The Division of Food Security in Tobago is delivering on its mandate to improve food security on the island.
This is being made possible through a Community Care Initiative which was launched on Thursday.
The programme will see the monthly distribution of boxes of locally produced foods to selected households in Tobago.
THA Secretary of Food Security, Nathisha Charles-Pantin, noted that the programme is a people-first initiative. She indicated it has been recognised there is a disconnect between Tobagonians and accessibility to nourishing food.
“We want people to know their food, to know the farmer who grew their dasheen, to skip the foreign food items and try the local alternatives instead. To make it their business to be more intentional in buying from their own. That is why from the beginning I knew this programme had to be 100% Tobago.”
Chairman of the Tobago Agri-business Development Company (TADCO), Ricardo Alfred, said the initiative, which is expected to roll out over a six-month period, sees a collaborative and integrated approach.
“This project will assist the farmers and assist the agro-processors as well as the end-users. At the end of this programme, there is going to be some impacts. There is a list that we have of over 80 farmers who participated in this. That list we are now going to be using as data so that we know what these farmers can provide and I can give some assurances that TADCO will definitely use this list going forward.”
Beneficiaries will also receive ongoing health screenings, nutrition guidance and food preparation support.
Secretary of Health Dr. Faith Brebnor said she readily supported the initiative, as she explained it will make the Division’s work easier.
“Our highest burden at the Tobago Regional Health Authority has to do with diseases that we can control based on our lifestyle. A big chunk of our lifestyle has to do with what we eat. I had to say to them yesterday that every single month I have to approve from the Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection sending at least, and the CEO said ‘only’ when I said the number, at least $41 million every single month to the Tobago Regional Health Authority.”
The first batch of community care packages was distributed on Friday.