Christopher Boodoosingh, CEO, Cocoa Republic

On actualising the competitive potential of Trinbagonian agriculture

How can agriculture in Trinidad & Tobago transform itself into a fully fledged driver of economic growth?          

BOODOOSINGH: Agriculture plays an imperative role in human existence, so people and societies should have the inherent knowledge and necessary skills to produce the food they consume. It is for this very same reason that agriculture, and in turn food security, should play a relevant role in every economy worldwide.

Average consumers and buyers should be aware of the staples of their local terrains, and national and local governments should make an additional effort to promote internal food production. 

Economies of scale in this sector may prove, to a certain extent, inefficient – especially so in insular territories like T&T. Markets that tend to overemphasise their reliance on imported foodstuffs, even the most basic produce, have to deal with the fact that such production and commercialisation processes are usually unsustainable, and may cause a fall in quality of the final product, as well as exclusive reliance on the producing market for their own food-security needs. 

There is certainly a vested interest in making agriculture a fully functional sector within the Trinbagonian economy. Economic diversification should be the cornerstone upon which the economic policy of T&T is built on in the near future, and among all the non-oil and gas sectors towards which such momentum could be directed, agriculture is undoubtedly one of the most important ones. 

Trinidad’s agricultural assets are plenty; not only is there enough arable land, but the island’s weather allows for several harvests a year. Additional production, whether of cocoa, coffee, tropical or citrus fruits, could easily be transformed into downstream, value-adding products such as sauces, concentrates, chocolates and other derivatives. These products could easily enable Trinidad to assert a distinguished and superior market position worldwide. 

With some niche products, such as coffee and cocoa, Trinidad has a true competitive advantage. The floral and fruity notes of our trinitario cocoa are further increased if the manufacturing process occurs in the country of origin. For example, the origins of the finest wines in the world can be traced from vine to bottle; this need for traceability and transparency in the value-added manufacturing cycle is paramount to having a competitive advantage in the quality food market on a global scale. 

If T&T enters into the agro-processing market, it is imperative that we show that we are better, not cheaper. We cannot compete quantity-wise against Guyana, Thailand or Mexico, for instance, but our potential lies in building a well-recognised brand that leverages on excellent quality, not on large amounts of mediocre agricultural products. 

What actions and measures could be taken to make agriculture a bigger contributor to the T&T economy? 

BOODOOSINGH: A more flexible migration policy would represent an important first step in allowing the development of a competitive agricultural sector. A progressive modification and liberalisation of the currently rigid norms on migrant labour would undoubtedly help increase the very limited labour pool in the sector nowadays. Decades of somewhat easy economic growth fostered by hydrocarbons have made the local population unwilling to join a very labour-intensive sector: two or three generations of Trinbagonians have been reliant on high oil and gas prices. I believe yet another generation is needed to shift labour trends in T&T and channel excess workers into agriculture. 

As it stands, most policymakers are anti-immigrant; however, anyone willing to leave their home country in search of a better life is more likely to adapt to their new home. If the right policies are put in place, we can select from the pools of immigrants who desperately want a better life. In the meantime, undocumented, untaxed and unfiltered migrant workers are currently replacing the missing local workforce. This is particularly the case in English-speaking Caribbean nations. Let us not forget the crucial contribution of Venezuelans to the establishment of a cocoa and chocolate industry in Trinidad during the early 19th century.

How can local demand for organic and small-scale agriculture be fostered? 

BOODOOSINGH: Consumers all over the world are increasingly concerned with the environment and the sustainability of their daily consumption patterns. I believe this will also be the case in T&T, although with some natural lag vis-à-vis more advanced economies. The current recession may actually represent a unique opportunity for both producers and consumers to become more environmentally aware of their consumption choices, especially foodstuffs. 

Challenging times allow for creative destruction and more innovation, and to a certain extent consumer habits are forced to change because they are unsustainable from an economic point of view. In this regard, I think Trinbagonians are currently bottoming out their interest for agriculture, and that micro-cropping practices will become more common in the coming years, whether this means people harvesting their own potatoes or growing an avocado tree, for example. Following Jamaica’s example, where such practices are broadly diffused, the current economic environment may help T&T recover that natural predisposition for local, small-scale agriculture present throughout the Caribbean region.