Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries meets with Dr. Gillian Smith, Food and Agriculture Representative, ad interim.

On Wednesday 24^th June 2026, Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, met with Dr. Gillian Smith, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative ad interim, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Head Office, as the Ministry continues to strengthen its agricultural resilience, animal health systems and national food security framework.

A key outcome of the engagement was the formal handover of veterinary equipment and supplies under the FAO-funded “Strengthening Animal Health Systems” Project, an initiative designed to enhance the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to animal diseases while improving the effectiveness of veterinary service delivery.

The donation included diagnostic and laboratory supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectants, emergency response kits, laboratory consumables, specimen collection materials, and other critical resources that will support the work of the Ministry’s Animal Production and Health Division.

Minister Ratiram emphasized that strong animal health systems are fundamental to national food security, public health protection, and the sustainability of Trinidad and Tobago’s agricultural sector.

“As we work toward building a modern, resilient and productive agricultural sector, investments in animal health infrastructure remain a priority. Effective veterinary services and robust disease surveillance systems are essential for safeguarding livestock populations, protecting farmers’ livelihoods, maintaining consumer confidence, and strengthening our food security agenda. We are grateful to the FAO for its continued partnership and support in advancing these objectives,” Minister Ratiram stated.

Dr. Smith reaffirmed the FAO’s commitment to supporting Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to strengthen institutional capacity within the agriculture sector and build resilient food systems capable of responding to evolving global and regional challenges.

“FAO is encouraged by the robust and dynamic programme the Ministry of Agriculture has planned to reinvigorate the agriculture sector in Trinidad and Tobago. Our mandate is to support countries in building more resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, and we reiterate our commitment to helping the ministry achieve its goals of food security, certification, market development, digitization and animal health,” Dr. Smith stated.

The discussions also explored future areas of cooperation, including enhanced technical support, capacity-building initiatives, knowledge exchange programmes, and collaborative projects aimed at advancing agricultural productivity, improving livestock management, strengthening biosecurity frameworks, and supporting national development priorities.

Today’s engagement reflects the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to leveraging strategic international partnerships to modernize the agriculture sector, strengthen institutional capacity, and advance the Ministry’s vision of a more resilient, competitive, and food-secure Trinidad and Tobago.

 

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