Farmers call for support

Senior Multimedia Reporter

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

With the agriculture sector receiving $1.184 billion in the new fiscal year, farmers are calling for financial support for existing food crop projects which never got off the ground due to a lack of resources.

Speaking in Parliament during the 2024/2025 Budget, Minister Imbert said the agricultural sector had been allocated $1.184 billion. He noted that $60 million in incentives had already been provided to 9,541 farmers.

Imbert outlined a range of agricultural programmes, saying youths were already benefiting from the Agricultural Homestead Programme, which provides starter homes and capital to young farmers. The Youth Agricultural Shade House Project supports the cultivation of short-term crops through a full-time programme offered by UWI and the National Agricultural Institute, he added.

However, local farmers said existing agricultural projects should also receive financial support.

Navin Persad, President of the Cunjal Food Crop Farmers Association, said 300 acres were allocated to farmers for agricultural development, but much of the land remained underutilised due to a lack of infrastructure.

He acknowledged the benefit of training young farmers in modern techniques but stressed the need for follow-through from the Ministry of Agriculture. “It’s great to introduce new technology, but there needs to be consistent support for it to succeed,” he added.

Persad also highlighted the struggles faced by farmers with inadequate financial access. “Some farmers don’t have access to funding, and the land provided is not conducive for farming—there are no roads, no water supply, and a lot of hills.

The Government needs to focus on areas already assigned to farmers before venturing into new territories,” he said.

Barrackpore farmer Shiva Mohammed agreed with Persad, emphasising the need for financial backing to make existing agricultural programmes more effective.

Farmers at Poodai lagoon in Penal also called for support, saying many still could not access grants because of land tenure issues.

Farmer Gowtam Maharaj, who is also chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation, said he supported any programme that encouraged youth to engage in agriculture, viewing it as a way to achieve sustainability and reduce the country’s food import bill.

However, he noted the importance of selecting committed participants.

“Being a farmer myself, I see many youths in my area waiting for this programme. Sustainable agriculture means that the people chosen for it must have a genuine passion for farming,”

Maharaj also called for the revival of Barrackpore’s rice farming industry, which he said had untapped potential.

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