FOLLOW-UP TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT PLAN OF ACTION

NATIONAL REPORT

The World Food Summit (WFS) Plan of Action under Commitment Seven (Objective 7.3) called upon governments in partnership with all actors of civil society, in coordination with relevant international institutions and, in conformity with ECOSOC Resolution 1996/36 on the follow-up to the major international UN conferences and summits, inter-alia, to:

• Report to the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) on national, sub-regional and regional implementation of the WFS Plan of Action, drawing upon a food insecurity and vulnerability information and mapping systems, once established, as an analytical aid.

• Monitor through the CFS the national, sub-regional, regional and international implementation of the WFS Plan of Action, using reports from national governments, reports on UN agency follow-up and inter-agency coordination, and information from other relevant international institutions.

This Report documents the country’s progress in the implementation of the WFS Plan of Action. It consists of two sections. Sections I and II constitute the substantive parts of the Report on progress made, policies adopted and actions taken. In particular, Section II deals with programmes and measures taken by the country for each of the seven Commitments under the Plan of Action.

In order to facilitate the completion of the report, the Secretariat has prepared a set of Guidelines which are enclosed herewith.

Country: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Date of Report: March 05, 2008

Institution or committee responsible for reporting

Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources

Focal Point

Name Mr. Matthew Lee / Ms. Yvonne Davidson

Position Director, Agricultural Planning Division / Planning Officer III

Telephone 1-868-622-5953

Fax 1-868-622-8762

E-mail agrilibp@tstt.net.tt , ydavidson@malmr.gov.tt

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Table of Contents

Section I: Priority Food Security Issues and Progress towards the World Food Summit Goal 3

Section II: Follow-up to the WFS Plan of Action 9

Commitments 9

Statistical Annex i

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Section I: Priority Food Security Issues and Progress Towards the World Food

Summit Goal

(for completion of Section I of the report please refer to paragraph 5 of the Guidelines)

The state of the country’s food security situation, in terms of food availability, stability of supplies and access to food and the progress in reaching the hunger reduction targets are described below:

STATE OF FOOD SECURITY IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO:

Food Availability:

• Trinidad and Tobago has sufficient food available at the national level although domestic consumption is greater than domestic production.

• Domestic food production is on the decline while food imports are climbing steadily. Notwithstanding this, production of fruits, vegetables and a few staple commodities, such as rice, is increasing. Trinidad and Tobago is self sufficient in poultry production with increasing investments in livestock, mainly small ruminants and fisheries production.

• Food import has increased significantly, fuelled largely by the increase in foreign exchange occasioned by high oil prices. Exports of select commodities have grown marginally.

Stability of Supplies:

• Food supplies at the national level, while generally stable are at times affected by periods of floods, resulting in damage to crops, and a consequent scarcity of supplies on the market. In contrast, excess production of some commodities sometimes leads to gluts in the markets, with the attendant fall in prices.

• Several factors affect the stability of food supplies, such as:

- Climatic conditions and the attendant natural disasters. In the rainy season, food production is adversely affected due to increased incidence of flooding, and pest and disease infestation.

- Occasional gluts for fruits and vegetables on the local market.

- Lack of adequate water and increased cost due to the use of irrigation systems in the dry season.

- Trinidad and Tobago is one of the largest net importers of food in the Caribbean. As a result it is susceptible to the disruptions in trade flows which can affect the stability of the food supply.

- The aging of farmers and the inability to attract and keep young persons in farming due to more lucrative employment in other sectors.

- Praedial larceny is a major problem which affects food production.

- Lack of capital investment in the agricultural sector due to high risk and uncertainty of returns.

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Accessibility and Nutrition Security:

• While access to nutritious food is generally satisfactory in Trinidad and Tobago, the inequality of income distribution has caused a growing number of households to experience difficulty in accessing food. This problem is further exacerbated by price inflation.

• The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has numerous social sector improvement programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and protecting the vulnerable groups in society.

• An FAO study1 found that among the CARIFORUM countries, Trinidad and Tobago has met the Recommended Population Goals (RPG) for total food calories and fats. However, Trinidad and Tobago was not able to meet the RPG with respect to fruits and vegetables. It also found that while deprivation (hunger) has decreased, the total number of poor persons remained relatively high. The Food and Nutrition study also mentioned the linkages between poverty, levels of employment and income distribution. Trinidad and Tobago has decreasing rates of under nutrition in children less than 5 years of age, however, there have been large increases in nutrition related, non-communicable diseases such as obesity in both adults and children.

PRIORITY FOOD SECURITY ISSUES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO:

- Constraint of limited land, resources for agriculture and increased competition for building infrastructure.

- Uncompetitiveness in the production of food items.

- High level of praedial larceny acts as a major disincentive to food production.

- Vulnerability of Trinidad and Tobago to movements in world commodity prices, exchange rate fluctuations, increased shipping costs and other charges associated with international trade.

- High cost of available labour and its pull towards more lucrative jobs in other sectors (construction e.g.)

- Threat of pandemic diseases such as Avian Influenza, Mad Cow Disease and Foot and Mouth disease.

- As a Net Food Importing country, Trinidad and Tobago is vulnerable to international political, economic and health issues.

- The loss of preferential terms of trade for traditional export crops in Europe (e.g. sugar) and North American markets as a result of trade liberalization.

- Low productivity and high cost of inputs in the agricultural sector.

- Inadequate support services for agricultural production (financial, technical, infrastructural and administrative)

1 “Overview – Vulnerability and Food and Nutrition Security in the Caribbean” (August 2007), The FAO/CARICOM/CARIFORUM Food Security Project

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PROGRESS TOWARDS THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT GOAL:

Poverty reduction is a priority of the government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Government has adopted and made commitments towards the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), including Goal 1 (MDG 1), which seeks to “Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger”. This Goal has two targeted outcomes for the period 1990 to 2015:

- to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger; and

- to halve the proportion of people whose income is less than US$1 per day.

In Trinidad and Tobago, progress has been made in the development of infrastructure, the provision of social services to reduce poverty and improved fiscal management of the economy. Unemployment is at an unprecedented low, thereby affording many citizens the increased capacity to access food and other amenities.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to ensuring national food security, production for export markets, enhanced productivity, diversification of production, modernisation of sectors, such as agriculture, health, education, etc., introduction of new agricultural technologies and, improving safety standards, including food safety.

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Evaluation studies (such as impact assessment, comparison between results and objectives) of programmes or projects related to the WFS Plan of Action are attached to this report and listed below:

EVALUATION STUDIES:

Impact Assessment:

• In 2003, Trinidad and Tobago benefited from a FAO funded training programme on the preparation of Competitiveness Analysis. This programme involved the preparation of competitiveness analyses for the following commodities:

• Cocoa

• Citrus (Orange)

• Dairy

• Rice

The studies showed that Trinidad and Tobago was competitive in cocoa and dairy production.

• The FAO/CARICOM/CARIFORUM Food Security Project, Food Security Assessment and Training (PROJECT GTFS/RLA/141/ITA)

“Overview – Vulnerability and Food and Nutrition Security in the Caribbean” (August, 2007)

“Food Prices and Food Security in Trinidad and Tobago” (September, 2007)

• EU Preferential Partners in Search of New Policy Strategies for Agriculture: The Case of Citrus Sector in Trinidad and Tobago

(A. Jacque, C. dell’Aquila, M.A. Perito; 2005)

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Information on external assistance programmes, including a description of their impact on hunger reduction and lessons learned, is given below:

1) Regional Special Programme for Food Security (RSPFS)

CARIFORUM COUNTRIES

This programme, formulated by FAO, was launched in 2003 with the goal to improve the food security situation of the CARIFORUM states individually and as a whole by increasing the overall value and quality of regional agricultural produce traded. Towards these ends, the programme has two related components:

i. Trade Facilitation

ii. Enhancement of Smallholder Production, Productivity and Marketing

Specific objectives of the Trade Facilitation component include facilitation of the flow of information to improve production and marketing choices; reduction of transportation costs; improvement in negotiation capacity; improvement in attainment of food safety, and; phytosanitary standards. Objectives of the Enhancement of Smallholder Production, Productivity and Marketing Component are to improve production and productivity; increase the ability of smallholders to lower costs of production, produce more quality products on regular and stable schedules, and as a result to facilitate their competitiveness in both external and domestic markets.

The Food Security Project was conducted during the period 2005-2007, specifically targeting the area of Irrigated Vegetable Production and Root Crop Production. The project had a small role in farmers’ increased awareness of irrigation, crop selection and management, good agricultural practices and integrated pest management. A system of demonstration plots and provision of irrigation equipment to the Farmer Field School facilitated training using participatory methods. The allocated budget to the project was $60,000($US) with government support estimated at $20,500 ($US).

2) Scientific Basis for Ecosystem-based Management in the Lesser Antilles including Interactions with Marine Mammals and other Top Predators

This Technical Cooperation Project was developed through a collaborative process among Fisheries Stakeholders of the Lesser Antilles, Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and FAO. A major objective of the project is the development of an information system consisting of ecosystems and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) of the Lesser Antilles pelagic sub-systems.

3) EU Poverty Reduction Programme

The European Union has allocated a significant amount of funds to a Poverty Reduction Programme.

The overall purpose of the Poverty Reduction Programme is to support the Government in formulating and implementing a National Poverty Reduction Strategy, including decentralisation of the delivery system so that it becomes more responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable groups of the population. Major components of the project involves:

i. Strengthening the institutional framework for poverty reduction;

ii. Improving the delivery of poverty reduction services, including establishment of a

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Micro-project Fund and a Micro-credit Fund; and

iii. Strengthening the information systems on poverty and poverty reduction programmes

A survey of living conditions (aimed at producing data on poverty), conduct of a Poverty Audit and development of Poverty Profiles and Regional Assessments, formed part of this programme.

Poverty statistics from the Kairi report2 put poverty levels at 24% or 8.3% of the population suffering from hunger or indigent. The EU Poverty Reduction project commenced in 2001, and the completion date for the project was extended to June 2008. A Survey of Living Conditions was done in 2005 and preliminary results found approximately 17% of the population living under poverty, and it suggest an 18% decline in the level of poverty from 1992 when the last survey was conducted.

4) Project with the Guyana

This project has two major components: firstly, consideration is being given to sourcing additional supplies of food products from the Guyanese farming sector through expansion of current food production enterprises; secondly, in the long term there is the option of setting up large farms – based on an offer from the Government of Guyana.

5) Large Farm Project with Cuba

A demonstration/commercial farm will be established to be operated jointly by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba. A Cuban Technical Mission visited Trinidad and Tobago and submitted a report. A Technical CA is expected to be drafted to effect execution of the Project.

6) The FAO/CARICOM/CARIFORUM Food Security Project 3

The macro economic factors such as inflation and rapid increases in food prices have had adverse effects on gains made with regard to poverty reduction and achievement of the MDG1 hunger target. Studies have noted that the monitoring of the progress towards the MDG1 has been constrained by a lack of adequate, reliable and timely data (UNDP 2004; Downes, 2006)

Large scale infrastructural works have been undertaken, in addition to improving Information Technology and marketing (support) services in the fresh vegetable sector. Although these developments have had a high degree of success in reducing food price increases, the limiting factors of praedial larceny, flooding and low levels of institutional support remain constant.

The Government’s main objective is the growth and development of the agricultural sector. However, the concerns of the two major stakeholders in the sector, i.e. the farmers and consumers, have not been adequately addressed as the objectives of the two are divergent, as farmers seek adequate returns and consumers desire lower prices. With the expectation of increased food prices on the international market, there are the consequent increases in the food import bill and in national food prices. It is suggested that an appropriate mix of welfare programmes, agricultural support programmes and interventions are required to promote trade.

2 Social Sector Investment Policy Programme 2007 , Kairi 2003, pp25

3 The FAO/CARICOM/CARIFORUM, Food Security Project: “Overview – Vulnerability and Food and Nutrition Security in the Caribbean” (August 2007) and “Food Prices and Food Security in Trinidad and Tobago” (September 2007)

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Section II: Follow-up to the WFS Plan of Action

(for completion of Section II of the report please refer to paragraph 6 of the Guidelines)

This section describes the actions taken under all of the seven Commitments adopted at the World Food Summit. Information is included on policies pursued and/or action programmes implemented, demonstrating, where possible, their impact in terms of contributing to overall social and economic development, poverty alleviation and hunger reduction.

The full text of the WFS Plan of Action is available online at the FAO Internet site http://www.fao.org/monitoringprogress/summit_en.html, under the section “Key documents, Rome Declaration on World Food Security”.

a) Commitments

One We will ensure an enabling political, social, and economic environment designed to create the best conditions for the eradication of poverty and for durable peace, based on full and equal participation of women and men, which is most conducive to achieving sustainable food security for all.

Two We will implement policies aimed at eradicating poverty and inequality and improving physical and economic access by all, at all times, to sufficient, nutritionally adequate and safe food and its effective utilization.

Three We will pursue participatory and sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development policies and practices in high and low potential areas, which are essential to adequate and reliable food supplies at the household, national, regional and global levels, and combat pests, drought and desertification, considering the multifunctional character of agriculture.

Four We will strive to ensure that food, agricultural trade and overall trade policies are conducive to fostering food security for all through a fair and market-oriented world trade system.

Five We will endeavour to prevent and be prepared for natural disasters and man-made emergencies and to meet transitory and emergency food requirements in ways that encourage recovery, rehabilitation, development and a capacity to satisfy future needs.

Six We will promote optimal allocation and use of public and private investments to foster human resources, sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry systems, and rural development, in high and low potential areas.

Seven We will implement, monitor, and follow up this Plan of Action at all levels in cooperation with the international community.

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Summary list of the most important programmes contributing to the WFS Plan of Action:

Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

1. Agriculture, Food, Health and Safety

• Establishment of a Mandatory Citrus Quality Tree Programme for Trinidad and Tobago, to ensure that the citrus industry is based on the supply of quality and disease free planting material. Implementation of Citrus Budwood Certification Programme

• Expansion of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and food safety capabilities of the country largely through gaining accreditation status of labs, training of staff, and conduct of studies.

- Cabinet has appointed a National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Committee to advise and make recommendations to establish the National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (NAFSA). A National Enquiry Point with respect to SPS measures has been activated.

• CARIRI Labs facilitated to attain ISO 17025 Certification

2004

2005

$25

Construction of laboratories, infrastructural work, training of staff, development of primary legislation and production of public awareness material is ongoing

Ongoing ($8 Mn allocated to enhance operational capacity and to meet OSHA requirements)

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Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

• Regulations for Iradiated Foods passed

• Development of innovative packaging to preserve locally grown crops for re-sale

2003

To be enforced

To be rolled out

2. Development of early warning strategies and food security programmes for emergencies such as earthquakes and hurricanes

3. Extension

• Provision of Tech-Packs for New Product Development

• Conduct of Farmers’ Field Schools with a focus on the production of food crops, tree crops, vegetables, aquaculture and farm management.

• Acquired a mobile learning unit for the Extension and Training and Information Services Division of the Ministry

• Farmers’ Training Centre Programme of Courses

Ongoing

4. Finance and Credit

• Increased credit from Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) to develop agriculture. New financial products include: - Cash Undercover

- GroSafe

2007

$30

Ongoing

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Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

- Cocoa Revitaliser

- Youth Window

- Vehicle Package Loans

- Veggie Quick Loans

• Conditional Cash Transfer Programme which features the distribution of TT Debit Cards to provide vulnerable households with food security

5. Food Production and Price Stability

• Establishment of sixteen (16) Large Commercial Farms of a minimum 100 acres each, for the production of food crops and livestock, is progressing. Evaluation of proposals is underway.

• The establishment of a Prices Advisory Council with a mandate to address the level of prices in the economy

• Praedial Larceny task force re-established

2007

2007

30 year leases to be awarded to successful applicants

$77

(Cost of Infrastructure: January to June 2008)

Ongoing

6. Human Resource Development

• Training Workshops/consultations held with stakeholders in several areas including Fisheries Policy and fisheries management, post harvest crop handling, Forest Policy, plant and animal health and production and food processing

Ongoing

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Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

• Women in Harmony Programme which trains women in Elderly Care and Agricultural/Landscaping.

• 8 Veterinary Officers trained in diagnostic procedures for ensuring food safety, especially with respect to fish diseases.

• 18 companies’ personnel trained in Quality Management and Systems Interventions and Health/Safety Environment Systems

• 15 officers benefited from training courses on trade negotiations and policy

• 59 personnel from companies, benefited from training in “Lean Production”, an element of modern production management

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

7. Land Management and the Environment

• Surveys and sub-division of State Lands for distribution to workers e.g. the division of lands under the control of Caroni (1975) Ltd. (formerly the sole producer of sugar) for small farms. To date, 6,606 former employees have access to their respective plots. Infrastructural works on

2003

$590

Ongoing

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Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

plots undertaken.

• Improved cropping technologies to mitigate environmental degradation (organic farming promoted).

8. Review of the Incentives Programme related to small and large farms, organic farming and agro-processing is in progress. During the period 2002-2007, fourteen thousand, five hundred and twenty one (14,521) applications were approved.

Programme being reviewed to include greenhouses, agribusiness, organics, energy use etc.

The total sum paid out under the programme was $85 Mn

9. Infrastructure

• Development of Fishing Centres and related facilities to HACCP and ISO 22000 standards

- Monitoring and Surveillance Unit operational

- Development of Aquaculture Unit

• Construction of Agricultural access roads. The period 2002-2007 saw the construction and rehabilitative works on 250km of access roads throughout the country

• Implementation of water management and flood control. Financing provided for construction of farm ponds and associated infrastructure at

2005 2006 2004

4 years

$35

$0.8

$185.1

Moruga Food Crop Project, Phase III, $21.3

Ongoing

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Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

Moruga Food Crop Project. Improvements in irrigation technology.

• Establishment of a Packing House – Packing House at Piarco constructed (2003) and further upgraded in 2005-2006.

- Provision of wholesale and retail marketing facilities

• Upgrade port and freight infrastructure, example,

- purchase of navigational aids,

- acquisition of cranes and - refurbishment of jetties

• Construction and operation of Moruga Fishing Complex

2006

Cost of construction for 2008-2009 $95

10. Information Systems

• Development of databases such as: - Farm Animals Recording

and Monitoring System (FARMS). This includes the National Livestock Database and Poultry Surveillance designed to identify and trace animal movement, from farm to market, for reasons of food safety

- Apiaries, - Fisheries, - Marketing (e.g., National

Agricultural Marketing Information System)

- and associated networking systems

• Strengthening of National Research and Development capacity, example

2003

2005

Approximately $1.5 Mn

$0.1 Cost of Development

Ongoing

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Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

development of a disease database for Trinidad and Tobago.

• 22 fisher folk trained and certified in Basic Computer Literacy.

• Facilitated testing of the Sea Food Industry Development Committee (SICD) Training Database

• Developed an Access Road Database for the Land and Water Development Division of the Ministry of Agriculture

• Parcel Index Map being updated to create Cadastral Management Information System (CMIS)

• SALIS being updated with GIS Database and data augmented with access roads, waterways, soil types and topography.

• Apiaries Database (GIS to map location of hives) online

• Fisheries Catch databases online

• National Agricultural Marketing and Information System Database online

Completed

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

To be maintained

Ongoing

Ongoing

11. The establishment of a National Agribusiness Development Programme that included the identification of commodities with growth potential and value added. Commodity Associations have been established for hot and pimento peppers, rabbits, herbs, water coconuts, pumpkin, sweet

2006 5 years $172.05

Ongoing

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Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

potato, cassava, dwarf pommecythere.

12. Plant, Pest and Disease Eradication and Control

• Utilization of Integrated Pest Management strategies for improved crop protection

• Continued development of strategies for management and control of infectious diseases.

- A response mechanism for the possible outbreak of HN 1 Avian Influenza developed, that incorporates an emergency disease plan and training of staff. GIS system implemented as part of the Avian Influenza Preparation Strategy. An Avian Influenza Contingency Plan has been prepared in addition to the acquisition of protective gears and testing kits

- Systems to control spread of Black Sigatoka in bananas and plantains, implemented

1997

1999

2006

2004

Short Term strategy (for one year) for the control of Black Sigatoka

$2.4

Ongoing

13. Expansion of the School Nutrition Programme

Ongoing

14. Implementation of Phase II of the Youth Apprenticeship Programme in Agriculture aimed at providing intensive training in

2004 $3.2 Ongoing

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Programme

Year Initiated

Duration Total

Budget

($TT Mn)

Status

specialised areas of agriculture as well as assisting trainees in becoming agribusiness entrepreneurs. A total of seven thousand and forty eight youths have been engaged in this programme

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The policies, strategies and initiatives implemented, and their outcomes, are described below.

VISION 2020

The Vision 2020 Strategic Development Plan is designed to achieve developed country status by the year 2020. This plan was divided into several actionable components with time bound targets.

The Operational Plan 2007-2010 is comprised of five (5) components:

• Developing Innovative People

• Nurturing a Caring Society

• Enabling Competitive Business

• Investing in Sound Infrastructure and the Environment

• Promoting Effective Government

Components relevant to the achievement of the commitments of the World Food Summit Plan of Action are summarised below:

Developing Innovative People

Government Policy: Making Trinidad and Tobago known for excellence in innovation

Objectives to 2010:

Promote a culture of excellence in innovation among all citizens

Promote closer networking of science and technology institutions

Significantly increase the level of investment in R & D both by public and private sectors

Increase the number of patents granted

Increase the number of research results commercialised Increase the complement of young persons involved in research activities

Establish an effective regulatory environment for innovation

Strategies:

- Popularise science and technology

- Promote National Innovation Awareness

- Institutionalise a National innovation system

- Strengthen research and development capabilities

- Develop a research agenda (re: recycling, commercialisation of herbs and spices, food safety, marine pollution and development of indigenous technology)

- Establish a National research development innovation and training fund

- Monitor the impact of innovation

- Enhance the regulatory framework for innovation

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Initiatives Implemented:

- Science popularisation programme

- Improvement to infrastructure and purchase of equipment (Caribbean Industrial Research Institute-CARIRI)

- Research programme (re: CARIRI in the following areas; recycling, herbs and spices, food safety, packaging and development of indigenous technology)

Targeted Outcomes:

- Investment in R & D by government and private sector increased

- Number and category of patents granted increased

- Number of commercialised research results increased

- Number of persons involved in research activities increased

Developing Innovative People (cont’d)

Government Policy: A highly skilled, talented and knowledgeable workforce

will stimulate innovation-driven growth and development

Objectives to 2010:

Create a pool of scientists, technicians and researchers

Create an effective and efficient national innovation system

Strategies:

- Reform the system of education and training

- Expand access to tertiary education

- Promote integrated manpower planning

- Develop an integrated system for science, technology and innovation

Initiatives Implemented:

- Multi-Sector Skills Training Programme (MUST)

Targeted Outcomes:

- Participation in tertiary education increased to at least 45 percent

- Number of scientists, technicians and researchers in the country increased

- Number of graduates from government funded programmes increased

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Nurturing a Caring Society

Government Policy: Significant reduction in poverty.

Objectives to 2010:

Government is committed to the reduction of the number of persons living below the poverty line by 1 percent per year

Strategies:

- Develop a coordinated, integrated approach to address the poverty challenge

- Strengthening the information system on poverty and poverty reduction

- Bring social services closer to the people

- Promote work as the best route out of poverty

- Increase access to education and training opportunities

- Address the feminisation of poverty

- Support the indigent, incapacitated and the sick

- Accelerate the development of infrastructure

- Establish strategic linkages between the poor and small business development entities

- Introduce national financial literacy programmes

- Make the poorest of the poor priority clients for social services

- Improve the labour inspection function

Initiatives Implemented:

- Establishment of an agency to focus on poverty reduction

- Development of a quality of life index

- Expansion of the food support programme/debit card

- Continuation of poverty reduction programme

- Institutionalisation of Micro Enterprise Training and Development Grant

- Establishment of Micro-Enterprise Loan (MEL) facility

Targeted Outcomes:

- Poverty levels to decline by 5 percent, moving at least 60,000 persons out of poverty

- Development of a more equitable society

- Improvement in the quality of life of all citizens

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Nurturing a Caring Society (cont’d)

Government Policy: Empower citizens to lead long, healthy lifestyles

and have access to good quality health care

Objectives to 2010:

- Life Expectancy Rates increased from 68.4 (1990 – baseline) to 68.6 (2010-target) for males and from 73.2 (year 1990 – baseline) to 74.4 (year 2010-target)

- Death by Lifestyle Diseases reduced (a reduction in deaths from heart disease, diabetes and malignant neoplasm, etc.)

Indicator Baseline 1990 Target 2010

Mortality rate from heart diseases (per 100,000 population) Mortality rate from diabetes (per 100,000 population) Mortality rate from malignant neoplasm (per 100,000 population)

193.0

99.6

100.1

145

75

75

Strategies:

- Improve the general health status of the population and promote healthy lifestyles

- Prevent and control communicable diseases (particularly Avian Influenza)

Initiatives Implemented:

- Special programmes for chronic diseases such as Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP), introduction of new medical procedures such as open heart surgery and kidney transplant

- Education of citizens on health and lifestyle issues

Targeted Outcomes:

- An increase in life expectancy to 69 years for males and 74 years for females

- A 25% reduction in the number of deaths by lifestyle disease

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Nurturing a Caring Society (cont’d)

Government Policy: Enable citizens access to adequate and affordable housing

Objectives to 2010:

- Construct 8,000 housing units annually (under Government’s housing programme)

Strategies:

- Continue the accelerated construction and distribution of housing units

- Make access to affordable housing easier

Initiatives Implemented:

- Financing of a new subsidy regime

- Implementation of a rent to own Programme

- Inclusion of community facilities on housing estates ( including various businesses)

- Accelerated high density housing programme

- Introduction of a second national settlement programme

Targeted Outcomes:

- 30,000 families in new homes

- 1,900 households benefiting from Home Improvement Subsidies

- New housing subsidies grants to 3,000 families

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Enabling Competitive Business

Government Policy: Creating a business climate that attracts investors and

encourages competitive businesses to start and grow

Objectives to 2010:

- Improve Trinidad and Tobago’s business competitiveness

- Facilitate research and development investment in business enterprises

- Increase the number of new businesses

- Increase the number of business clusters

Strategies:

- Creation of a culture of innovation to drive productivity

- Creation of a culture for entrepreneurship

- Provision of infrastructural support for business development

- Promotion of business process innovation

Initiatives Implemented :

- Business competitiveness programme (targeted sectors: food and beverage, fish and fish processing)

- International market development – Country promotion and Marketing assistance to exporters

- Introduction of a business incubator programme

Targeted Outcomes:

- 5,000 new businesses formed

- A one-stop shop created to facilitate small business start ups

- 5 new industrial clusters formed

- Trinidad and Tobago is a preferred destination to conduct business

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Enabling Competitive Business (cont’d)

Government Policy: Transform Trinidad and Tobago into

a diversified economy with exciting growth/

competitive business opportunities

Objectives to 2010:

- Increase the contribution of the non-energy sector to GDP

- Reverse the decline in agriculture and ensure sustainability of fisheries

- Develop new business clusters in the non-energy sector

Strategies:

- Support the development of global players in the food and beverage industry

- Improve profitability of the agricultural sector and improve food security

- Promote sustainable management and optimal utilisation of the living marine resources

Initiatives Implemented:

- Development of proposals for the creation of large agricultural estates

- Support to agribusiness activities

- Development of National Agribusiness Development Programme

- Construction and maintenance of Agricultural access roads and bridges

- Initiated Agricultural Land Information System and Inventory of state lands

- Development of fishing centres and related facilities

- Institution of fisheries monitoring surveillance and enforcement unit

- Establishment of a fisheries management knowledge centre

- Implementation of water management and flood control

- Fostering Youth Apprenticeship in Agriculture

- Expansion and strengthening of the Sanitary, Phytosanitary (SPS) and food safety capabilities

- Establishment of Farmers’ Markets

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Targeted Outcomes:

- Expansion of the non-energy sector by at least 10 percent

- Reduction of the food import bill by 10 percent

- Emergence of new exports of value added goods and services

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Investing in Sound Infrastructure and the Environment

Government Policy: Value the environment as a national asset and

to conserve it for the benefit of future generations

and the wider international community

Objectives to 2010:

- Conserve and enrich the vitality and diversity of our natural environment

- Create environmental infrastructure that enhances the quality of life of all citizens

- Integrate the principles of sustainable development into national policies and programmes

Strategies:

- Protect natural resources and sensitive species of flora and fauna

- Promote a clean, green and environmentally sensitive Trinidad and Tobago

- Promote greater environmental awareness

- Develop renewable resources

Initiatives Implemented:

- Development of a database – Marine environment

- Sustainable management of the wildlife resources in Trinidad and Tobago

- Biodiversity assessment of Trinidad and Tobago

- Establishment of a statistical database

- Introduction of a Green Fund as a source of funds for preservation of the environment

Targeted Outcomes:

- Increase forest cover by at least 5 percent

- Number of threatened animals and plants species reduced by at least 5 percent

- Environmental management systems established in industries

- Establishment of National Council for Sustainable Development

- ‘Greening’ of cities and communities ongoing

28

Other Initiatives:

• Increased allocation to the agricultural sector in 2007-2008 to $1.2 billion ($TT) up from $750 million ($TT) in 2006-2007

• Increased old age pension / senior citizens’ grant to $1000($TT)

• Improved health care

• Participation of nationals in WTO training programmes to improve the capacity to negotiate at bilateral and the multilateral levels

• Initiation of sustainable development of rice based production systems for food security and poverty alleviation

• Conduct of Agricultural Census in 2004 to aid in policy making and to better monitor the sector

• Application of improved instruments and methodologies for evaluation of agricultural development policies and programmes

• Development of a Forest Policy

• Initiation of development plans for tilapia production

• Evaluation of proposals for development of the small ruminant sub-sector

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STATISTICAL ANNEX

Food Security and Related Indicators

No. Indicator Name 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

3 Prevalence of Underweight Children (%) 2.9% 2.9% 2.4% 2.8% 2.9% 2.4% 2.6% 2.8% 2.5% 2.6% 2.4% 2.1%

6 Dietary Energy Consumption (Kcal/person/day) 2150 2150 2150 2150 2150 2150 2150 2150 2150 2150

8 GDP per Capita Growth (%) 4.9% 5.9% 7.4% 10.0% 13.0% 3.8% 7.2% 13.8% 8.1% 7.6% 11.7%

9 % of Population below $1 per day Consumption (%) 1.2%

10 Poverty Headcount Ratio at National Poverty Line (%) 11.0%

11 Poorest Quintile's Share in National Consumption (%) 5.2%

12 Unemployment rate (%) 18.4% 17.2% 16.2% 15.0% 14.2% 13.2% 10.8% 10.4% 10.5% 8.3% 8.0% 6.2%

13 Total debt service (%) 9.6% 9.4% 11.4% 12.3% 9.1% 10.7% 7.7% 3.3% 3.9% 4.9% 2.5% 3.1%

14 Net Primary Enrolment Ratio (%) 97.1% 97.6% 97.3% 94.1% 95.9% 97.1% 94.8%

15 Public Expenditure on Education (%) 3.6% 4.7% 4.3% 4.6% 4.8% 5.7%

19 Proportion of Seats held by women in National Parliament (%) 11.1% 11.1% 11.1% 11.1% 11.1% 19.4% 19.4% 19.4% 19.4% 19.4%

22 Estimated Prevalence proportion of adults living with HIV (%) 0.09% 0.09% 0.02% 0.10% 0.20% 0.20% 0.20% 0.30%

23 Agriculture value added (%) 4.9% 7.0% -8.0% 9.6% -7.1% 8.7% 8.7% -

15.3% -25.3% 9.7% -0.6%

24 Food production Index (%) 97.6 90.5 79.8 90.2 105.2 104.6 129.8 117.7 104.5 108.1

25 Government Expenditure allocated to Agriculture (%) 3.6% 5.3% 2.9% 3.3% 2.7% 4.3% 2.2% 1.5% 1.9% 1.8% 1.5% 1.2%

27 Forest area as % of Total land area (%) 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0% 47.0%

28 Severely Degraded land as % of total area (%) 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8%

32 Agricultural Support estimate as % of Agriculture GDP (%) 0.9% 2.4% 2.8% 2.4% 2.6% 2.9% 3.5% 2.5%

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Notes for Table above

1: For indicator 9, percentages used are based on the indigent poor in Trinidad and Tobago explained in the Metadata.

2: For indicators 9 - 11, results were taken from the survey of Living Condition of Trinidad and Tobago which is done every 10 years

3: For indicator 13, values from 1998 to present were calculated base on the fiscal year i.e. October to September. For previous years the calendar year

i.e. January to December were used

4: For indicator 15 expenditure includes current, capital and transfers

5: For indicator 32, Agricultural Support data only available from 1999

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Metadata

No. Measurement

Unit Definition Statistical

Methodology Source

9 %

The monthly indigent line represent the food component of the Poverty Line and is the minimum value in Trinidad and Tobago dollars that must be spent on food consumption by an adult to ensure that minimum caloric requirements are adequately met.

The indigent line in local currency was estimated to be TT$255 per month or TT$3060.00 per annum.

Analysis of 2005 Survey of Living Condition for Trinidad and Tobago