Narine has agro-tourism plan to ensure Caribbean food security

Narine was speaking at the recent launch of an Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)/Organisation of American States (OAS) agro-tourism project at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Invaders Bay. He noted that development of regional eco-tourism and agro-tourism was complementary to Government’s vision for agriculture and tourism in Trinidad and Tobago.

The minister said the development of regional agro-tourism "will discourage the phenomenon of urban spread" as persons in rural communities will get opportunities to access sources of income on par with those found in urban areas without having to migrate to those areas.

Narine said this would reduce the need to expand urban centres to accommodate migrants from rural areas seeking employment, and leave more land available for agricultural use.

Identifying food and beverage as the second highest tourism revenue earners in the Caribbean, Narine said it is believed that for every tourism dollar spent, there is "leakage" of 60 to 80 cents in some Caribbean nations. "Many hold the position that regional food security and effective linkages between agriculture and tourism can significantly reduce this leakage by reducing the Caribbean’s food import bill," he declared.

The minister added that development of the region’s agricultural sector to address the need of tourists "ensures that much more of the money spent by tourists remains in the Caribbean."

Narine also said that agro-tourism, in addition to providing food for tourists, provides opportunities for the marketing of exotic fruit, vegetables and livestock.

Highlighting local efforts to promote the development of the agro-processing industry and export-oriented agri-entrepreneurs, Narine said closer partnerships between agri-entrepreneurs, agro-processors and the tourism sector "will prove beneficial to the region."

"The time has come for the region to actively investigate the diversification of its agricultural sector and explore previously untapped areas for development," he declared.