TADCO Drives Tobago Food Security
Netesha Charles Pantin has underscored the critical role of the Tobago Agri-Business Development Company (TADCO) in securing the island’s food supply and bolstering local production. Speaking on a Tobago People’s Party (TPP) platform, Charles Pantin highlighted the company’s pivotal intervention during past cargo vessel disruptions, noting that when external supply lines failed, TADCO stepped in to supply local franchises and businesses with chicken and fish.
The candidate detailed the success of the poultry contract farm initiative, through which the organisation provided farmers with chicks, feed, medication, and technical support. She argued that the ability to feed 400 families with Tobago-grown produce serves as proof that the island can achieve self-sufficiency if provided with the necessary resources.
Strategic Goals for 2030: Charles Pantin outlined an ambitious roadmap for the agricultural sector, aiming to increase its contribution to Tobago’s GDP to at least 3 per cent by 2030. Key targets include:
Food Sufficiency: Expanding the sector to meet the nutritional needs of both residents and visitors, with surplus intended for export.
Production Growth: Increasing the production of selected local crops and livestock.
Fisheries: Boosting the quantity of commercially harvested fish by 20 per cent.
Addressing transparency, Charles Pantin stated that a list of all farmers and agro-processors currently receiving financial support has been published online to verify that funds are reaching the intended beneficiaries. She concluded by urging Tobagonians to « take chances » and unite for the development of the island, referencing the resilience of her own community.
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