Trinidad and Tobago is beginning to see the positive impact of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s visit to Ghana, as the country recently received a generous gift of 10,000 yam seeds from the Ghanaian government. This initiative is expected to contribute to improving local diets and reducing the country’s billion-dollar food import bill.
However, Dr. Rowley emphasized that the success of this initiative depends on citizens embracing and consuming local produce over imported alternatives.
Speaking at the Tucker Valley Shade House in Chaguaramas Agricultural Park, he highlighted the importance of expanding local agricultural production and making quality local food more accessible.
“We recently received as a gift from Dr. Mitchell at the Ghanaian authorities 10,000 units of planting material of four varieties of yams, so we are introducing those varieties into Trinidad and Tobago now. I am particularly pleased this morning to associate my office and myself with this initiative because I believe that it will have far-reaching contributions to something that we talk about a lot, and that is reducing our food import bill,” Rowley stated.
He stressed that reducing food imports is only achievable through two key approaches: increasing local food production and ensuring that the population consumes what is produced locally.
“If you talk to anybody in this country about food import, they will tell you that this country imports too much of its food and we need to reduce our food import bill. But that objective can only be achieved in two ways: if we produce more food locally and if we consume what we produce,” he said.
Dr. Rowley reminisced about his early days growing up in Tobago, in a community that valued and cultivated local produce. He urged citizens to embrace local ground provisions, particularly yams, as a viable alternative to commonly imported foods.
“While I was in Ghana, I was able to sample a number of these white yams—smooth, soft, beautifully tasting white yams—which can replace the white potato that we import. You know we import a lot of what you call ‘Irish potatoes.’ It’s a white potato from Canada that forms a huge part of our diet in very many ways,” he noted.
He further explained that yams have historically been a staple in local diets and could be reintroduced as a healthy and sustainable alternative.
“A lot of that can be replaced by yams, and the older ladies will tell you that just having boiled yam as part of the diet, associated with stews and vegetables, had been a part of our diet which we have lost over time. So we are aiming to put back on the table in Trinidad and Tobago tasty, healthy white yams,” he added.
The four varieties of yams will be planted across both Trinidad and Tobago, with an expected harvest period of six to nine months. Planting has already begun in the western part of Tobago, with additional sites, including Mason Hall, set to receive plantings in the coming weeks.
Dr. Rowley emphasized that planting yams in multiple locations will help the government determine the most suitable soils for optimal growth. This research will guide future investments and encourage local farmers to cultivate the most successful varieties.
“I really would like to see the output of these yams in the market of Trinidad and Tobago because it is only when we plant more and do so sensibly that we will be able to bring in new varieties. The ones that we’ve lost, we need to improve our gene pool by bringing in better gene quality as tested in other countries. We test them here, do our own research, come up with our own data, and choose our own varieties,” he said.
He encouraged farmers to embrace these new varieties, reassuring them that the government would support their efforts with proper research and guidance. Additionally, he called on the public to familiarize themselves with locally grown produce and incorporate it into their diets.
“When we do that, we can now encourage the farmers confidently to plant these varieties. And when we plant them, we could say to our national population, ‘Get to know these produce. They are good for you. They are good for the country,’” he emphasized.
He reiterated that food security and economic sustainability rely on growing what the nation eats and consuming what it grows.
“We want to grow what we eat, and we’re asking you to eat what we grow. That is the only way that we can impact significantly this food import bill—by having more food grown locally and consuming what we grow. These yams are now in our hands. As we grow them, we won’t have to spend any foreign exchange on them. All we have to do is want to eat them,” he stated.
Dr. Rowley expressed excitement about the future harvest and the long-term impact of this initiative on food sustainability in Trinidad and Tobago. He acknowledged Ghana’s generosity and reaffirmed the strong ties between both nations.
“So, let’s look forward to the harvest and let’s look forward to the main news that will come where slices of white yams, obtained from Ghanaian fields, from our friends in Ghana, from the government and people of Ghana, will be on the tables of the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” he remarked.
The event was attended by several government officials, including Prime Minister-designate Stuart Young, Minister of Youth Development and National Service Foster Cummings, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Kazim Hosein, and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Avinash Singh.
With the introduction of Ghanaian yam varieties, the government hopes to drive agricultural growth, reduce dependence on imported food, and promote healthier eating habits. The success of this initiative will depend on the commitment of farmers, policymakers, and consumers to embrace locally produced food as a vital part of the national diet.
