Caroni (1975) Limited CEO Deosaran Jagroo says he is excited about a new initiative which will see the former sugar producer getting back into food production, this time producing vegetables.Jagroo made the comment as he explained the company would later this week start planting on a planned 5800-acre project that would see a boost in the production of local food crops.
He said he was very excited to see Caroni get back into agriculture after ten years of dormancy, adding the project would start with the cultivation of 560 acres of land at Orange Valley, Couva.During this initial phase, short term crops will be grown by contract farmers on lands that were leased to former sugar workers when they recieved VSEP in 2003.Jagroo said the lands would be leased to Caroni, who would pay the lease-holder an annual rent.
Caroni is responsible for land preparation, fertiliser and other production inputs.The farmers will then be contracted to grow the crops that will be marketed on the site.Jagroo said the profit will be shared between Caroni and the farmers.He said Caroni would be providing security and would also engage potential buyers.He said when production begins he wants the public to visit the site, harvest and purchase produce.
Jagroo said with a growing demand for produce that was pesticide free, farmers would be using low level pesticides on the crops.As production increases, Jagroo said he expects that the project will contribute at least 12 per cent of the local demand for fresh produce.He said T&T imported $500 million in vegetables that could be grown locally and wanted local farmers to capture a chunk of that market.
