Tobago farmers buoyed by PM’s agri support

Tobago Agricultural Society president Dedan Daniel supports the Prime Minister’s view that more young people should be involved in farming.

During a visit to his farm at Alma Estate, Mason Hall, on Wednesday, Dr Rowley said in a video that agriculture is one of the areas through which the TT economy can be diversified. But he lamented the lack of young people interested in agriculture. Rowley said agriculture offers incentives for people who genuinely want to get involved and can be lucrative if done properly.

Rowley said between now and 2022, the Government intends to introduce some serious training programmes for farmers.

Daniel told Newsday greater incentives must be created to encourage the young people to get involved. “Because we have a very aged farming population and new incentives have to be available to lure young people into agriculture.

One way in which this can be achieved, he said, is by making lands, especially those controlled by the Tobago House of Assembly, available to young people who want to get into farming.

“As it is now, the process is a bit slow in terms of the application and granting of state lands. So, they need to work on things like that and other incentives to get younger persons involved in farming.”

Daniel said people getting involved in farming must also treat it like a business.

“This needs to be part of the operations of a farm. It is not a hobby.”

Daniel said in order for incentive programmes to be effective “we need to spend money and then be reimbursed.”

“What I would prefer is that be some direct capital investment in the agricultural projects that they earmark. As it is now, a lot of farmers have challenges in accessing capital to be able to do the projects they will want farmers to do.”

Daniel said a more direct investment approach might be better than what currently obtains.

Looking to the October 5 budget, Daniel said the package must address measures to both revive and grow the sector.

He said there must be incentives to encourage more public-private partnerships by making the sector more attractive to private entities.

Daniel said the Government should also invest in labour-saving technologies.

He said the sector is hoping to hear about training in climate-smart agriculture.

“Because we know climate change is real and aqua-ecological practices so that we can deal with the climate change.”

He said Tobago’s marketing infrastructure must also be improved by enhancing its agricultural access road programme and including water and electricity within the set up.

Daniel also urged the Government to distribute water tanks to farmers so they can establish their own tank farms ahead of the dry season.

He said the establishment of an incentive awards fund within the agricultural sector should be considered.

Such a system, Daniel said, will allow for the payment of a results-oriented award scheme to farmers who may meet or exceed certain production targets set by an independent body. “That will serve as an incentive for farmers to increase their yield and productivity by having this results award.”