As part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ mission in bolstering a bio-resilient and food-secure nation, avocado, breadfruit and coconut trees were distributed to farmers across the island to help drive this mission under its BIOREACH Project.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram said this strategic move in providing plants to farmers from across Trinidad and Tobago aligns with the Ministry’s mission in developing farming communities by expanding biodiversity value chains and providing quality planting materials to farmers.
“This initiative addresses land degradation while safeguarding the ecosystem services upon which farming depends: soil fertility, pollination, water regulation, and climate modernisation. They improve soil structure, reduce erosion, and enhance water retention.”
Technical Officer of the Bio-Reach Project, Narendra Sookdeo, stated that the four-year initiative was born out of the need to protect our national heritage while helping our farmers farm better, smarter, and more sustainably.
He noted that over the years, the national agriculture landscape came under serious threat of soil erosion, unpredictable weather patterns, pests, and diseases, and to mitigate these challenges, four steps were implemented.
“Better land use planning where we are planning with our communities to plan how our land is used, supporting both land and nature; restoring degrading lands by bringing life back to overused and damaged soils through agro-ecology and tree planting; supporting green value chain development through helping our farmers grow, market and sell crops in ways that protect our biodiversity; and also by sharing knowledge by making sure what we know benefits everyone, especially those working the land.”
Mr. Sookdeo said the event underscores phase two of the project, which focuses on restoring landscapes through agro-ecology and advancing the value chain distribution process by supplying crops to farmers.
“We should consider that these are not just trees. They are soil builders which prevent soil erosion and improve soil fertility, they are water protectors as they help maintain healthy watersheds, they are biodiversity supporters, as they create habitats for birds, bees, and beneficial insects and, most importantly, they are future income earners, producing food for your families as well as the wider nation.”
Mr. Sookdeo noted that this initiative is more than a project; it’s a partnership aimed at growing communities and renewing hope for the future generation of farmers to come.