Farmers disappointed

Government has allocated funds totalling $18.1 million to continue infrastructural work in the agriculture sector, as  part of the Government Sector Investment Programme 2005. In all, the agricultural sector will get a paltry $75m “to foster economic growth on a sustained basis.” Wendy Lee Yuen, President of the Agriculture Society of TT, says this was disappointing, especially since government wanted to inject life into the sector. Farmers have also been critical of the allocation. “Is we to ketch,” one said. He said he was hoping to see something different for the sector. “We just have to keep doing what we doing and forget the government,” another said. Of the $75m sum, $8 million has been designated to increase farm output and income through improved water management works, including the construction of ponds in Moruga, Mc Nair and Los Iros. Ten million will go towards the rehabilitative maintenance of approximately 33 km of access roads in Trinidad in order to boost agricultural settlements, farm income, food production and marketing.

The document also talks about the marketing of local herbs and culinary products The Agricultural Sector Reform Programme-Technical Assistance Programme (ASRP-TAP) in accordance with government and the IDB have contributed a sum of $4m for finalisation of a series of projects including the promotion of non-traditional agricultural exports through the provision of technical expertise and training of farmer, and the establishment of a new geodetic infrastructure for TT to facilitate use of Global Positioning System technology. The loan will also assist in the production of electronic Parcel Index Maps from existing ward and section Sheets in the Lands and Surveys Division; restoration of maps, plans and other documents at the Lands and Surveys Division, and training of staff in document handling, management and storage of records; preparation of documentation for a new Land Administration Programme; and assessment of the Hillsborough Dam in Tobago.

A budgeted sum of $2 million has been provided for new projects in Tobago such as the establishment of a microbiology laboratory at Hope, the establishment of the Tobago Marine Research Centre, storing and disposal of used oil and the ecological monitoring of reefs. Government will also continue its programmes to develop agricultural lands in TT in its effort to address the constraints to agricultural development and food production. The fisheries sector has been allocated $13.5 m. Among them is the sustainable management of agricultural water-on-farm irrigation to optimise agri-production by improving the efficiency of water on farms. A new initiative under the ASRP-TAP is the engagment of consultants to provide the necessary technical assistance and guidance to the Sugar Manufacturing Company Limited and the Rum Distillers Limited in its implementation of the restructuring of Caroni (1975) Limited.