Transcript Document

Country Report for Trinidad and
Tobago
Year 2012-2013
Presented By
Steffony Green
Order of Presentation
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Overview of the Agriculture Sector
Government Incentive Programs
Government Initiatives
Future Government Plans
Non-Governmental Youth in Agriculture
Trinidad and Tobago Agriculture Sector
• The sector is separated into the domestic and
export sectors.
• Domestic Sector: Production of root crops,
fruits, vegetables, condiments, rice, poultry
and livestock.
• Export Sector: cocoa, coffee, vegetables, agro
processed products and fish.
Agriculture Sector Continued
• Contributions to Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P)
0.6 per cent
• Employs an estimated 4 per cent of the
population
• Trinidad had 94.9 per cent of holding while
Tobago has 5.1 per cent
• 72.5 per cent of farmers engage in crop farming,
10.6 percent engage in livestock rearing ,16.3 per
cent engage in both livestock and crop farming
and 0.7 per cent engage in other agriculture
activities.
Agriculture Sector Continued
• 85.3 per cent of all private farm holder were
male while 14.7 per cent were females.
• Vegetable production is the most pursued
agriculture activity.
• Farmers mainly form cooperatives and groups
which work with the government supported
Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago
Government Incentives
• Mega Farms: contribute to
local supply and export
market.
• Increased training session
on food production
techniques eg. Aquaculture
• The “Buy local, Eat local”
campaign
• Provision of services with
respect to plant health via
the plant clinic in
partnership with Centre for
Agriculture BioScience
International (CABI)
Government Incentives Continued
• The Caroni Green Initiative
• Investment in beekeeping and honey
production. Training is provided at a
subsidized cost.
Government Initiatives
• There are very few youth
initiatives in agriculture
• The Youth Apprenticeship
Program in Agriculture
(YAPA) : which is aimed at
youths ages 15-20 ( has
been discontinued)
• Agriculture Professional
Development
Programme: aimed at
University graduates has
been continued for a
second year.
Future Government Plans
• Rejuvenation of the
Cocoa industry
• Focusing on niche
markets for country’s
specialty cocoa
• Supplying planting
materials for 11 improved
cocoa varieties
• Fostering links with
international chocolatiers
• Rehabilitating cocoa/
chocolate plantations
Future Government Plans Continued
• Enhance the fisheries
industry
• The expansion of
hatcheries
• Establishing national
processing and cold
storage facilities.
Non- Governmental Youth in
Agriculture
• The Agribusiness Society
of the University of the
West Indies, continues to
be the most active group.
– Initiatives
• D’Agri Talk Series and Study
Tour : aimed at
encouraging youths at the
university campus to be
more involved in
agriculture
• Increase field visits to
ensure development both
practically and
professionally.
Non- Government Youths in
Agriculture Continued
• The 4H group remains active at the primary
school level in south Trinidad.
References
• Central Statistical Office, The Agricultural Census 2004
accessed 19 October 2012.
http://www.cso.gov.tt/statistics/Statistics/TT4.2.pdf
• The New Agriculturist (New Ag) 2013. “Trinidad and Tobago
Country Profile” Accessed October 1, 2013
http://www.new-ag.info/en/country/profile.php?a=3023
• The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development
Institute (CARDI), “Trinidad and Tobago Protected
Agriculture Profile” Accessed October 1, 2013
• http://www.cardi.org/cfc-pa/country-profiles/trinidad-andtobago-protected-agriculture-profile/