SOCIAL SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
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SUSTAINING GROWTH, SECURING PROSPERITY
CHAPTER 3: NATIONAL SOCIAL SITUATION
D. Security
Praedial larceny poses a major threat to
agriculture as it negatively impacts return
investment, and could also compromise farming
and fishing communities. Two key initiatives
were implemented to address this concern.
Firstly, the Agricultural Ranger Squad (ARS)
was re-launched in September 2011 with a
contingent of twelve officers. Also, in August
2013, the MFP collaborated with the Ministry
of National Security to establish five stations in
Carlsen Field, Centeno, Felicity, Usine and Ste
Madeline, to be resourced by the 76 Special
Reserve Police (SRP), from the Praedial Larceny
Squad (PLS).
Secondly, with the revision of the Agricultural
Incentive Programme (AIP), a holistic package
of security initiatives was designed for farmers:
• A dollar for dollar incentive for farmers
wishing to install security devices to a
maximum of TT$30,000 per hectare;
• Installation of barrier gates and street
lighting leading into the major food basket
areas,
• Provision of a 50% rebate for perimeter
fencing on farms to a maximum of TT$25,
000 per hectare;
• Installation of a hot-line to receive and
respond to complaints from farmers.
2. C
ONSUMPTION OF
H
EALTHY
L
OCALLY
P
RODUCED
F
OOD
There is a wide range of options available for
healthy and affordable locally produced food.
The MFP therefore embarked on a number
of initiatives to encourage the purchase and
consumption of locally produced foods. There
are several benefits to be derived from this
strategy, inclusive of promoting healthy eating
habits and lifestyles, providing local farmers
with a steady market and contributing to the
reduction of the food import bill. Accordingly,
the GoRTT undertook the Put T&T on your Table
Initiative and the School Nutrition Programme:
A. Put T&T on your Table
The Put T&T on your Table Initiative involved:
• The Buying Local Produce Initiative, which
resulted in nine flagship outlets adopting the
use of locally grown sweet potatoes into their
meal options;
• The incorporation of more local content into
the 150,000 meals per day served through
the School Feeding Programme; and
• The Home Gardening Programme sensitises
the public about the benefits of growing
ones food at home. Not only does it reduce
the cost of food purchased, it can support
safe and healthy eating habits, since the
individual knows and controls the conditions
under which the crops are cultivated. In fiscal
year 2011-2012, 67 persons were trained,
and 12 home gardening videos produced
and uploaded to social media.
B. School Nutrition Programme
The School Nutrition Programme (SNP) of the
Ministry of Education (MOE) is another initiative
that also encourages the consumption of locally
produced food. The programme also ensures
that the dietary and nutritional needs of the
student population are met. In this regard, the
MOE implemented the following initiatives in
fulfilment of the SNP’s mandate:
• Continued to provide highly nutritious
breakfast and lunch meals to students at
ECCE Centres, primary and secondary
schools. As at June 30th, 2013 on a daily
basis 59,958 breakfast meals and 97,164
lunches were distributed to pre-primary,
primary and secondary school students.
• Continued its Nutrition Education sessions,
where the following schools were visited:
• Marabella Government Primary School
