Big Opportunity in Farming; TCI Director Reveals Low Number of Farmers and Youth Interest

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, April 11, 2023 – The number of farmers in the Turks and Caicos is not increasing, at least not yet; a startling truth revealed in a recent Magnetic Media interview with Wilhelmina Kissoonsingh, Director of Agriculture.

“Backyard farming is growing in popularity but the number of registered commercial farmers? Not yet. [The split] is equal, male and female but not a lot of young people, very few,” said Kissoonsingh, who led the effort to author a National Agriculture policy for the Turks and Caicos.

It’s a disheartening revelation but also a grand opportunity given the multi-million dollar investment and political will now thrust behind improving food security.  In fact, several landmark grants have been issued to farmers with numerous bi-lateral relationships established; including the CARICOM commitment of 2022 and a robust liaison with The Bahamas Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Island Administration.

Unequivocal, if you speak to the leaders in the Department Agriculture and the Ministry of Tourism, also responsible for this area, is the resolve to increase production, expand exports and grow the islands’ No.3 industry.

“We have school gardens now in the school curriculum; we have 16 school gardens.”

In addition, the Government is creating a roadmap to help create actionable targets for the TCI that will help it eventually get to a place of sustainable production. But there’s more to be done, the Director says.

“School gardens are part of the curriculum but agriculture needs to be part of the school curriculum in order for young people to see that agriculture can be a viable career and agriculture can be a viable business to get into.”

Kissoonsingh wants to see the second target hit; investment in farming through programs which must include incentives for those willing to invest in what can be a volatile industry.

“We intend to run a section for Youth; when they see you can get incentives for getting into agriculture it might be something that they’d like to do and the Department would support in terms of technical information and knowledge.”