Junior agri minister: Diversification won't happen overnight

As issues of food security remain a concern for the agricultural sector, Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Avinash Singh is urging the public and stakeholders to be patient and consistent in their attempts to develop the sector.

Singh made the remarks during his feature address at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Queen's Park Savannah, on Friday at the launch of a virtual art exhibit and a tree planting ceremony to commemorate World Food Day.

He said while economic diversification through agriculture is possible, it required a shift in behaviour and perception of the public towards agriculture, citing the technological developments in farming over the past decade.

"Diversification is not something you can just put on and take off. When you want diversification, when you want to change habits it is something you have to start and remain constant. The messaging must remain constant, eventually, people will take notice and start doing the right thing.

"Gone are the days that people have this perception that agriculture is hard work in the hot sun, while that may be true it is more traditional agriculture. We want to bring to the fore now all the levels of technology. LED technology so that crops don't need sunlight, containerised vertical farming which saves spaces, hydroponic farming and more."

Speaking on the increased budgetary allocation to his ministry for the 2020-2021 budget, Singh said plans have already been put in place to build the capacities of farmers through various programmes including the digitisation of land records.

He said this step would give officials in the ministry easier access to information on the leasing and renewal of land for farmers.

He also noted his ministry would make full use of a $500 million stimulus package by spreading it over 32 different projects to promote sustainable development.

"This $500 million will be used in 32 different areas in the ministry. I am responsible for the agricultural services division of the ministry which is plant propagation stations and that is significantly required at this time."

For her part chair person of the committee, Wilhemina Kissoonsingh said the covid19 pandemic has prompted local agriculture stakeholders to think outside the box and thanked them for their contributions to providing food security.

The tree-planting event which is in its fifth year aims to highlight the importance of agriculture by featuring a different plant each year. This year the Rambutan tree was planted.