BpTT has entered into a unique partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries to promote food security, via a project to grow short-term food crops at three locations in Trinidad.
Crops with a two-to-three month production cycle and low maintenance—such as cabbage, melongene, pumpkin, sweet pepper, cauliflower, sweet pepper and patchoi—are being planted. Produce from the project will be distributed to homes for children and the elderly.
The project has three phases: preparation of the land at three farms on May 14, planting of seedlings on May 22, and harvesting of crops and distributing produce.
The project went into top gear on May 14, when 60 of the energy firm’s employees, family members and other stakeholders volunteered manual labour to prepare planting beds at three sites—at the Agriculture Ministry’s St George East Agricultural Office, Wallerfield; Orange Grove, Tacarigua; and Nariva/ Mayaro Agricultural Office, Rio Claro.
Lafistra Ramlal, an 18-year-old student pursuing a Bachelor of Education Degree at The University of T&T, was one of the volunteers that day. She worked at the Rio Claro site, and commented, “The exercise was very satisfying, not only in terms of the theoretical and practical exposure to agricultural production but more so in understanding just how important agriculture is to our daily existence and survival. I was there as part of the National Day of Caring, because bpTT has made a positive impact on my life through its scholarship award from the Brighter Prospects programme. I am happy to give back to my community and bring some joy to other people.”
The initiative continues bpTT’s volunteer support of United Way of T&T’s humanitarian platform, through the organisation’s annual National Day of Caring (NDOC), on May 22.
BpTT’s association with United Way’s National Day of Caring started in 2013 with donation of supplies and refurbishment to 12 children’s homes. The company collaborated with Habitat for Humanity over the next two years, building and repairing eight homes in 2014, and building two homes in 2015.
Rachael Caines, corporate responsibility adviser, bpTT—who led the team of 20 volunteers at Wallerfield—said food security was an important goal, and expressed the hope that bpTT’s efforts would be supplemented by other entities.
Florencia Beckles-Gangaram, county agricultural officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries, led the Ministry’s team at Rio Claro.
She said people should appreciate the important role of farmers, and praised the energy firm’s initiative.