We are here to serve the farmers … let us support our local farmers

In spite of limited financial resources, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries assured that ‘the priority will always be the farmers’; this while speaking at a Crate Distribution Ceremony on Saturday 9th September, 2017 at the Ministry’s New Head Office in Chaguanas.

The crates given to some twenty (20) farmers, he said, ‘is very important in terms of safety and presentation and maintaining the quality of the produce that they transport; the crates are a very important part of the tools of their trade and the Ministry, through NAMDEVCO, has consistently made the crates available, and as they expand, [these crates] will assist [them]’.

He noted that ‘everything we do is in the interest of the farmers’. Pointing to the spanking new Head Office building, Minister Rambharat said ‘[the resources] we have in there is to [help us] work in service of the farmers, the fishermen, and the state land users’.

The Agriculture Minister reminded the audience that a few weeks ago, expansion projects for the Macoya and Debe Wholesale Markets were launched, with a view to solving the congestion problem currently experienced by users of the Markets. Highlighting the increasing support for the various Farmers’ Markets across the country, Senator Rambharat said that ‘all the Markets have been successful; I have gotten excellent reviews from persons who visit these Markets; the Market at the Queen’s Park Savannah has grown over time, [with an] estimate of three thousand persons [accessing] it’. He also spoke of plans to improve general access to the Farmers’ Market in San Fernando.

The Agriculture Minister also made a call to ‘support our local farmers’ and access fresh and affordable produce available at the various Farmers’ Markets across the country.

Drawing on the real climatic conditions being experienced across the world, particularly in light of the current three bad weather conditions in play, Senator Rambharat said ‘we have to accelerate the move towards more sustainable farming systems and practices that [can] be insulated from the weather’.

This project is managed by the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO); and represents just the start of distribution of crates to farmers who ply their trade at the Farmers’ Markets across the country.

Also speaking at the event were Mr. Dennis Ramdeen, Chairman, NAMDEVCO; Mrs. Nirmala Persad, Chief Executive Officer (Ag.), NAMDEVCO; and a representative of the Office of the Mayor of Chaguanas.