Food Security In Trinidad And Tobago

What exactly is Food Security?

We have all heard this term being used, especially when the pandemic started but do we fully understand what it means? Let’s break it down. Food security refers to the ability of a nation to provide food for the entire population locally; meaning without imported food. According to the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) the goal for food security in Trinidad and Tobago is to, “‘create a food secure nation’ by providing access to adequate, nutritious, safe and affordable food to all people at all times” (CARDI 2015). 


Figure 1: Showing Tunapuna market by TripAdvisor


Where are we in our quest for Food Security? 

Currently, Trinidad and Tobago does not have sufficient food security. As a nation we would not be able to support all our citizens based on our current agricultural output. In 2019, Trinidad and Tobago spent $5.67 billion in food imports. According to the Trade Minister, Paula Gopee-Scoon, “Of that amount, $1.1 billion each was spent on cereals and fruits and vegetables. We spend TT$180 million on biscuits, bread and pastries and TT$28 million on mixes and doughs” (Radhica De Silva 2020). This list only accounts for approximately 20% of food imports. Other major sources of food import include dairy, poultry, and meat items just to name a few. 

Figure 2: Showing the Breakdown of the 2019 Food Import Bill by Nirvana Rajaram


Is this necessary?

Cereals and Grains (such as wheat, rye, barley) cannot be produced in Trinidad and Tobago therefore it must be imported, however, there are local alternatives we can turn to. These include cassava flour, coconut flour, cassava, and dasheen cereals (NFM 2020). With regards to fruit and vegetable imports, the quantity being imported can be significantly reduced by buying locally grown produce and investing more into sustainable agricultural practices such as hydroponics which saves water, soil and can be done in areas with spatial confinements. Enjoying local, seasonal fruits and vegetables during the peak seasons means that it would be cost-effective (cheaper), and the consumer will receive the tastiest produce possible. In terms of biscuits, bread, and pastries, it is extremely unnecessary to import these products. In Trinidad and Tobago, there are many bakeries and professional chefs that can produce quality items that will be made fresh daily or made to order. Some examples of these companies are Bermudez Group Limited (biscuits and snacks), and renowned local bakeries such as Kiss Baking Company, Bakery Treatz, Linda’s Bakery, Adam’s Bagels, and more (Bread, Pastries, Cakes). By making these simple adjustments we can cut our import bill by at least 15% and possibly reduce the cost of living. 

Figure 3: Showing a Hydroponic system by Aquatik Solutions


What more do you think we can do to reduce our Food Import Bill?


References:
De Silva, Radhica. 2020. "$2B Spent On Cereals, Fruits, Vegetables". Guardian.Co.Tt.                       https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2b-spent-on-cereals-fruits- vegetables-6.2.1233995.b656486820

 Flemming, Kistian, Annika Minott, Heidi Jack, Kerrn Richards, and Opal Morris. 2015. "Innovative      Community-Based Agriculture: A Strategy For National Food Production And Security".           Cardi.Org. http://www.cardi.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2015/09/Innovative-community-           based- agriculture-strategy-for-national-food-prod-and-security-by-CARDI.pdf. 

"NFM Offers Cassava Flour And Coconut Flour - NFM". 2020. NFM.                                                      https://www.nfm.co.tt/releases/nfm-offers-cassava-flour-and-coconut-flour/.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manatees in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What are Manatees? Manatees, though they live in water, are classified as mammals because they come up to the surface every three to five minutes to get oxygen through their nostrils. In the Caribbean, we have the West Indian Manatee (Latin Name: Trichechus Manatus), also known as the ‘Sea Cow’. These gentle giants can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1200 pounds. Their diet consists of seagrasses and small invertebrates, consuming up to 15% of their body weight in vegetation. It is believed that the lack of predators in Trinidad and Tobago allows our Manatees to live up to sixty (60) years. Figure 1: showing a manatee floating (WNW Press Release 2021) What is the Status of our Manatees? In Trinidad, the Nariva Swamp is the most well-known habitat for manatees. However, based on an evaluation by UNEP/CEP in 1995, they determined that the manatee population consisted of twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) individuals in total. At that time the trend was that the population was de...
Read more

Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin

Image
  Their Status: In Trinidad and Tobago there are a wide variety of mammals that live here unlike any other island. Our islands lie the closest to South America meaning that we have both continental and tropical species of flora and fauna. The White-fronted Capuchin is a monkey that can be found in many South American countries such as Venezuela (the closest South American country to Trinidad and Tobago), Columbia, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador as well as in Trinidad and Tobago. Each country has its own subset or variation in the species that makes it unique. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature 2008, the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin was declared as a critically endangered species with a total population size of 61 mature individuals in Trinidad and Tobago. When a species is critically endangered it means that the population size is less than 250 mature individuals. Since being classified as a critically endangered species there has been no furth...
Read more

Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What is deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago? Deforestation is defined as the removal of trees from forested areas across the world. Locally, we have three main forested areas: the Northern range, Central Range in Trinidad, and the Main Ridge in Tobago. It is important to mention that South Trinidad is also largely forested especially in and around the Trinity Hills. These forested areas are constantly under attack by legal and illegal deforestation. Figure 1: showing deforestation in Trinidad (Loop News 2021) Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago Firstly, not all deforestation is illegal. Companies that require space for infrastructural development can apply to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for approval on the project. The EMA can determine the impact that the project would cause on the environment based on the details of the venture. Lumber companies also need to apply for a license before they teardown trees from any area. However, a large portion of the trees ...
Read more