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No Sale of State Game Licences

 

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries advises that it has postponed the sale of State Game Licences for the purpose of hunting as set out in the Conservation of Wildlife Act.

This decision was taken by the Conservator of Forests after consultation with the Ministry of Health (MoH) which advised that this activity encourages congregation. It should be noted that at the Press Conference held on Saturday September 12, 2020, the Government confirmed its intention to extend, for a further 28 days to October 11, 2020, the existing regulatory measures designed to manage COVID 19, including the restrictions on congregating. The postponement of the sale of State Game Licences is consistent with these public health measures.

The Conservator of Forests is still considering aspects of hunting including the exercising of dogs which is normally permitted at this time. These other aspects of hunting will be addressed in a subsequent release.

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MALF Welcomes Ministers

The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries welcomes back Senator, the Honourable, Clarence Rambharat as Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and Senator, the Honourable Avinash Singh, as Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. Both Senators previously served in the Ministry during the incumbent Government last administration.

Senator Rambharat retains his portfolio as line Minister while Senator Singh, who held the position of Parliamentary Secretary has been elevated to a Minister in the Agriculture Ministry.

The Ministry congratulates both Senators on their appointment and we look forward to continue working together, to position the MALF in realizing its overall objectives, in the implementation of policies and programmes which would result in long term food security and food sustainability for Trinidad and Tobago.

 

 

COVID-19 WORKPLACE INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL POLICY

 

16 UTT / ECIAF Diploma in Agriculture students, intern at MALF for 3 weeks!

July 30, 2020:- Education is never a one-way street and just as mentors are able to impart their own knowledge on those whom they facilitate, so too can they learn from the life experiences of their understudies. Such was the reciprocal impact of learning which the Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), Ms. Susan Shurland, highlighted in her address to sixteen (16) second-year students of the Diploma in Agriculture Programme at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) / Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (ECIAF) on Tuesday 28th July, 2020, at the Sugarcane Feeds Centre in Longdenville. There, the students participated in a sensitization and interactive feedback session as part of their three (3)-week internship at MALF, where they observed and participated in the work of agricultural extension officers.

Ms. Shurland told the interns that as the beneficiaries of this training programme, they now had a competitive edge in the labour market and would be better able to explore and focus on a set, career path whilst being able to develop and refine those theoretical skills honed in the classroom through practical, hands-on experience from professionals in the field.

Co-ordinator of the Internship Programme and ECIAF Lecturer, Ms. Nelleen Harripaul said that the field training category of the Diploma, was borne out of a necessity to enhance the career opportunities for young graduates by entrusting them with a “real sense” of the job so as to make their academic training much more relateable. According to her, by the end of the Programme, trainees should be able to better understand: the organizational structure of the Ministry and its respective counties; the administrative work involved in extension services and the extent of work performed by the extension officer; the many services that MALF offers to farmers and by extension, the wider public; the relationship between extension officers and farmers as well as the impact of extension services on the farming community.

Ms. Harripaul explained too, that while the Ministry’s involvement in the students’ practicum took effect at the end of their second year of studies, the Internship Programme had two (2) components, with the former of these taking place at “any private farm or agricultural-related enterprise” at the end of year one, for a similar period of three (3) weeks. She added that the thinking behind this was to equip the trainee / student to be either self-employed or employable in the private sector by facilitating “an understanding and appreciation of the function and activities of a privately owned, business enterprise.”

Also addressing attendees at the event were the: Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (MALF), Ms. Ramdai Sookdeo and Acting Director, Regional Administration North (MALF), Ms. Teresa Rosemond.

The internship at MALF, which commenced on Monday 13th July, 2020, comes to an end on Friday 31st July, 2020.

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March 2020

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October 2019

Agriculture Minister: Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park, a Catalyst for the Development of the Rural Community

July 15, 2020:- In his Opening Remarks at the launch of the Moruga Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park on Tuesday 14^th July, 2020, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, said that the facility can be a catalyst for the Socio-Economic Development of the Moruga Community.

The Minister added, that some of the challenges which residents of rural Trinidad and Tobago faced were mainly attributed to the geographical disparities in economic activity as compared to the urbanised communities. He expressed similar sentiments previously at the Sod-Turning Ceremony for the project in May 2018. On that occasion, Minister Rambharat lauded the State’s Investment in Moruga’s primary and secondary road infrastructure, which he said was imperative to the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, as transportation improved the connectivity / access between farmers and the communities they served.

The Moruga Agro- Processing and Light Industrial Park which spans over 18.83 acres (7.6187 hectares) was built at an investment of $90 million TTD and was an undertaking of both Evolving Tecknologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (eTeck) and the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) with a direct collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The facility offers leasable space for the growth and expansion of operations in the processing of primarily agro products and light manufacturing and is a key component of the National Development Strategy 2016-2030 (Vision 2030).

Also speaking at the event was Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Keith Rowley, who – in his Feature Address – said that the development of the Moruga Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park is one of the three (3) major agricultural feats of his administration, in addition to the increased production of planting material and the efficient management of the State’s resources at the Aripo Livestock Station with a Public / Private Sector Partnership arrangement.

Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry and eTeck Chairman, Mr. Imtiaz Ahamad, also addressed the invited guests. Also in attendance were the Member of Parliament for Moruga / Tableland and Minister in the Ministry of Education, Dr. the Honourable Lovell Francis; Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator Avinash Singh as well as Farmers and Farming Associations from the Moruga / Tableland Community .

 

 

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