November 11, 2025:-  Centeno, Trinidad – The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, through its Research Division, today hosted its second Rice Seed Distribution Ceremony at the Division’s Centeno compound as part of Government’s continued efforts to revitalise the local rice industry and strengthen national food security.

Delivering the feature address at the event, Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to boosting domestic rice production, reducing import dependence, and supporting farmers through research-driven innovation and targeted assistance.

A total of thirty-five (35) farmers from across Trinidad will receive certified, high-yielding rice seeds developed through the Ministry’s partnership with the Guyana Rice Development Board. The improved seed varieties are designed to enhance productivity, resilience, and profitability within the local rice subsector.

Minister Ratiram noted that the initiative aligns with the Government’s broader agenda to strengthen the agri-food value chain.

“Rice is not just a crop; it is a pillar of our food security. By investing in quality seed distribution, land preparation support, and research, we are ensuring that Trinidad and Tobago can feed itself with confidence,” the Minister stated.

The Minister further emphasised the Ministry’s ongoing work to address the infrastructural and technical needs of rice farmers, including drainage and irrigation upgrades, mechanisation assistance, and extension support. He underscored that these actions form part of a holistic plan to restore rice production as a viable and competitive agricultural enterprise.

The Rice Seed Distribution Program represents one of several initiatives currently being implemented by the Ministry to empower farmers, enhance productivity, and promote agricultural resilience throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

 

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November 7, 2025 – Port of Spain, Trinidad – Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, extends warm congratulations to Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on his election as Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) for the 2026–2030 term.

 

Minister Ratiram described Dr. Ibrahim’s appointment as a “significant milestone not only for Guyana but for the entire Caribbean region and the wider Americas,” noting that his leadership will be pivotal in advancing agricultural development, rural wellbeing, and food system resilience throughout the hemisphere.

 

Dr. Ibrahim brings to this position an extensive record of achievement in agricultural science, innovation, and institutional leadership. Between 2016 and 2023, he served as Director General of CATIE, where he championed sustainable livestock systems, agro-environmental management, and the mobilisation of development finance for Latin America and the Caribbean. He has also held senior roles within IICA, including Director of Technical Cooperation, where he was instrumental in strengthening partnerships, enhancing technical capacity, and mobilising resources across member states.

 

Minister Ratiram emphasises that Dr. Ibrahim’s election validates the world-class talent and leadership that the Caribbean continues to contribute to global agricultural development and notes that this appointment presents several key opportunities for the region, including:

 

• Enhanced technical cooperation and knowledge sharing between IICA and national agricultural institutions.
• Greater advocacy for small-state vulnerabilities, including climate change, trade challenges, and food security.
• Expanded capacity building and resource mobilisation for small farmers and rural communities.
• Inspiration for youth across the Caribbean to view agriculture as a modern, innovative, and globally relevant career path.

 

As Dr. Ibrahim prepares to assume office on January 15, 2026, Minister Ratiram expressed confidence that his vision for innovation, investment, and inclusion will align closely with Trinidad and Tobago’s own agricultural priorities including climate-smart agriculture, food security, and sustainable rural development.

 

“We look forward to deepening collaboration with IICA under Dr. Ibrahim’s leadership,” Minister Ratiram stated. “Together, we can strengthen agriculture as a driver of sustainable development, food security, and prosperity across the region.”

 

The Minister concluded commending outgoing Director General, Dr. Manuel Otero, for his eight-year tenure in which IICA developed a differentiated strategy for small-island developing states, strengthened rural youth and women’s leadership through programmes such as the “Leaders of Rurality” initiative, and launched emergency-response financing and innovative capacity-building projects for the Caribbean region.

 

Minister Ratiram noted that Otero’s leadership helped position agriculture and rural development as vehicles for inclusion and resilience in vulnerable states.

 

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October  17, 2025:-  Port-of-Spain, Trinidad – In a vibrant celebration held yesterday (October 16, 2025) at Queen’s Hall, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries joined the World Food Day National Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (WFDNCTT) to commemorate World Food Day 2025 under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future.”

 

The day’s festivities began with a tree-planting ceremony at Lookout Hill in the Royal Botanic Gardens, where an Abiu tree (Pouteria caimito) was planted to signify sustainable growth, unity and hope for a more food-secure future. This annual activity forms part of the Ministry’s World Food Day tradition and serves both symbolic and scientific purposes. Each year, a tree is selected based on an assessment of the existing plant collection at the Gardens, contributing to the diversification and enrichment of this historic space and preserving the nation’s botanical heritage.

 

In addressing the ceremony, Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, emphasised the importance of collective responsibility and intergenerational learning in ensuring food security. He expressed “The activities we share represent more than commemoration; they represent continuity. Each action, each expression, reinforces the core message of World Food Day: that lasting change begins with awareness, and awareness blossoms into collective action. When we plant a tree, nurture a crop or educate a child, we are sowing the seeds of a stronger, more food-secure nation.”

 

In her remarks, Mrs. Pamela Ramroop-Kamal, Chairman of the WFDNCTT, commended the participating schools and partners for their dedication to promoting food security, sustainability and youth engagement.

 

The ceremony also featured students from eight primary schools who participated in the “Little Hands, Big Roots” initiative, nurturing Abiu plants earlier this year as part of an educational programme promoting environmental stewardship and agricultural awareness. The students shared their experiences through creative presentations, including poems, artwork and a lively skit that captured the spirit of World Food Day.

 

In addition to the prize and token distribution, guests explored exhibits by international organisations, state agencies and local agro-processors, highlighting innovation and collaboration across the agriculture and food sectors.

 

Among those in attendance were Ms. Michelle Anne Thomas, Permanent Secretary (Ag.) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; Ms. Janelle Joe, Assistant FAO Representative, who delivered remarks on behalf of FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu; and representatives from the FAO, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and other national stakeholders.

 

This year’s observance not only celebrates 80 years of the FAO’s leadership in advancing global food systems, but also underscores Trinidad and Tobago’s ongoing commitment to empowering communities, strengthening local food production and fostering partnerships for a better, more resilient future.

 

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September 11, 2025:-  Earlier today (September 11, 2025), the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), in collaboration with Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), officially launched a three-day training programme on the Identification and Use of Biological Control Agents at the Central Experiment Station in Centeno.

 

The training, which is being hosted by MALF’s Extension, Training and Information Services (ETIS) Division, runs from September 11–13, with sessions taking place in both Trinidad and Tobago. Participants include ninety (90) farmers and forty-eight (48) officers from MALF’s ETIS, Research, and Regional Administration North and South Divisions, NAMDEVCO, and the Tobago House of Assembly.

 

Facilitated by CABI’s subject-matter experts, Dr. Yelitza Colmenarez, Ms. Claudia Sanz, Mr. Alexander Acosta, and Mr. Hugo Viancha, the training combines classroom instruction, field exercises, and laboratory work. Trainees were introduced today to the training methodology, with upcoming sessions dedicated to farmer training, hands-on demonstrations of application methods, and exposure to the range of biocontrol products available locally and regionally.

 

The Opening Ceremony was attended by Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, who delivered the Feature Address. In his remarks, the Minister underscored the importance of advancing sustainable practices in the agriculture sector, stating: “As a Government, we recognize that the future of agriculture lies in innovation, sustainability, and balance with our natural environment. It is through initiatives such as this that we can equip our officers, technicians, and farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to embrace Integrated Pest Management and protect both crops and ecosystems.”

 

Also in attendance at the event were members of MALF’s Executive, including Ms. Michelle Anne Thomas, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), alongside Directors and other senior officials of the Ministry.

 

The programme forms part of MALF’s ongoing collaboration with CABI under the Plantwise initiative, aimed at strengthening plant health services, building technical capacity, and encouraging the adoption of more sustainable and cost-effective crop protection methods.

 

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