T&T's Agriculture Ministry distributes Agro-Incentive Cheques to Farmers

Trinidad and Tobago: The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries of Trinidad and Tobago, Senator Clarence Rambharat, on 28 July 2021, distributed Agro-Incentive Cheques to Twenty Farmers. The incentives were distributed to the farmers at the MALF Head Office in Chaguanas and facilitated in groups of five in four separate sessions. The ceremony was conducted in accordance with the COVID-19 health protocols of the Caribbean island. While addressing the recipients of incentives, the Agriculture Minister cited that this grant would provide the farmers with an opportunity to improve their infrastructural, technological & environmental needs.

"Some of the farmers are now able to make the transition of their products from traditional to one of value-added," the Agriculture minister added.

In addition to the above statement, Minister Rambharat emphasized that this was the primary purpose of the current incentive. He further then urged the recipients to use the funds in order to make the needed improvements to further develop their business for long term financial viability. Following the statement, Minister Rambharat also informed that the Agro- Incentive Committee would be conducting numerous on-site visits and interviews with the successful beneficiaries of the grant initiative to make sure that they all matched the full criteria in qualifying for the grant.

He then noted that as a part of the monitoring process established by the Agriculture Ministry as a contractual obligation, these visits to the different areas would be continued even after the recipients receive their cheque.

The Permanent Secretary (Ag) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries - Ms Susan Shurland and members of the Agro- Incentive Committee, including its Chairman Mr Fareed Hussain, were also present at the event.

The Agriculture Minister added that he is pleased with the response given to the incentive initiative by the citizens since the year 2018, when it was started by the Ministry.