Paray: TT should move towards food sufficiency amid covid19

AMIDST the covid19 crisis, the international food supply chain would almost certainly be disrupted with distributors and wholesalers facing logistical difficulties.

This according to MP for Mayaro/Rio Claro, Rushton Paray as he dealt with issues raised by his constituents.

“I urge the authorities to urgently hold discussions with domestic farmers and their representative organisations, with a view to beginning production of short-term crops.”

A short-term labour supply problem, he said is also likely to distress international suppliers.

“The nation should be concerned that the government has not placed emphasis on food security at this uncertain period of the covid19 crisis” Paray said.

He also stated that this crisis could have a dramatic negative effect on TT, which depends on external sources for 80 per cent of the food consumed, with an annual food import bill of almost $6 billion.

“Under this government, the agricultural sector contributes less than one per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), as this country imports historic supplies of wheat, rice, prepared foods, meat, vegetables, cereal, dairy, cheese, sugar, fruits and other items,” he said.

While the government announced that additional foreign exchange would be made available for food imports, he said they did not indicate any measures to boost local production. “This means that any disruption along the supply chain could have a major adverse effect on local consumers.”

The situation could be exacerbated by the current pervasive panic shopping, he added.

While the Supermarkets Association of TT has assured that there are adequate inventories for the foreseeable future, he underscored, further supplies could be jeopardised if international trade is interrupted.

The government, he said, should not rely on the conventional wisdom that suppliers would routinely deliver ample stock to meet extensive demands.

“The covid19 crisis calls for a major drive toward food sufficiency in TT and an incentive package should be provided to local agriculturists,” he said.