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The Official Site of the CHAGUARAMAS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies |
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Grow Boxes Tucker Farm Project |
Greenhouses Tucker Valley Farm Project |
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The Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) is now not only the landlord of the Chaguaramas peninsula, but has been appointed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to establish and operate a large, commercial demonstration farm in Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas. In July 2007, Cabinet appointed the CDA as agency with responsibility for the development of a two hundred acre farm in Tucker Valley. In the same month, the CDA welcomed a Cuban Technical Mission to carry out a diagnostic study and make preliminary plans for the commencement of the Tucker Valley Farm Project. This was followed by a fact finding mission to Cuba by a joint team of CDA and Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources in March 2008. The CDA proudly launched the Tucker Valley Project in June 2008 when they hosted a retreat and workshop for a cross-section of local agricultural experts as well as a six-man Cuban technical team who were in Trinidad to prepare the way for the management and technical team to follow. The Honourable Arnold Piggott, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources encapsulated government’s concept for the establishment of this large farm when he said “By the year 2020, the Government aims for the agricultural sector to be competitive and possess the capacity to sustain this competitiveness by becoming adaptive, technology focused and market driven, so as to create resilience.” He continued, “Ultimately, the agricultural sector must help sustain National Food and Nutrition Security.” Tucker Valley was found to be extremely suitable for the establishment of the Farm Project as the area possesses the appropriate soil characteristics and permitted the cultivation of a wide range of food crops and vegetables. Supporting key infrastructure elements inclusive of good drainage of the area, adequate access roads and the availability of utilities made Tucker Valley a prime site for the farm project. When fully operational the Tucker Valley Farm Project is expected to benefit the country by significantly impacting the national production and prices of fresh produce by supplying 4,000 tons of agricultural produce per year including leafy vegetables, carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, sweet peppers, bodi , broccoli and root crops. Other benefits include the training of local farmers in modern mechanization and operations of commercial farming and the development of a commercial agri-business model which can be adopted for private enterprise. Four agricultural methods of production will be utilized at Tucker Valley, namely organic, semi-protected, protected and conventional technology. Innovative techniques aimed at achieving high yields per acre will be adopted to generate income levels in line with a commercial operation. |
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The CDA’s General Manager, Ms Judith M.S.Mark indicated
that the CDA was committed to putting its full support behind the
project and affirmed the Authority’s mission to maintain a symbiotic
balance between the built and natural environment and all aspects of
this agricultural initiative. To date the Tucker Valley Farm is in
production with eight acres of sweet potatoes and seventeen acres of
cassava. Five green houses are expected to be constructed in the first
phase of operations, of which three have been completed, the remaining
will follow by year’s end. Crops such as sweet peppers and cucumbers
will thrive in this environment. One hundred and twelve ‘grow boxes’,
each 24 metres x 1.2 metres will be constructed over time and will be
used to propagate vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, celery and
carrots. Produce from the Tucker Valley Farm will be marketed by the
National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO).
This demonstration farm provides an opportunity for collaboration
between the state, academia and private enterprise. The University of
Trinidad and Tobago will play an instrumental role in the transfer of
technology through training and academic programmes.
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Early stages of Greenhouse Construction |
Farm Hands at work in the Sweet Potato Field |
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Corn Field Tucker Valley Farm |
Grow Boxes |
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