FAO Celebrates 80th Anniversary With Continued Focus On T&T Agriculture
As organisations across the globe commemorate World Food Day on October 16th, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is also marking eight decades of commitment to supporting farmers and agricultural organisations worldwide.
This milestone aligns with FAO’s guided vision, known as the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the FAO continues to play a pivotal role. Assistant FAO Representative for Administration, Karyce Phillips, explained that the organisation acts as a facilitator, providing funding support and complementing the country’s budgetary allocations.
« Currently, we have about 13 projects that are active, seven of which are solely focused on Trinidad and Tobago. The rest are more regionally based but that brings a total of about US$10.9 million access of funding to help in development — specifically in agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, environmental protection etcetera. »
Highlighting key projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mrs. Marcano emphasised ongoing support for the Veterinary Services Division.
« There’s a current project called the Animal Disease Outbreak, where we’ve provided assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture, specifically the Veterinary Services Division where we’ve brought in experts to help them identify, investigate, develop response plans, communication plans on how they respond to animal disease outbreaks in Trinidad and Tobago, specifically the recent PRRS outbreak in the porcine population. »
Innovation and technology also form a critical part of FAO’s support, especially in advancing food security efforts.
« We’ve worked with NAMDEVCO on a traceability application on your phone that assists farmers and markets to trace a product or produce, fruits or vegetables, back to a specific farmer, back to a specific farm, and then back to a specific plot, even down to the crop. That traceability system is new for Trinidad, but it’s a technology that we think is going to be very helpful in dealing with food security in the country. »
As the FAO celebrates 80 years, its continued collaboration with Trinidad and Tobago aims to ensure that farmers and agricultural organisations receive the support needed to thrive and adapt in a changing global landscape.
