Cocoa farmers cry out for labour, access roads

CDCTTL chairman Winston Rudder and other members of the Board heard concerns and suggestions from the farmers including one by a farmer who said that outstanding farmers be recognized through an Award granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, which can serve as an in- centive to produce better quality produce.

In a two-hour session, the third facilitated thus far by the CDCTTL, farmers expressed expectations of the newly installed Board. CDCTTL Director Fitz Clarence Waldropt said to the farmers, “we are all here to help you. We have the best cocoa in the world but we have to maintain that.” Only five percent of the world’s cocoa produced is considered fine or flavor cocoa; and Trinidad and Tobago holds the distinction as one of only nine countries whose produce is considered 100 percent fine or flavor.

There is a global demand for this product and new markets in places such as Russia and Saudi Arabia are opening up to cocoa exporters.

To address the main concerns expressed by farmers, in the three sessions held thus far, the Board has been promoting the many and varied value added opportunities available in the sector. This through participation in the Trade and Investment Convention held in July.

Also, CDCTTL will participate in UWI Cocoa Research Centre’s World Cocoa and Chocolate Day celebrations to be held today and tomorrow.

The chairman clearly enunciated to the farmers that the CDCTTL has been advocating with buying agents, fermentary operators and Cocoa and Coffee Cooperatives to ensure that there is a ready market for the 2016/2017 crop.

CDCTTL has also been in contact with the Ministry’s County Offices with a view to positively influencing the priority areas addressed on the issue of agricultural access roads.

The Cocoa Research Unit of the Research Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries has the longest ongoing cocoa breeding program in the world; and research officers train and teach cocoa farmers in cocoa agronomy and improving the variety and sizes of cocoa pods, and providing more disease resistant cocoa trees. The CDCTTL Board members at the meeting including chairman Rudder, Kamaldeo Maharaj, Glen Beckles and Waldropt. CDCTTL continues its stakeholder meetings with the next one scheduled for Moruga.

Meetings are also expected to be held in Arima, Sangre Grande and Tobago.