Trinidad and Tobago’s Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj and Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment Vasant Bharath will lead a 10-member delegation to Guyana in December to advance agriculture relations with Guyana.
Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy disclosed that the high profile team comprising eight Trinidadian investors will arrive in Guyana during the first week of December.
Last September, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) setting the stage for the leasing of lands in Guyana by private investors of Trinidad and Tobago for the pursuit of agricultural production including agro-processing.
During this upcoming meeting, the Trinidadian counterparts will indicate the type of crops to be grown in addition to the proposed areas.
In March of this year, Trinidad’s Food Production Ministry called on investors to tap into agricultural opportunities in Guyana, but from all indications, the investors were trickling in.
The process only ended recently.
Last year, the Trinidadian Food Production Ministry expressed an interest in utilising 10,000 acres of land in Guyana for the purpose of sustainable food production. The Guyanese Government had signalled its willingness to provide 1000 acres during the initial stage, had the MoU evolved into an agreement.
The MoU was signed by both Dr Ramsammy and Minister Maharaj on September 6, 2013 in Trinidad and Tobago. The MoU addresses programmes and activities, core areas of cooperation, monitoring and coordinating mechanism, mutual responsibility, commitments and settlements, rights and obligations and scope for termination.
Recognising that global food insecurity remains a major problem across the world due to rising food prices amid declining food production levels due to climate change, the parties had signed the agreement in their quest to reduce their food import bills. For Trinidad, this plan is in keeping with its National Food Production Action Plan 2012-2015.
The MoU provides guidance for the development, promotion and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the countries through the development of joint ventures and activities that will contribute significantly to the promotion of food security but it does not impose action targets for either Guyana or Trinidad.
“In the execution of such programmes, projects and activities the parties will give consideration to developing capacity in sectors critical for food security and reducing the food import bill including but not limited to small ruminant production, dairy, beef and poultry production, certified seeds (rice) production, corn and soy bean for animal feed, garlic, onion, legumes, coconuts, citrus and aquaculture,” a section of the MoU stated.
But shortly after the MoU was signed, the Trinidad and Tobago Agriculture Society, United Farmers Association and the Trinidad and Tobago Cane Producers Association objected to the MoU signed between Trinidad and Tobago.
It was contended that the agreement would not bring about a dent in TT’s $4 billion food importation bill. Even farmers in Guyana had signalled their objection, but Dr Ramsammy said it was simply a misunderstanding, explaining that if brought into fruition, easier access will be provided into both markets
You must be logged in to post a comment.