Skip to main content

Sustainable Climate-Smart Agricultural Solutions to Improve Food and Nutrition Security in Trinidad and Tobago

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Development, Political, and Economic Difficulties in the Caribbean

Abstract

Agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago is always challenging. The sector has always been under-resourced and more so in these recessionary times. Food and nutrition insecurity is compounded by increased vulnerability to changing weather events, disasters, land degradation, pests and disease incidences, inefficient and outdated technologies in food production and processing, and low investments in research. The result is a high food import bill. In this chapter, sustainable agriculture intensification as well as climate-smart agriculture technologies that have the potential to mitigate many of the challenges facing agricultural development are presented with the focus on making Trinidad and Tobago more climate resilient and self-sufficient in food. Policies and recommendations, which play key roles, are suggested. Such a transformative path may seem a daunting challenge in light of political volatility and continuity every five years, but this chapter seeks to offer alternative pathways for the agricultural sector in Trinidad and Tobago.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre (AVRDC): The World Vegetable Center. 2003. AVRDC Progress Report 2003 No. 04–599. http://203.64.245.61/fulltext_pdf/AR/2003.pdf.

  • Balfour, Sophia, Neela Badrie, and Jacklyn Broomes. “Quality Assurance Along the Agri-Food Chain—From Farm to Table.” In Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 1, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckford, Clinton L., and Donovan R. Campbell. Domestic Food Production and Food Security in the Caribbean: Building Capacity and Strengthening Local Food Production Systems. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Beckford, C.L., D. Campbell, and D. Barker. “Sustainable Food Production Systems and Food Security: Economic and Environmental Imperatives in Yam Cultivation in Trelawny, Jamaica.” Sustainability 7 no. 6 (2011): 541–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bekele, Isaac, and Wayne Ganpat. “Education, Extension, and Training for Climate Change.” In Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security in Small Island Developing States, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridgemohan, Puran, and Wendy-Ann P. Isaac. “Postharvest Handling of Indigenous and Underutilised Fruits in Trinidad and Tobago.” In Postharvest Handling, ed. Ibrahim Kahramanoglu. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech, 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunch, Roland. Restoring the Soil: A Guide for Using Green Manure/Cover Crops to Improve the Food Security of Smallholder Farmer. Canada: Canadian Foodgrains Bank, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, Bruce M., Philip Thornton, Robert Zougmore, Piet van Asten, and Lelie Lipper. “Sustainable Intensification: What Is Its Role in Climate Smart Agriculture?” Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 8 (2014): 39–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, Bruce M., Sonja J. Vermeulen, Pramod K. Aggarwal, Caitlin Corner Dolloff, Evan Girvetz, Ana Maria Loboguerrero, Julian Ramirez Villegas, Todd Rosenstock, Leocadio Sebastian, Philip K. Thornton, and Eva Wollenberg. “Reducing Risks to Food Security from Climate Change.” Global Food Security 11 (2016): 34–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Claxton, Mervyn. “Ensuring Food Security; Mitigating Climate Change—Has CARICOM Made the Right Policy Choices—Part 1: Food Security.” 2009. Accessed June 28, 2018. https://www.alainet.org/images/claxton-has-caricom-made-the-right-policy-choices.pdf.

  • Divyakirti, Virat. Rural Development: The Strategic Option of Youth Employment. Paper presented at the Youth Employment Summit, Alexandria, Egypt, 2002. Accessed October 23, 2017. http://www.fabi.it/giovani/congresso/DOCUMENTI/rural_dev.pdf.

  • Ebert, Andreas W. “Potential of Underutilized Traditional Vegetables and Legume Crops to Contribute to Food and Nutritional Security, Income and More Sustainable Production Systems.” Sustainability 6 (2014): 319–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fanchone, Audrey, Jean-Louis Diman, Gisѐle Alexandre, Serge Valet, and Harry Ozier-Lafontaine. “Ecological Modernization of Caribbean Agrosystems: From Concept to Design.” In Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 2, ed. Wayne G. Ganpat and Wendy-Ann P. Isaac, Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. The State of Food Insecurity in the World: How Does International Price Volatility Affect Domestic Economies and Food Security. Rome: FAO, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. CARICOM Food Import Bill, Food Security and Nutrition. Subregional Office for the Caribbean. Issue Brief #5 October 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. “Food Loss Analysis: Causes and Solutions Case Study on the Tomato Value Chain in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.” 2018. Accessed June 18, 2018. http://www.fao.org/3/I9592EN/i9592en.pdf.

  • Flemming, K., Annika Minott, Heidi Jack, K. Richards, and Opal Morris. Innovative Community-Based Agriculture: A Strategy for National Food Production and Security. The 2nd Biennial Community Development Partnership Forum and Exhibition, Ministry of Community Development, Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganpat, Wayne G., and Nicole Webster. “An Agricultural Apprenticeship Program for Youth in Trinidad, West Indies: Can It Meet the Caribbean’s Urgent Need for Younger Farmers?” Journal of Youth Development Bridging Research and Practice 5, no. 2 (2010): 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganpat, Wayne G., and Wendy-Ann P. Isaac. Isaac, eds. Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 1. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 2. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2015a.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security in Small Island Developing States. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2015b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, Gary Wayne. “A Conceptual Framework for the Development of Intensive Production Systems for Neotropical Animals: The Collard Peccary and the Agouti as Examples.” Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 1, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garnett, T., M.C. Appleby, A. Balmford, I.J. Bateman, T.G. Benton, P. Bloomer, B. Burlingame, M. Dawkins, L. Dolan, D. Fraser, M. Herrero, I. Hoffmann, P. Smith, P.K. Thornton, C. Toulmin, S.J. Vermeulen, and H.C.J. Godfray. “Sustainable Intensification in Agriculture: Premises and Policies.” Science 341, no. 6141 (2013): 33–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jobity, Ann Marie C., and Indar W. Ramnarine. “Moving Towards Sustainable Aquaculture Practices.” In Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 1, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juma, Calestous, Ramadjita Tabo, Katy Wilson, and Gordon Conway. “Innovation for Sustainable Intensification in Africa: A 2013 Montpellier Panel Briefing.” London, UK: Agriculture for Impact 2013. Accessed June 28, 2018. https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/africanagriculturaldevelopment/Public/MP_0047_Report_V5_L ow-res_singlepages.pdf.

  • Kahane, Remi, Toby Hodgkin, Hannah Jaenicke, Coosje Hoogendoorn, Michael Hermann, Dyno Keatinge, Jacqueline Hughes, Stefano Padulosi, and Norman Looney. “Agrobiodiversity for Food Security, Health and Income.” Agronomy for Sustainable Development 33, no. 4 (2013): 671–693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lallo, Cicero H.O., Adrian Paul, and Sebrena Smalling. “Small Animal Production Systems: Rabbits and Ducks.” In Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 2, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lallo, Cicero H.O., Sebrena Smalling, Audley Facey, and Martin Hughes. “Impact of Climate Change on Small Ruminant Performance in Caribbean Communities.” In Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation Strategies, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Brenda B. “Resilience in Agriculture Through Crop Diversification: Adaptive Management for Environmental Change.” Bioscience 61, no. 3 (2011): 183–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maharaj, Rohanie, and Dimple Singh-Ackbarali. “Mini Livestock Ranching: Solution to Reducing the Carbon Footprint and Negative Environmental Impacts of Agriculture.” In Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation Strategies, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maharaj, Rohanie, Ayoub Mohammed, Vashti Maharaj, and Clement K. Sankat. “Appropriate Postharvest Practices for Perishable Crops in the Caribbean Region.” In Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 1, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, Christian, Ricardo Salgado, Marlon Duron, Jean-Francois Le Coq, Magali de Varax, Catherine Gamba-Trimiño, Fanny Howland, Eduardo Chia, Omar Gallardo, and Nadine Andrieu. “Innovation Platforms for Climate Smart Agriculture in Honduras: The Solution for Family Farmers to Overcome Climate Change Effects?” 2018. Accessed June 28, 2018 https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/151480/retrieve.

  • Muthaura, C.N., G.M. Rukunga, S.C. Chhabra, S.A. Omar, A.N. Guantai, J.W. Gathirwa, and E.N. Njagi. “Antimalarial Activity of Some Plants Traditionally Used in Meru District of Kenya.” Phytotherapy Research 21 (2007): 860–867.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naess, Lars Otto, Pelar Newell, Andrew Nesham, Jan Phillips, Julian Quan, and Thomas Tanner. “Climate Policy Meets National Development Contexts: Insights from Kenya and Mozambique.” Global Environment Change 35 (2015): 534–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pluess, Jessica Davis, and Peder Michael Pruzan-Jorgensen. Women’s Empowerment in Global Value Chains: A Framework for Business Action to Advance Women’s Health, Rights, and Wellbeing. Research Report, BSR and the International Center for Research on Women and Commissioned by the Oak Foundation, 2016. Accessed June 28, 2018. https://www.bsr.org/reports/BSR-Report-Womens-Empowerment-Supply-Chains.pdf.

  • Pretty, Jules. “Agricultural Sustainability: Concepts, Principles and Evidence.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society London B Biological Science 363, no. 1491 (2008): 447–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinton, I. “Indigenous Spinach.” Go Farming for the Farmers of Tomorrow 1, no. 3 (2006): 20–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajack-Talley, Theresa Ann. “The Role of Small Producers, Family Farms and Women Farmers in Sustainable Food Production and Food Security.” In Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 2, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramdwar, Marcus N., Samantha T. Chadee, and Valerie A. Stoute. “Estimating the Potential Consumption Level of Amaranth for Food Security Initiatives in Trinidad, West Indies.” Cogent Food and Agriculture 3 (2017): 1321475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiva, Vandana, Mira Shiva, and Vaibhav Singh. Poisons in Our Foods: Links between Pesticides and Diseases. New Delhi: Natraj Publishers, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • SOFA Team and Cheryl Doss. The Role of Women in Agriculture. ESA Working Paper No. 11-02, March 2011. Accessed June 28, 2018. http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/am307e/am307e00.pdf.

  • The Montpellier Panel Report. “Sustainable Intensification: A New Paradigm for African Agriculture.” London, UK: The Montpellier Panel, 2013. https://ag4impact.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MP_0176_Report_Redesign_2016.pdf.

  • Thomas, A., and D. Saravanakumar. Antagonistic Potential of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Against Major Tropical Vegetable Pathogens. In 9th International IPM Symposium, “IPM: Improving Health, Environment and Global Sustainability” at Baltimore, Maryland from March 19–22, 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermeulen, Sonia J., and Bruce M. Campbell. “Ten Principles for Effective AR4D Programs.” Information Note, CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2015. Accessed September 9, 2017. http://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/58878/retrieve.

  • Wang, K., C.R. Hooks, and A. Ploeg. Protecting Crops from Nematode Pests: Using Marigold as an Alternative to Chemical Nematicides. Published by College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster, Nicole, and Wayne G. Ganpat. “Youth: Adding Value to Agriculture in the Caribbean.” In Sustainable Food Production in the Caribbean, Vol. 2, ed. Wayne Ganpat and Wendy-Ann Isaac. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wuddivira, Mark N., Vidya de Gannes, Gerrit Meerdink, Nequesha Dalrymple, and Shantelle Henry. “Challenges of Food and Nutrition Security in the Caribbean.” In Challenges and Opportunities for Food and Nutrition Security in the Americas: The View of the Academies of Science. IANAS Regional Report, 2017. http://www.ianas.org/docs/books/Challenges_Opportunities.html.

  • Yuliar, Nion Y.A., and K. Toyota. “Recent Trends in Control Methods for Bacterial Wilt Diseases Caused by Ralstonia Solanacearum.” Microbes and Environment 30, no. 1 (2015): 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wendy-Ann Isaac .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Isaac, WA., Felix, N., Ganpat, W.G., Saravanakumar, D., Churaman, J. (2019). Sustainable Climate-Smart Agricultural Solutions to Improve Food and Nutrition Security in Trinidad and Tobago. In: Bissessar, A. (eds) Development, Political, and Economic Difficulties in the Caribbean. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02994-4_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics