President of the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber Liaquat Ali is suggesting T&T import unskilled labour from neighbouring Caribbean islands to boost the agricultural sector.
He said this is necessary since the majority of the local labour force is now certified with varying skills.
Speaking at a cocktail reception in celebration of the chamber's 25th anniversary on Wednesday night, Ali noted that the collapse of oil and gas prices had forced a review of the 2014/2015 budget.
He said agriculture could become a growth sector for the economy, particularly because of its export capability with the added benefit of food security for the nation.
He said providing food security in an effort to curb the nation's import bill is critical.
While Ali said he welcomed the emphasis government has placed on training, retooling and certifying people to improve themselves, this has meant there are fewer unskilled workers for the agricultural sector.
"To move the agricultural sector forward we need labour," he said.
Ali said Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim is "doing an excellent job in training people in every aspect of skilled work, but the agriculture sector needs a lot of unskilled labour."
He said: "Nobody wants to go into agriculture...nobody. Everybody leaving the university and leaving secondary school wants office and desk jobs. Nobody wants to cultivate the land or tend to animals."
He noted that in comparison to the situation in agriculture locally, "in America the man planting the land is king. In T&T the man planting the land is dirt. We have to change that mindset, or we will continue to see a decline in this sector. We must be able to feed ourselves."
Ali suggested that government develop an initiative similar to the Canadian Farm Work Programme, within Caricom.
"The government could be the facilitator and the private sector could drive the project. The chamber is willing to sit and discuss this issue with all stakeholders."
He said 25 years ago when he and four other people sat in a roti shop and gave birth to the business association which evolved into the chamber, their views and opinions were not sought.
"But we have evolved, we have commanded our rightful place and we are now respected by all major stakeholders and participate in all of the national decision making process," he said.
