Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram Urges Collective Action To Cut Food Imports
With a food import bill of just over $7 billion, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Ravi Ratiram, is reminding farmers of the important role they play in our local economy.
Speaking at a farmers’ forum titled « Harvesting Solutions » at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation on Wednesday, Minister Ratiram noted a steady decline in agricultural contribution over the past decade, warning that the country is nearing a food security crisis.
He emphasised the need for collective action to identify the causes and develop sustainable solutions.
« At this point in time, our food import bill has increased significantly. We are now over $7 billion in the importation of food, but when we look at what our contribution, we are around $1.5 billion. So, we import about five times of what we consume. »
Minister Ratiram said Trinidad and Tobago must work together to feed itself. He encouraged citizens to start their own backyard gardens and assured that the Ministry and its partners will provide guidance for those who need it.
« At the Ministry of Agriculture we have a specific mandate, and that mandate is, one, to lower our food import bill. Two, to increase our contribution of agriculture to GDP, and three, within this five-year period, we are to generate export to the tune of $1 billion. »
Member of Parliament for Aranguez/St. Joseph, Devesh Maharaj, acknowledged that farmers face many challenges but assured them that with support from law enforcement, the Ministry of Works, and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, they can maximise their agricultural yield.
« Out of this meeting, brothers and sisters, constituents of Aranguez/St. Joseph, we want to walk away comfortably at the end of this programme to say we have ticked off the boxes, we have a plan of action so that all of you can be satisfied that we are taking steps to address these situations. »
The « Harvesting Solutions » panel, which included Chief Executive Officers from both the TTMA and the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO), listened to the concerns of farmers and offered positive feedback along with useful information.
