Spencer calls on help reduce food imports

Vidya Thurab

Statistical data from the Division of Food Production show that a large percentage of food consumed by Tobagonians is imported from Trinidad and other countries.

Providing this information, Secretary of Food Production and Fisheries, Hayden Spencer said the aim of the Food Production Division was to boost agricultural production in Tobago “as a matter of urgency” so that the local food industry could comfortably feeds residents and export to Trinidad as well as regionally and internationally.

Spencer was speaking at the launch of the Division’s Eat Local initiative, ‘Eat Tobago, Grow Tobago,’ at the Division of Community Development, Montessori Drive Glen Road, Scarborough, on Tuesday.

“Through the Eat Local initiative, we hope to encourage citizens, in a strong way, to eat local agricultural produce.

“We will conduct a campaign, through which we will attempt to sensitise the entire population of the many benefits of eating local. This we hope to achieve through collaboration with other THA Divisions and our stakeholders.

“We will join forces with our Home Gardening Initiative of the Department of Agriculture, in encouraging the globally accepted concept of Family Farming. “ Spencer said.

He reported that with the start of the Home Gardening programme in 2011, the Division has recorded over 500 registered home gardens to date, in Tobago.

He called on Tobagonians to “work together to feed ourselves - the food that we can grow here, the food that is healthier for consumption, than the commercial foods on the grocery shelves. Let us save on our grocery bills, let us band together and save on our food import bill.”

Spencer urged the public get on board and cash in on the benefits the ‘Eat Local’ programme has to offer, noting that May has been designated ‘Eat Local Month’ in Tobago.