting for less than 5% of local demand, with the shortfall in supply (more than 95%) met by imports. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, rice imports were valued at TT$126,514,257 Million, TT$136,445,295 Million and TT$146,408,204 Million, respectively (CSO, Trinidad and Tobago).

Please visit agriculutre.gov.tt for more updates on this project.

 

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The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) is taking steps to combat the illegal wildlife trade in Trinidad and Tobago.

Earlier today (11th February 2023), the Forestry Division (Wildlife Section) of the MALF initiated a training programme for Honorary Game Wardens; 68 of whom received their letters of appointment from Senator the Honorable Kazim Hosein, Minister of Agriculture Land and Fisheries.

In January 2023, three hundred and ninety-six (396) Honorary Game Wardens were officially appointed via Gazette as outlined in the Conservation of Wildlife Act. The training and delivery of appointment letters will continue during the month of February.

Honorary Game Wardens are volunteers who are conferred with the same powers as Game Wardens; empowered under the Conservation of Wildlife Act and related legislation.

While speaking at the appointment ceremony at Caroni Bird Sanctuary this morning, Minister Hosein commended the volunteers hailing their decision to serve as a patriotic act saying, “service to man is service to God.” He reminded the volunteers that the preservation of the  ecosystem is paramount for future generations: “Your role as guardians of our nation’s conservation efforts is crucial to the agriculture sector and the modern hunting culture as it provides an added level of enforcement against poachers and persons who commit wildlife offences and infractions.”

Earlier this week, the Minster reminded the nation that the illegal trade of wildlife would not be tolerated following the seizure of exotic animals by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Force. The Minister reiterated to the audience that these animals might bring diseases and viral infections into the shores, which may have disastrous effects on the environment and also the prices at the market.

Today, Minister Hosein reminded the volunteers that they now form part of the security apparatus of this country, and their roles are even more crucial now than ever. He said: “The importation of illegal animals into this country is linked to a larger criminal enterprise. These boats are not transporting animals alone but other illegal items which fuel and fund the criminal enterprise of this country. Your service is vital in combating these crimes.”

There are currently 46 Game Wardens employed with MALF and the Minister said these appointments would strengthen the unit’s capabilities. The last batch of Honorary Game Wardens was appointed in 2016 with some 130 citizens receiving their letters of appointment for one year.

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Senator the Honorable Kazim Hosein, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, is warning the citizens that the illegal wildlife trade will not be tolerated.

The Minister’s comments follow the seizure of several Protected Animals by the Trinidad and Tobago Police (TTPS) force during an exercise in south Trinidad earlier today. Minister Hosein commended the quick action by the TTPS, saying the illegal wildlife trade is wreaking havoc,

 “ The wildlife trade continues to wreak havoc on the local ecosystem. In addition, these animals may introduce diseases and viral infections into our system. Therefore, I am encouraging citizens to be mindful of the disastrous impact supporting this trade may have on local wildlife and the dangers posed in human interaction.”

Two (2) Wedge-Capped Capuchin Monkeys, Four (4) Blue and Gold Macaws and Thirty-six Yellow Crowned Parrots were seized during the exercise.

Minister Hosein urged citizens to think twice before being lured into the seduction of a purchase.

“ I understand a desire for exotic birds and animals as pets or consumption. But the price is too great to ignore; you may expose your loved one to harm.”

Conservator of Forest Denny Dipchansingh said the illicit trade in wildlife in TT remains a concern

Dipchansingh said several measures had been implemented to deal with these problems. These included joint patrols and inspections by forest officers, game wardens and officers from the National Security Ministry.

“Once perpetrators are found in breach of the Conservation of Wildlife Act (CWA), charges are laid against them. We continuously monitor pet shops, as this is where the sales occur. We do educational drives and public awareness at all levels. We carry out increased patrols outside the normal working hours to prevent further breaches to the CWA.”

He said the Forestry Division had done training programmes for the police, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), and other state agencies on wildlife enforcement and education. Officials from the Forestry Division, Wildlife section, are assisting the TTPS in securing the animals and returning them to a suitable habitat.

The Minister is urging citizens to report any suspected cases to the TTPS.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries is hoping to mobilize an entire generation for wetland restoration.

In commemoration of World Wetlands Day, which is celebrated on February 2nd, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) has embarked on a series of public awareness campaigns to sensitize citizens on the importance and wise use of our wetlands. To capitalize on the 2023 theme, “Time for Wetland Restoration”, the Ministry launched a youth-centric outreach campaign which culminated with the execution of a wetlands colouring competition hosted by the Forestry Division as part of its school outreach programme.

Whilst addressing the competition’s prize-giving ceremony at the Caroni Swamp Visitors’ Centre this morning, Minister of Agriculture Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, called on citizens to rethink how their actions may impact the environment, urging them to take action. In his encouragement to citizens, he said: “Make conscientious choices in order to minimize your impact. Use water sparingly and not dump rubbish into our wetlands. Use persuasive voices to educate and activate others to get involved in wetland restoration and take bold actions in your local wetland restoration efforts.”

 While addressing the crowd of students, the Minister stated, “Healthy wetlands also provide a long list of benefits for our communities, including buffering coastal areas from storms, absorbing carbon dioxide, and acting as filtering systems for freshwater.”

Minister Hosein urged citizens to visit the nation’s wetlands to witness its majestic beauty “Locally, there are three designated Wetlands of International Importance or Ramsar Sites with a total surface area of an estimated 15,919 hectares. These are the Caroni Swamp, Buccoo Reef / Bon Accord Lagoon Complex and Nariva Swamp.”

Also speaking at the event was the Acting Permanent Secretary (MALF), Ms. Coomarie Goolabsingh who underscored the importance of youth engagement in the sustainable conservation of our nation’s wetlands. On this note, she said: “Through the students’ active participation in an activity geared towards the heightened sensitization of the importance of our wetlands, we are, quite subtly, apprising them (young people) of the future role they too must play in the sustenance of life – not just for us, our animals and even our plant life today – but most importantly – for our future generations.”

A number of schools participated in the Forestry Division’s wetlands colouring competition which highlighted the importance of wetlands preservation. These included: Valencia South Government Primary School; Guaracara Hindu Primary School; Moruga (Holy Trinity) A.C. Primary School; Freeport Presbyterian Primary School; Orange Field Hindu Primary School as well as Couva East Secondary School.

Following the prize-giving ceremony, Minister Hosein presented all the schools with a special treat when he announced that all competition participants would receive complimentary passes to the Emperor Valley Zoo in Port of Spain, committing to attend the exercise with them, once his schedule permitted.

To find out more about the Ministry’s wetland restoration programmes and initiatives, please visit agriculture.gov.tt

 

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Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, is pleading with the criminal elements to leave the crops and livestock of hardworking farmers alone.

Responding to questions on large-scale looting of farmers’ crops and livestock in the Senate Chamber this afternoon, the Minister said he has been working feverishly to strengthen the Praedial Larceny Unit to protect farmers. The Minister empathized saying, “It takes farmers months and years to mind and sell these animals and people coming to loot; I am appealing to those intent on committing illegal activities to leave the farmers’ stock alone, go mind your animals, and plant your own.”

Senator Hosein said the Ministry staff is working assiduously to address the Unit’s issues and assured the public “I am on top of it.” The Minister further revealed that the Ministry is seeking to engage more officers in the medium term and continue to engage in discussions with the Ministry of Public Administration with the intent to hire forty (40) additional officers, in the first instance, to complement the current Praedial Larceny Squad (PLS). He emphasized the importance of building the capacity of the Squad saying that based on the availability of funding, and the need for officers to be able to efficiently respond to calls by farmers, the Ministry will continue consultations with the Squad.

Minister Hosein stated that the Ministry is in the process of procuring three (3) new fully equipped vehicles. It is anticipated that these will improve the ability of officers to conduct patrols. He also added that despite the constraints, they are employing innovative solutions. “Due to heightened illegal activity impacting our farmers, the Praedial Larceny Squad has been utilizing its connections with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service (TTMPS) and the Estate Management and Business Development Company Limited (EMBD) Police to respond and assist.”

In wrapping up his response in the Senate, the Agriculture Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the Praedial Larceny Unit and all personnel under its remit.

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Earlier today, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries distributed over 1,000 coconut seedlings to farmers across the East Coast in Trinidad. This initiative forms part of the Ministry’s coconut rehabilitation and replanting development programme for this fiscal.

Delivering the feature address at the Distribution Ceremony at the Ministry’s Central Experimental Station in Centeno, Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, recognized the challenges and the untapped potential of the industry, saying “the sector could attract a significant amount of investment and foreign exchange into our country and thus lend itself as an essential player in the economic diversification thrust of Trinidad and Tobago”.

He said, “Since the 1990s, the demand for tender coconut water and other products, including soaps, lotions and coconut oil, has been phenomenal, resulting in significant price increases. In addition, coconut products are now regarded as beneficial to human health and well-being. So, a renewed interest in the cultivation of coconut will positively impact our country through economic, health and social benefits.” Minister Hosein described the exercise as a testament to the Government’s commitment to enhancing food security.

During his presentation, the Minister also revealed that technical teams of the Ministry have also been in talks with their counterparts in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Trinidad and Tobago will receive 5,000 coconut seedlings from its South American CARICOM partner through the Guyana / Trinidad Food Development Plan. This initiative is expected to complement local efforts to bolster recovery and modernization efforts within the sector.

Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Mrs. Coomarie Goolabsingh commended the teams involved in this initiative, saying it goes beyond food security as coconut trees on the East Coast serve as our country’s first line of defence against high winds and storms coming inland from the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, she says this initiative will reduce the effects of coastal erosion due to climate change.

Also in attendance was the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Honourable Saboto Scofield Caesar. Minister Caesar expressed his pleasure in being able to attend the event and reaffirmed his commitment to achieving food security across the region saying, “food must always be available, affordable and accessible”.

Present too at this distribution exercise were: the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh; the Member of Parliament for Toco/Sangre Grande, Mr. Roger Munroe; representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries as well as our cherished, hardworking recipient farmers.

 

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Heartfelt congratulations to my colleague and friend, Senator the Honourable Nigel de Freitas on his new role as President of the Senate of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

I am confident that Senator de Freitas would continue to serve our beloved country with humility and distinction. For the last ten months, I had the honour of working alongside Senator de Freitas as he held the portfolio of Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries with responsibility for lands. He has indeed left an indelible mark at the Ministry, having spearheaded many projects, including the digitization thrust. He worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition, understanding the importance of land management and services to the public such as the farmers’ badge registration Programme. Senator Nigel de Freitas also worked to improve efficiency in several operational areas of the Ministry, including our processing systems around land tenure and lease Distribution to long-awaited recipients of standard Agricultural and Residential Leases. He served brilliantly as the Chairman of the Joint Select Committee on the Fisheries Management Bill and was integral to the success of the TT Agri-Investment Forum & Expo II.

Senator Nigel de Freitas’ work ethic, camaraderie and attention to detail are some of his most admirable traits; he imparted and shared his professional knowledge with all. We extend sincere gratitude to his beautiful wife, Mrs de Freitas for sharing him with us for a short but fulfilling time.

On a personal note, I am genuinely heartened to witness Senator de Freitas’ growth trajectory. He is a young man who chose a path of selfless service to his country and people, and his sterling contributions will no doubt continue to inspire other youth.

On behalf of myself as the first servant in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Sen. the Hon. Avinash Singh, the Executive and staff at the Ministry, I sincerely thank and congratulate our former Minister in the Ministry, Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas on his election as the President of the Senate.

May Almighty God bless and guide you as you accept this new role.

Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein
Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries

The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein, accompanied by a technical team from the Ministry, conducted site visits across the severely affected farming communities in Aranguez, Orange Grove and Plum Mitan, yesterday (November 30^th, 2022).

Following the adverse weather conditions over the last few days, several parts of the country were adversely impacted by severe flooding, especially our primary producers in agriculture. In this regard, Minister Hosein, along with the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Mrs. Coomarie Goolabsingh and other key officials from the Ministry were on the ground engaging in discussions with affected farmers, in efforts to address issues being faced, while accepting suggestions for possible solutions.

Some of the concerns raised at the various sites were land tenure issues, regular cleaning of the tributaries and main watercourses as well as infrastructural and repair works. The farmers outlined that continued losses are pushing younger persons away from the sector. After taking note of the concerns expressed, Minister Kazim Hosein reaffirmed, “I intend to work with and for all farmers. I have listened to your concerns and possible solutions and assure you that I will do my best with the help of the technical staff at the Ministry to address these issues. We must work together for the benefit of each other and to ensure food availability for all citizens.”

A recurring sentiment among the farmers from each community was that of appreciation for the visits by the Minister and his team. They further indicated their willingness to work closer with the Ministry in improving local food production and achieving food security.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries wishes to advise that assessments have begun and will continue by the Extension Officers of the respective counties as soon as flood waters have receded across the impacted areas.