Media Releases
Agriculture Ministry Delivers Quality Rice Seeds to Boost Local Farming
Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; The Honourable Saddam Hosein, Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; along with key officials from the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, National Flour Mills, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, pictured with participating farmers during the rice seed distribution ceremony at the Central Experiment Station, Centeno.
May 18, 2025 :- The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) has taken another bold step towards strengthening national food security with the distribution of certified, high-yielding disease resistant rice seeds from the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The symbolic distribution ceremony took place on Tuesday 20th May, 2025, at the Central Experiment Station, Caroni North Bank Road, Centeno. It marks a key milestone in Phase I of the Revitalization and Modernization of the Rice Industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
Under this initiative, the Ministry successfully procured 100 tonnes of high-quality rice seed from Guyana for the 2025 rice growing season. The seeds are expected to support the commercial planting of approximately 2,000 acres of land across Trinidad and Tobago. This strategic intervention is part of the Government’s commitment to reducing the national food import bill, improving local agricultural resilience and increasing rice self-sufficiency.
Delivering the feature address, Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, emphasized the national significance of the initiative. “This Ministry is committed to supporting your productivity, your profitability and your peace of mind. More acreage. Higher yields. Better margins. Stronger communities. And yes, greater national food security. We must reach a point where local rice is not the exception on the shelf—it is the standard on the plate.”
The Minister credited strong regional partnerships, particularly with the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), for making the initiative possible. He also acknowledged the support of National Flour Mills (NFM) in helping to create a more stable and attractive market environment for local rice farmers.
Mr. Nigel Grimes, Project Coordinator at MALF, expressed that rice is a vital staple in Trinidad and Tobago and an integral part of national food security. He expressed, “This seed distribution marks another important step. With improved seed quality, increased acreage and strong support systems, we expect clear gains in yield and productivity.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries remains committed to building a self-reliant, data-driven and competitive rice industry. Through multi-sectoral collaboration, infrastructure support and farmer engagement, this initiative is expected to revitalize an industry that was once central to Trinidad and Tobago’s agricultural economy.
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