April 2017


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Every society goes through at least one moment when its challenges expose the need for drastic change. Some thrive and rise above the challenges, others falter, and unfortunately, many are unable to achieve the cultural, social and economic transformations.

Trinidad and Tobago had such a moment at the dawn of independence as it faced the challenge of designing its future. Post-independence, national planners advanced a strategy for industrial development built on rents to come from the oil and gas sectors. At that time the energy sector accounted for 80% of exports and 28% of Government revenue.

The plan came to fruition with the formation of the National Gas Company in 1975 and the establishment of the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in 1980, now the largest such estate in the Caribbean. This occurred in the nick of time, just as a drop in global oil prices triggered a prolonged economic recession. Described as a bold move by experts, the Trinidad and Tobago model for gas monetisation has been a major contributor to its prosperity. It established a template for nations such as Ghana and Tanzania to follow. One of its side effects however, was its contribution to what some call “Dutch disease,” reflected in this instance to less attention paid to, and the consequent decline in the economic role of agriculture.

Here we are again at a crucial moment in our history faced with an economic downturn, social instability and an uncertain global environment. As we grapple with this new normal, we face the irony that one of the solutions to recovery may actually mean going back to where our economy started, that is, with agriculture. This is in keeping with Caribbean Nobel Laureate Sir Arthur Lewis’ industrialisation strategy, articulated 60 years ago. Agriculture, and the value chain of a well-articulated food production sector, can open up enormous opportunities for enhancing food security and powering the region out of the current economic recession. However, like the Trinidad and Tobago Gas Model, the Agriculture and Food Production Model requires new ideas, innovation and new technology for it to significantly result in the kind of diversified and resilient society that Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean will need to thrive in the changing global environment. The agriculture sector now contributes very little to national GDP, a consequence, in part, of a culture that has become far too reliant on a multi-billion-dollar food import industry. Most importantly, initiatives to date for making the nation food secure are nowhere near fruition.

Two of the country’s major players have begun accelerating the revitalisation of agriculture and food production. In early March, I led a team of UWI experts in a meeting with Senator the Honorable Clarence Rambharat, the Minister of Agriculture. This was an opportunity to engage the Minister on a host of issues and express the university’s desire to work more closely with Government to explore agriculture solutions and create opportunities for the nation. The Minister himself expressed interest in collaboration so that we could “avoid overlaps and duplication, maximise the use and deployment of our respective resources,” and “face the farming and fishing communities with one purpose.” The University looks forward to future collaborations that must also include the agribusiness subsector for forging the “triple helix” of government, business and academia that world experience has shown to be necessary for a robust and sustainable agriculture sector.

In the triple helix, The UWI will bring to the table innovations, new technology, technical assistance, education and training. The private sector will support with capital, market insight, and manufacturing and distribution expertise. The State will be the overall facilitator since it provides incentive programmes and strategic interventions. State intervention can reduce the bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder business development. This triple helix partnership will engender focus, vigilance, productivity and solvency, all necessary to transform our social economy.

In March, The UWI held the TechAGRI Expo 2017, an event of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture to raise the profile of agriculture and to familiarise the nation with the opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialisation in the sector. The Expo offered, inter alia, lab tours, display and sale of farm produce, visits to the National Herbarium which is physically located in the Faculty, demonstrations of chocolate making, appropriate hydroponic systems, as well as other examples of agricultural innovation that can be adopted locally. Judging by the large crowds of secondary students and members of the public, it was a huge success! TechAGRI Expo 2017 was spearheaded by Dr. Wayne Ganpat, the Dean of the Faculty, who has long been a specialist and advocate in the area of Agricultural Economics and Extension. I join with the rest of the UWI team in congratulating Dr. Ganpat and all staff of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture for this success.

The Expo brought back memories of the early days of the Faculty of Agriculture and the even earlier days of the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA), its predecessor. ICTA was responsible for instruction, research and advisory in agriculture throughout the British Empire; it was recognised as the world leader in research on pests and diseases of tropical crops, plant genetics, soil chemistry and soils science. Indeed, I am told, and yet to verify, that the Florida citrus industry owes a lot to the work done at ICTA. Although the original focus of ICTA was on export crops such as cocoa, sugarcane, bananas for the UK for further processing, it later started to address issues related to local food crops. Its R&D prowess was, nonetheless, unquestionable. The capability that once existed must now be re-energised and harnessed for the benefit of the people of the Caribbean.

I cannot end without mention of Sir Derek Walcott, one of the Caribbean’s greatest sons, who passed away on March 17, 2017. One could easily write a thousand words about his accomplishments. Even the outpouring of sentiment from around the globe after his passing, does not fully reflect the extent of his acclaim. I wish to highlight a more intimate Walcott, our Walcott, who made it his mission to help the people of the Caribbean find their identity. That was the invaluable gift he bestowed upon us, a gift we must honour by going out into the world in confidence and power, strengthening our reputation, just as he did. May he rest in peace and may this legacy of daring and confidence be an example to future generations.

EDITORIAL TEAM

Campus Principal: Professor Brian Copeland
Director of Marketing and Communications: Dr. Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill
Editor (Ag) : Joel Henry

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