Appropriate Infrastructure - protected agriculture (greenhouse)

The Government is offering to lease lands for food production, including the establishment of green houses. The video clip below outlines the types and appropriateness of different structures for protected agriculture, commonly referred to as greenhouses. Perhaps you can spot what is needed to improve on the green house system often seen in Trinidad and Tobago.

Greenhouse Technology

Many people are interested in using greenhouse technology to produce high value vegetable crops. However, a drive around the farming communities and discussion with several greenhouse owners will reveal some interesting but disturbing issues. Many of them have used the wrong type of greenhouse design which led to increased cost of production.....poor technical advise from the Extension Services and the Agricultural Development Bank were often cited as the main cause of the farmers dilemma. Look at the short video below to see some of what our Jamaican bredrens are doing...at lower cost than the average greenhouse farmer in T&T and with better production.

Citrus Crop Last Quarter of 2011

Ripe oranges at a farm in Moruga

Plenty rains earlier this year have led to a reduced production of citrus....intense dry periods followed by rain leads to flower burst and heavier citrus production; assuming of course that crop nutrition, pests and diseases are not the limiting factors. Oranges are selling in some markets at 3 for $10.00...small and not particularly ripe.

The reduced bearing of oranges this year and high price at the market have increased the praedial larceny pressure on citrus estates. From a 6 acre citrus estate in Sangre Grande, one farmer got only 12 oranges last weekend.

Later we will explore some early attempts to control theft on several citrus estates in Trinidad. Below are two photos of large citrus farms in central Trinidad.

Introduction and Purpose

This is the first in a series of expositions that will share experiences and insights into the current and proposed state of locally grown foods, farmers who produce these foods and issues related to farming in Trinidad and Tobago. The intent is to start and support a discussion from a range of stakeholders which may lead to the review or development of policy and actions in support of sustainable food production.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago recently advertised the proposed distribution of 2,743 acres of small land parcels (2-25 acres) and 1,480 acres of large land parcels (> 25 acres) for food production. Most of these parcels are part of the abandoned sugarcane or food crop lands owned by the former Caroni (1975) Limited.

Vine crops at Nariva

Expanding the opportunities for food production to people who are willing to farm and invest their own resources is commendable and must be encouraged. This approach of the Government is part of the range of enabling activities that are critically needed to stimulate and foster food production. This blog will over time, explore the range of issues that need to be addressed to demonstrate a serious, consistent and practical approach needed for sustainable food production.


The key issues that will be explored are:

• Availability and access to suitable lands
• Access to basic and appropriate infrastructure
• Access to trained or reliable labour
• Control of praedial larceny
• Appropriate and timely technical inputs
• Production scheduling 
• Post harvest handling and quality control
• Timely access to reliable markets 
• Farmer knowledge skills upgrading
• Pollution control
•  Food toxicity and HACCP
• Licensing and certification of suppliers/service providers
• Recognition and use of standards

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