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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