COVID-19 And The Impact On Food Security
If the current pandemic has exposed nothing else, it has made more glaring, the need for this country to improve on its food security. This is the view of Political Leader of the Movement for Social Justice, David Abdulah.
“We are going to be at a serious risk going forward” he warned, via a virtual media conference on Sunday. “Notwithstanding the fact that seaports and airports are still open for cargo, if the global supply for food becomes problematic, we in Trinidad and Tobago are going to be in difficulty.”
The MSJ leader strongly believes the agricultural sector can be a saving grace for this time, providing employment opportunities- particularly to those who have been rendered jobless as a result of COVID-19. But for there to be any real change, he says, the collaboration has to be between government, the manufacturing sector and the consumer.
What role does the government play? From Mr. Abdulah’s perspective, investment from the State is essential. “Just as they did with the $50m grants for the hotel industry in Tobago- which we think is necessary- there should be a massive investment in agriculture.”
Last Friday, in a post to his official social media page, Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat encouraged citizens to use this time to explore the benefits of at-home gardening, saying “Let’s not waste time. Wherever we live we must plant something to eat. Many households in Trinidad and Tobago have some semblance of a home garden already. It’s not new.”
