GMOs: The Self Sufficient Future

Hey guys, Arielle here. In my recent article, I explored how agricultural production could be boosted through the use of GMOs, as a solution to our country's food security issue. This was also addressed by Sarah in her posts: GMOs = Solution to Trinidad's Food Problem? and GMOs and Food Security; check it out if you haven't already. I specifically addressed ways in which farmers can make the transition to GM crops, some benefits and some downfalls. In this post I want to highlight policies that are already in place that allow ease of obtaining resources for agriculture.

There are various benefits already put into place for farmers. A major benefit is a rebate on a percentage of the total cost, up to the maximum specified amount (Ministry of Finance, Trinidad and Tobago, 2017). These rebates are given on purchase of vehicles, establishing infrastructure for water storage and use, land preparation and equipment. This greatly subsidises costs for farmers.

Farmers are able to access land by the state, for agricultural use. State land refers to all land that is not privately owned. There are areas of state land, designated for agricultural use and are made available to farmers by leasing on a short, medium or long-term basis (ttConnect). As to everything, there is a process to obtain such land, which would include provision of documents and then selection based on criteria.

Terrain Map of Trinidad.

Credit: Ebites

These incentives are currently in place for farmers and can be extended for the use of GM crops. Policies would have to be amended to include the use of GM crops where even more benefits can be given to GM crop farmers; more rebates, more land, or some sort of benefit that would attract farmers to plant GM produce.

The article below to get a complete insight on the issue of farming, food security and GM crops and check out our previous blog posts if you haven’t already. Leave comments and give feedback, let us know what you’d like us to post about next! Until next time!

References

Inquiry into Land Tenure Issues in Trinidad and Tobago. (2015-2016). JSC Report. Trinidad and Tobago. 2015-2016.

 “State Land.” ttConnect Government of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. https://www.ttconnect.gov.tt/gortt/portal/ttconnect/!ut/p/a1/jdBNC4JAEAbgX-PVGRUtu3koU6PQsHQvobCthrmim_bzU08J9jG3GZ4XXgYIREDKpM1ZInJeJsWwE-Pi-SrqjqmhbYYKqoFv7Reuo6Fn9CB-B4fA3vRgrStb76Qh4n95_DDWz_yRlnAG8pUNLaZgpuYIvvRwgbCCp-NPYqtMtSUDUtMrrWktP-r-nAlRNSsJJey6Tmacs4LKQkg4l8h4IyCaQKjuYfR0bnrR7qwX8Swubw!!/dl5/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2Fgortt%2Fwcm%2Fconnect%2Fgortt%20web%20content%2FTTConnect%2FBusiness%2FTopic%2FDoingBusiness%2FReal%20Estate%20and%20Property%2FState%20Land
Major Investment Incentives in Trinidad and Tobago. (2017). Ministry of Finance. Retrieved from http://www.finance.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MOF-Investment-Incentives-in-Trinidad-and-Tobago-web.pdf
Image:
Julien, E. (2014, March 3). Putting Agriculture on Top - A sequence to GIS A Map to Food Security. [Web log post] Ebites. Retrieved from https://ebites1.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/putting-agriculture-on-top-the-sequence-to-gis-a-map-to-food-security/