Food Security in Trinidad and Tobago - part 3 The Finale
This week’s blog will be the last on the Food Security in Trinidad and Tobago series. This week we answer the questions that were left unanswered. Let’s start with:
Are
Trinibagonians under the impression that anything from foreign lands is better
than local?
Figure 1: JAKPAT 2021 |
The
cultural norm in Trinidad and Tobago is that any and everything that comes from
foreign lands is better than what can be produced locally. While there may be
some truth to this statement since developed nations usually have stricter
protocols and standards, but that does not mean that the same quality cannot be
found locally. Recently with the use of modern agricultural techniques, there
has been a significant improvement in the quality of local produce. Buying
local produce guarantees that the lifespan of the product will be longer as a
result of fewer chemicals used for shelf preservation.
Is
Trinidad and Tobago up to the task of achieving food security?
Figure 2: Shutterstock 2020 |
There
are many farmers in Trinidad and Tobago who can provide the basic produce we
use, but they need to be managed properly. Many times, produce in Trinidad and
Tobago are either in excess or scarce, meaning that the demand is there
constantly but the supply is not. This results in the drastic fluctuation in
the cost of produce. In addition, if there is a demand for locally manufactured
products such as cassava flour, hibiscus tea, local wines, and many others it
will grow the economy since many will invest in these types of ventures. It can
be marketed around the world since it will be a part of the Caribbean Niche
market because nowhere else in the world could produce these items.
And
how do we get there?
Figure 3: Medium 2021 |
With
the implementation of a tracking system covering all farmers, it can be used to
advise farmers when it is best to plant crops so that there will be a
constant supply of produce to meet the demands of the country. This will also
aid in stabilizing the price of these goods and preventing food wastage since
only the amount needed will be produced by farmers. Additionally, we can use
the pandemic to gauge how much produce we would need to ensure food security.
Currently, NAMDEVCO is distributing food hampers to those in need. We can use
this data to compile and produce information about the food needs of Trinidad
and Tobago in terms of how much produce is required on average per person, the
average cost and how much food is wasted. This could be the start of a new
outlook on agriculture.
Next week we will be starting a new series, drop your suggestions below in the comments on what you would like to see in the upcoming weeks!
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