TCIG attempting to increase Corn Production

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos government is trying to tap into the production of one of the world’s top crops with the announcement of an Online Training Session on How to Grow Corn.

Set for September 20, 2023, the session is open to all residents and will feature training not only on how to grow the significant cash crop but also to manage it at all stages and prevent pests and diseases.

Corn is one of the world’s most popular crops, along with other grains like wheat and rice, and is a necessary raw material in dozens of everyday products, from fuel to energy drinks.  The UN Food and Agriculture Organization is predicting that by 2050, the world annual demand for corn, rice, and wheat could reach around 3.3 billion tons.

That is hundreds of millions more than the world is currently harvesting, necessitating a production increase.

Caribbean Agribusiness says the region imported 256, 000 metric tons of corn in 2016/17 alone and lists a suite of reasons why the Caribbean should explore increased investments in corn production including:

• Growing demand for the product;
• Corn is perfect for crop rotation;
• It is a hardy crop that can adapt to diverse environmental conditions and;
• It is a strategic product for the Caribbean region as Corn is important in improving food security globally.

PRESENTERS for the meeting include: Mario Smith, Roneta Huntley Thomas, and Hopeton Panton.  Residents can access the Wednesday 5:30 p.m. session via Zoom at the meeting ID836 1561 2327 with the passcode ‘corn.’

The TCIG session is the latest in a series of agriculture training sessions open to islanders as the government attempts to increase food security by promoting backyard farming and eventually, the sale of any surplus from these farms.