Agriculture Minister Arnold Piggott believes that next year will be a bumper year for agriculture. He also said this would lead to lower food prices. Speaking to reporters after giving out hampers in the PNM's Oropouche East constituency yesterday, Piggott predicted an increase in local food production. He said the bumper crop will come from small farmers, as well as from the Tucker Valley and PCS Nitrogen commercial mega farms. "I believe we are going to see a bumper crop with a lot more food in the market place...This will create a further fall in food prices," Piggott said.
He added that once more food was produced, there would be greater control over food prices, which would, in turn, lower the rate of inflation. Piggott said since he took over the portfolio of Agriculture Minister, a lot has been done to assist farmers. He said more than 400 former Caroni (1975) Ltd workers had already received leases for their two-acre plots. "In January, I plan to give out a further 200 leases to ex-Caroni workers for two- acre plots," Piggott said.
On the issue of the impact of recent flooding on food prices, Piggott said he had no information that recent floods had damaged any crops. He said that only a few areas in north Trinidad were affected by flooding and landslides. Piggott also said the Government had increased the allocation to the Agricultural Development Bank from $75 million to $125 million. "I know that the ADB has been granting loans to farmers, so farmers can go to the ADB to get loans," Piggott said.
