Minister Hosein meets with key stakeholders in the Poultry Sector

The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein met with key stakeholders from the Poultry sector, yesterday (Wednesday 1st June, 2022) to discuss challenges currently hindering said groups.

As a result of the ongoing global challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the impact on our poultry sector necessitated the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries to initiate dialogue with key stakeholders. In attendance at the meeting were farmers from the various counties as well as the Trinidad and Tobago Poultry Association. All attendees were given the opportunity to share their concerns and give possible solutions on the way forward.

While some lamented that these meetings tend to be an exercise in futility, Minister Hosein reaffirmed his commitment to working with all farmers in this sector saying, “I do not plan to fail. It is my wish to assist all groups working across the food production sector. We intend to bring the services closer to the farmers and treat with the concerns expressed here today in a timely manner.”

Also present were; Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Senator the Hon. Avinash Singh, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ms. Ramdai Sookdeo; and Chief Technical Officer (Ag.), Ms. Gloria Brathwaite-Didier, the Director (Ag.) of Animal Production and Health, Dr. Michelle Mellowes as well as the Directors (Ag.) of Regional Administration North (Ms. Teresa Rosemond) and South (Mr. David Ram) – all of whom, underscored the importance of the poultry industry in the domestic food sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and by extension the Government remain steadfast to the cause of supporting the sustainable growth and fair treatment of the domestic poultry industry, in the best interests of all.

Minister Hosein and Minister Al-Rawi partner for Disaster Mitigation Project in commemoration of World Environment Day

Yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 1st June, 2022), the Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Senator the Honourable Kazim Hosein presented 550 fruit plants to the Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, the Honourable Faris Al-Rawi, to assist with a Disaster Mitigation project across the Municipal Corporations.

In an effort to safeguard vulnerable communities from the adverse impacts of soil erosion and climate change, both Ministries have partnered in this initiative that will culminate this Sunday, with a tree-planting exercise scheduled to coincide with the international observance of World Environment Day.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries through its Agricultural Services Division arranged for the donation of these fruit saplings of various varieties, which took place at its Chaguanas Head Office. This project which is aimed at preventing landslides in hilly terrain; reducing soil erosion; limiting landslide run-off distance across affected areas and; mitigating the overall effects of climate change, will impact a community facility, parks, recreational grounds and a river bank, across a total of seven (7) Municipal Corporations throughout Trinidad. These include:

1) Fanny Village (Point Fortin Borough Corporation;

2) San Fernando Hill (San Fernando City Corporation);

3) Cunupia River Bank (Chaguanas Borough Corporation);

4) Flamboyant Play Park, Concorde Park and Croton Park (Arima Borough Corporation);

5) St. Julien Recreation Park, Inverness Recreation Ground and Apollo Recreation Ground (Princes Town Regional Corporation);

6) Manmohansingh Park, Erwin Park and Station Beach (Siparia Regional Corporation); and

7) Mickey Trotman Recreation Ground, Bon Air West Community Facility and Dabadie Recreation Ground (Tunapuna / Piarco Regional Corporation).

Also in attendance at this brief handover event were; Ministers in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Senator the Hon. Avinash Singh and Senator the Hon. Nigel de Freitas, Permanent Secretary of MALF – Ms Susan Shurland, Permanent Secretary of MoRDLG – Ms. Desdra Bascombe along with representatives from the Chaguanas Disaster Management Unit and other support staff from the respective Ministries.

Minister Singh: “T&T to benefit from the revitalisation of the coconut industry”

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) stands to benefit substantially from the sustainable revitalization of the coconut industry; the products and by-products of which, have increased in demand and continue to attract a favorable price globally. So said the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh, earlier today (Wednesday 1st June, 2022) in his address at a Coconut Sensitisation Workshop hosted by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF). The workshop, which addressed issues of Leathal Yellowing and improved integrated pest management methods for managing South American Palm Weevil, took place at the Sugarcane Feeds Centre in Longdenville, Chaguanas.

In quantifying the value of the global coconut water market size at USD 4.27 billion in 2019 with an expected annual growth rate of 16.1% from 2020 to 2027, Minister Singh noted that coconut production was one of the commodities targeted for development by the MALF. This, according to him, was particularly so, given the industry’s potential to contribute favourably to T&T’s Gross Domestic Product as well as its alignment with the increasing demands of a growing network of health conscious consumers.

He said that while coconut production signaled the main source of economic activity and development of rural communities along Trinidad’s east coast, the industry suffered a decline from the 1970s and 1980s due to the advent of pests and diseases (namely Cedros Wilt and Red Ring disease) as well as the thrust towards the use of soybean oil in favour of coconut oil. These factors no doubt contributed to under-cultivated fields, abandoned estates and aged plantations which left us essentially unprepared for any eventual / actual resurgence which would take place within the sector. “Since the 1990’s, the growth in demand for tender coconut water and other by-products of coconut, have been phenomenal, resulting in significant increases in price. Coconut by-products are now regarded as beneficial to human health and well-being with an increasing demand locally, regionally and internationally that now exceeds our current supply,” the Minister noted.

He added: “Over the past few years, people worldwide are increasingly adopting several healthy and nutritional drinks to maintain a healthy lifestyle and coconut water, is by far, the leading plant-based water available for sale.”

Minister Singh lauded today’s workshop as one more in a series of collaborative ventures involving CARDI which was aimed at rehabilitating coconut estates across the region and more so, assisting in the conceptualisation of a roadmap for the development of the coconut sector in Trinidad and Tobago.

The workshop – which was facilitated by a specialist technical team from the: International Trade Centre; Coconut Industry Board (Jamaica) and; University of Forida – was funded by the European Union under the ‘Alliances for Coconut Industry Development Expansion and Enhanced Support for the Caribbean’ (ACIDEES) project.

Minister Singh: “T&T committed to revitalising and expanding the cocoa sector”

The Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh said that cocoa production in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has been on the decline and the country was not benefitting from the crop’s full potential insofar as its impact on foreign exchange earnings, food security, entrepreneurial activity, agrotourism, employment and rural development, were concerned. For this reason he said, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), through its implementation agency – the Cocoa Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (CDCTTL) – remained committed to “revitalising and expanding the sector through the development of the entire cocoa value chain and by making it an integral part of the country’s agroforestry systems thereby creating environmental, economic and social benefits for citizens.”

He made these comments earlier today (Wednesday 25th May, 2022), during his presentation at the second episode of the Trinitario Cocoa Webinar Series 2022. The event which comprised of two (2) panel discussions, was hosted by the Investment promotion Agency of Trinidad and Tobago (InvesTT) – under the theme, ‘Trinidad and Tobago: An International Centre for Cocoa Excellence and Innovation’.

In his address, Minister Singh singled out cocoa as a strategic crop in our nation’s economic diversification thrust whilst identifying with T&T’s comparative advantage as an exclusive fine/flavour cocoa producer which continued to be cemented through its successes at the International Cocoa Awards, growing demand and the premium prices it fetches in the global marketplace.

Pursuant to fulfilling the Ministry’s aforementioned objective, Minister Singh noted that the CDCTTL has been tasked with implementing a number of strategies which include: increasing the national production of high quality fine/flavour cocoa beans; creating and managing a recognisable T&T brand image; developing new acreages and rehabilitating abandoned acreages; training farmers to grow cocoa using different cropping systems; supporting and promoting the development, manufacture and use of local cocoa value added products; promoting agrotourism; increasing entrepreneurial activity in cocoa and; supporting a facilitative environment for the injection of private investment in the sector.

Minister Singh added: “The MALF is increasing its focus on providing support to cocoa farmers and entrepreneurs by developing new varieties and by mobilising resources to increase the supply of high-quality planting material that are disease resistant and high yielding. Additionally, we continue to conduct critical research through our collaboration with the Cocoa Research Centre of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and our provision of a range of growth stimulating incentives to farmers which enable them to defray costs in: land preparation; soil conservation and amelioration; water conservation; the establishment of infrastructure, security and the establishment/expansion of value-added processing facilities.”

Also presenting at the two (2)-hour Webinar were the: Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon; Ambassador to the Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Peter Cavendish; Director of the Cocoa Research Centre (UWI), Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan; President of InvesTT, Mr. Sekou Alleyne; Chairman of the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), Mr. Hayden Ferreira and; Co-founder and Director of Ubergreen Organics Ltd. (the lead organisation of the Organic Fine Cocoa and Chocolate Cluster Project), Mr. Tobias Schulze Frenking.

Minister De Freitas: “Key to modernising and sustaining the agricultural sector is the infusion of youth and technology”

 

Young people have the potential to change the narrative of agriculture as they possessed the “kind of vibrance and new ideas” which, when mixed with traditions that have been well-developed within the sector, can lend itself to sustainable development and food security for all. Such was the hope of the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Nigel de Freitas, as he addressed the orientation of some two hundred (200) participants of the Youth Agriculture Homestead Programme (YAHP) on Friday 13th May, 2022.

The event, which was hosted by the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS), took place at the Government Campus Plaza Auditorium in Port of Spain. It was attended by the: Minister of Youth Development and National Service, the Honourable Foster Cummings; Minister of Education, the Honourable Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly; Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Honourable Adrian Leonce and; Permanent Secretary (MYDNS), Mr. Farook Hosein.

In his presentation, Minister De Freitas praised the YAHP participants, whom by their decision to enroll in the Programme, made a conscientious choice to contribute to the development of our nation through agriculture. This, according to him, signaled one of the greatest acts of growth, selflessness and humility that one can engage in. Further, he urged participants to see agriculture not simply as a chosen vocation but more so, as a business enterprise with the capacity to revolutionise the sector as we know it.

The Minister said: “The agriculture sector is now being modernised as we have a lot of young people interested in bringing the technology into agriculture through advanced hardware and software applications which only serve to develop the sector by making it more attractive and less labour intensive and thus, bring us closer to that level of food security we can all take pride in.”

“The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries stands ready to work with the MInistry of Youth Development and National Service and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development through its Land Settlement Agency, to ensure that all two hundred (200) participants are successful,” he added.

Aimed at positioning agriculture as a viable career option for our nation’s youth, the YAHP specifically targets Trinidad and Tobago nationals between the ages of 18 and 35 years. Participants of this two (2)-year programme will benefit from one (1) year of theoretical training and one (1) year of practical agricultural training. At the conclusion of the first year, successful trainees will be provided with access to land and a starter home, as well as the necessary technical and financial support to enable them to become successful 21st century agribusiness entrepreneurs.

Minister Singh: “Plant health crucial in addressing food security!”

Critical to addressing the issue of global hunger, is treating with those plant pests and diseases which continue to cause massive crop losses and leave millions without enough food. So said the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh earlier today (Saturday 14th May, 2022), as he addressed an event held to commemorate Trinidad and Tobago’s inaugural launch of the International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) on the Head Office compound of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) in Chaguanas.

The event, hosted by the World Food Day National Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (WFDNCTT) in collaboration with the Extension Training and Information Services Division (MALF), was attended by the Permanent Secretary (MALF) Ms. Susan Shurland; Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative to Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, Mr. Reuben Robertson; Acting Chief Technical Officer (MALF), Ms. Gloria Brathwaite-Didier and; Chair of the WFDNCTT, Ms. Deanne Ramroop.

The Minister, in acknowledging that we all have a role to play in protecting our planet and by extension, our plant resources, said that through activities such as these, the Ministry was taking the necessary steps to increase the awareness of plant health to the general public. He added too that the role of plant health and the urgency with which we needed to employ strategies to curb the risk of plant pests and diseases, were things which could not be understated.

Referring to FAO’s statistics, Minister Singh reported that up to forty percent (40%) of the global food crop production is lost every year due to plant pests and diseases, while climate change and human activities are posing new and imminent challenges for plant health.

“Improving our understanding of how to restrict the spread of invasive pests will mark a significant contribution to global food security. Plants provide the core basis for life on Earth and are considered the single most important pillar of human nutrition. Therefore, ensuring the sustenance of healthy plants, is not something that we can ever afford to take for granted,” he said.

In delivering her remarks, Permanent Secretary Shurland said that the intention of today’s exercise was to: increase awareness of the importance of keeping plants healthy; minimise the risk of spreading plant pests through trade and travel and; enable sustainable pest and pesticide management to keep plants healthy while protecting the environment and promoting investment in plant health innovations, capacity development and outreach.

Also speaking at the event was Mr. Robertson (FAO) who reminded the audience that the business of plant health bore a collective responsibility and that just as proactive as we are regarding our personal health, so too must we be proactive in the execution of good agricultural practices in order to safeguard the best of health for all our plants.

In welcoming the decision of the United Nations to highlight the importance of plant health, Ms. Ramroop (WFDNCTT) took the liberty of apprising both the audience and patrons of the Chaguanas Farmers Market, of the range of activities being undertaken today (from 7:30 a.m. – 12 Noon), to mark the global observance. These include: a live plant clinic session and extension services; the distribution of seeds, seedlings and saplings in addition to an exhibition featuring posters and promotional material on the various management and mitigation strategies which may be employed to treat with a range of plant pests and diseases.

 

Minister Hosein calls on Corporate Sector to work with MALF to boost Agriculture Sector through Seedling Distribution  

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Cabinet has agreed to grant a Seabed Lease to the National Petroleum Marketing Company (NPMC) Limited, to occupy an area of the seabed for the construction of subsea pipelines in Tobago. So said the Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, as he delivered remarks at a Lease Letter Distribution Ceremony which took place at his Ministry’s Chaguanas Head Office earlier today (28/01/2022).

The Seabed Lease is relative to the construction of four (4) subsea pipelines at the National Petroleum (NP) Fuel Receiving Terminal located at Sandy Point, Crown Point, Tobago. The seabed area shall comprise of approximately ten (10) metres in width and two hundred and sixty (260) metres in length in accordance with the relevant State Land Policy.

Minister Rambharat also revealed Cabinet’s approval to grant a Jetty License for a period of one (1) year to IONTEK Environmental Company Limited for the modification and / extension of a Jetty, located at Chaguaramas. He noted that such modification and / or extension, like the terms set out in NP’s Seabed Lease, were to be in accordance with all the necessary regulatory approvals. Among these included: approval by the Town and Country Planning Division; a Certificate of Environmental Clearance from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA); Non-objection from the Maritime Services Division and approval from the Tobago House of Assembly (as in the case of NPMC).

Other recipients of lease letters were the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) for the Brickfield Packing House, while four (4) persons received Agricultural parcels and one (1) received a  Homestead parcel.

The Lease Letters were distributed by both the Honourable Minister and the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Ms. Susan Shurland.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of NAMDEVCO, Mr. Wayne Inniss; Managing Director of IONTEK Environmental Company Limited, Ms. Lana O’connor and Network Optimisation Planner for the NPMC, Mr. Jason Roper-Brooks.