Chaguanas East MP: Teach people to fish, grow crops

As restrictions continue in light of the covid19 pandemic, Chaguanas East MP Fazal Karim has embarked on a long-term food drive, that catered for food sustainability.

With the assistance of several faith-based organisations (FBOs) and civil society groups in the constituency; chickens, tilapias and crops were the items of choice for the food basket.

Karim said in the past few months there have been job gaps that placed large parts of the population on the breadline.

He said, “It was better to teach people how to do something themselves than to just do it for them. The solution has always been there, but its success needed collaboration, camaraderie, cooperation and genuine care for humanity before it could work.”

The three areas of focus were the rearing of chicks to chicken, rearing of baby tilapia to full edible fishes and planting short crops that would mature in three to four weeks to provide a meal.

Karim said with adequate investment and management a family in need can access food in a reasonable time.

He noted that the start-up for the project required a very small capital injection, and a weekly site visit by the FBOs and field agents, to monitor its progress.

Karim said the current global challenges require much more than a single hand-out or food drive, but rather leadership and innovation for sustainable living.

“People are demanding effective leadership, tangible and practical results and forging partnership with the ones who likewise believe in bringing relief to the vulnerable will yield success. It requires us to think outside of the box.

The project commenced last Thursday in various communities within the Chaguanas East constituency.