One of the most significant challenges this country faces is balancing food security with the need to generate forex, says Christian Young Sing, vice-chairman of the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries (FSAF) standing committee.
He noted that, according to data compiled by the Chamber from the CSO, World Bank and Caricom, this country imports a significant percentage of its food from cereals and dairy to meat and vegetables, contributing to a steadily rising food import bill.
It was also revealed during T&T’s 2025 national budget that the country’s food import bill remains high—estimated at $7.3 billion in 2022 and $7.2 billion in 2023.
To mitigate this increasing cost, Young Sing believes the country needs to focus on local food production to meet domestic demand while also identifying high-value crops that can be exported.
Noting that historically, T&T’s economy has been highly dependent on energy exports, leaving it vulnerable to the volatility of global oil and gas markets, he advised that a robust agricultural export strategy, alongside food security efforts, can provide an essential economic buffer.
The chamber’s recommendations for the 2025 fiscal year reflected this approach.
One of the key suggestions was to simplify the process for accessing tax exemptions and incentives, allowing more farmers to benefit and expand their operations.
Moreover, the chamber stressed, targeted incentives could support modern farming techniques, such as hydroponics and aquaponics, which allow for high-yield food production even in urban areas with limited land.
The Review of the Economy 2024 document showed that composition of food production over the period October 2023 to March 2024, indicating that vegetables remained the largest category of food crop produced, accounting for 44.3 per cent of total food crop production, followed by root crops (33.7 per cent).
Within the vegetables category, lettuce emerged as the most significant crop, accounting for 13.0 per cent of total vegetable production and 5.8 per cent of total food crop production.
Root crops, the second largest contributor to total food crop production, continued to play a critical role in the overall food crop production.
The major contributors to root crop production included dasheen (35.5 per cent); cassava (31.2 per cent); eddoes (21.9 per cent); and sweet potato (11.4 per cent).
As it pertains to identifying exportable agricultural products, Young Sing further recommended that selecting the right crops for export is crucial to developing a forex-generating agricultural sector.
He noted that durable products and value-added goods are particularly well suited for international markets, citing that, for example, processed agricultural products such as packaged spices, jams, and frozen fruits offer longer shelf lives and greater resilience in transit, making them ideal for export.
Additionally, crops like cassava, yams, mangoes, and citrus fruits are well suited to withstand transportation and have considerable market potential, he said.
Agro processing is another area ripe for development.
Young Sing explained that the transformation of raw agricultural products into higher-value goods could significantly enhance T&T’s export portfolio.
The chamber’s suggestion to lower land-leasing fees for farmers transitioning to agro-processing also reflected the need for policies that encourage diversification within the sector.
If these factors are to be efficient and effective, embracing technology and climate resilience is key.
“Technological innovation is key to making Trinidad and Tobago’s agriculture globally competitive. Climate-resilient techniques, such as the use of greenhouses and advanced irrigation systems, can help local farmers increase yields and extend growing seasons. Greenhouses protect crops from erratic weather patterns, while drip irrigation systems ensure water efficiency in a country facing mounting water scarcity issues,” Young Sing explained.
He further noted that the global water crisis, exacerbated by climate change, is a key driver for reshaping the agricultural sector worldwide.
According to a report by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, half of the world’s food production is at risk due to worsening water shortages, and by 2030, global water demand will exceed supply by 40 per cent.
T&T is not immune to these challenges.
Agriculture in this country must adapt to increasingly unpredictable rainfall and reduced water availability, Young Sing said, adding that this crisis also presents an opportunity to innovate and rethink traditional farming methods, making them more resilient and efficient.
However, upgrades come at a cost, requiring substantial investments.
To make these innovations accessible, public-private partnerships are crucial.
Calling on Government and industry stakeholders to work together to ensure access to critical resources such as electricity, water, and financing for farmers, Young Sing said one proposed measure is to align rebate percentages and maximum limits for agricultural equipment with the actual costs of operating in the sector, helping farmers afford modern technologies.
Additionally, the chamber suggested that the implementation of agricultural insurance, particularly for high-value commodities like cocoa and coffee, is another key recommendation.
This, it said would protect, farmers against the risks posed by climate change, encouraging investment in competitive crops and ensuring more consistent production.
The Chamber emphasised that the path to transforming agriculture into a forex-generating powerhouse requires both policy reform and investment in infrastructure and technology, adding that T&T’s agricultural potential is vast, but structural issues like land tenure, outdated infrastructure, and the complex application process for tax incentives must be addressed for the sector to thrive.
It further maintained that regional trade in food products is a crucial step in addressing this country’s high food import bill, adding that regional integration offers an opportunity for greater access to a variety of products like ackee, which is hard to find locally, or cassava flour from Guyana, which could be more widely used and by fostering stronger trade links within Caricom, T&T can reduce dependence on imports from North America and support regional economies.
In the 2025 budget, Finance Minister Colm Imbert outlined that food security is high on the Government’s agenda and said the Government is actively seeking to expand agricultural production. Imbert said the Ministry Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries would receive $1.184 billion for the 2025 financial year.
Imbert also assured that to contribute to Caricom’s goal to reduce food imports by 25 per cent by 2025, Government is providing the necessary support to boost production in key subsectors including cocoa, livestock, fisheries, rice, coffee and coconuts and addressing challenges such as quality planting material, pest mitigation and inadequate facilities as well as focusing on forestry development, infrastructure enhancement and agro-processing with Namdevco modernising markets for locally produced fruits and vegetables.