Promises of a more viable agriculture sector by both the PNM and the UNC have been outlined in their respective manifestos with each also vowing to reduce the country’s food import bill amounting to approximately $6 billion annually.
The PNM has promised a “resurgence and rebirth” in agricultural production as it intends to allocate $500 million in fiscal years 2021 to 2022 to stimulate and incentivise all aspects of the industry and provide confidence required for people to invest time, effort and finances.
The party also assured additional investment in:
• Access roads, irrigation and drainage systems
• Subsidies and crop insurance
• Land tenure, water and electricity supply
• ICT and mechanisation
• Wholesale and retail markets
• Pest and disease control
• Research and development
• Financial support through grants and soft loans for farmers
Notably, technology is a dominant theme in the PNM’s measures such as modern farming and precision agriculture to allow farmers to maximise yields by controlling every variable of crop farming and artificial intelligence-driven systems to name a few.
Similarly the UNC says food security remains its number one priority going forward.
The party has proposed:
1. Cane farmers will be paid in full in the second and third tranches of EU funds legally mandated for that purpose.
2. Lease 25,000 acres of Caroni lands to create agricultural parks to kick start new agricultural activity.
3. Lease 25,000 acres of same to registered farmers and private sector investors to create agricultural parks in strategic locations throughout the country.
The UNC has also promised to establish a multi-peril agriculture insurance programme, eradicate praedial larceny, establish a “Buy Local” Agricultural Campaign, partner with countries which have mastered innovations in agriculture and incentivise local innovation in agricultural practices.
But being a party born out of farmers and given the current economic dynamics of this country; there is a desire to hear more on the platform but more importantly, to know who are the people to lead this significant charge said Omardath Maharaj, agricultural economist.
The budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Agriculture went from $1.324 billion in 2014 to $759 million in 2020; an overall cut of $565 million.
In this vein, Maharaj noted food production will continue to be misunderstood and suffers from a history of underinvestment and failed policy.
Policy must include identifying strategic programmes and projects aligned to measurable outcomes and the required financial, human and technical resources, he added.
PNM scores on technology
Other agricultural experts have agreed while the plans of both parties have some merit the PNM however, has taken the lead because of its technological thrust to propel T&T’s agricultural sector into the modern era.
Meanwhile the UNC has been criticised for its “pie in the sky” ideas.
President of the Agricultural Society of T&T Dhano Sookoo, has questioned the UNC’s proposals to revamp the sugar industry and the agricultural parks.
“When you look at the duration to get sugar cane going and factory operation and when you look at the global situation with COVID and the global situation, these types of programmes are not needed right now.
“Maybe 10 or 15 years from now when we examine luxury areas we can look at that,” Sookoo said.
She also questioned who will be the real benefactors of the UNC’s agricultural parks, suggesting that what is instead needed is direct interjection and support for small scale farmers.
“That is where our production is and that is where you are going to have successful agriculture. The programmes of the UNC is not going to make an impact on our country’s food security especially when we are on the brink of a global food crisis,” Sookoo added.
In contrast she said, the PNM presented more lucrative and feasible solutions especially since technology plays a key factor
“The PNM’s plan is visionary because it is what is required to move the country’s agriculture sector to the next level. It is targeted directly on small scale farmers and is actually going to make the intervention where required,” Sookoo said.
Wayne Ganpat, Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture at UWI said both parties expressed an extensive “wish list,” adding it remains to be seen how many ideas truly will be implemented.
He also noted some of the plans were previously proposed but failed to reach fruition.
Ganpat, however, echoed similar sentiments like Sookoo that should the PNM’s fulfil its mandate it can take agriculture to the next level.
“The PNM identified robotics, modern green houses and using artificial intelligence, which are the future of agriculture and food production.
“But there is no mention of the knowledge to support this,” Ganpat said.
He explained technological skills must be accompanied by a strong knowledge base, questioning how will this be provided to the ordinary farmer.
Ganpat also gave kudos to the PNM’s plan to explore the use of migrant labour for seasonal work.
This, he added will assist with the sector’s dire labour shortage.
“This is an advantage over the other manifesto which they (UNC) said will increase 10,000 people into agriculture. The biggest problem in agriculture is labour,” Ganpat said.
The UNC was also criticised for what Ganpat said was its “back to Caroni lands” plan.
The party noted it will swiftly resolve all outstanding issues regarding former Caroni workers and cane farmers.
“It also talks about paying the farmers but a lot of Caroni lands were already given out in the last ten years and I don’t think this will increase production any where,” he added.
The UNC has also promised to establish an organic sugar and sugar derivative manufacturing and packaging facility and establish the Brechin Castle agro-processing complex.
“If they are going to do this through private farmers that’s fine but they could never get back into the sugar industry. That train is long gone,” Ganpat added.
He noted while the UNC has grand plans to modernise the local diary industry the faculty recently completed an assessment which showed the lack of forage or feed is one of the greatest challenge facing the industry.
“You can’t have these high producing animals eating scrub grass all over the place. They need high quality forage and that’s where the focus has to be otherwise all the money will continue to go into importing diary feed,” Ganpat advised.