September 18, 2016: The Cocoa Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (CDCTTL) continued with its Road Show … this stop in Point Fortin, sharing the ‘Cocoa Revolution’ message and its lead role in the development of the Cocoa Sector.
Chairman Winston Rudder in his address started with a call for cooperation and collaboration saying that ‘in moving forward, we have to cooperate and collaborate with the Ministry, Cocoa Research Centre, the institutions of Government, and most importantly with cocoa farmers’. Highlighting the advantages of Cooperatives, he said ‘we should work in teams to achieve our objectives’, sharing that a ‘team is not a group of people working together, rather a team is a group of people who trust each other’. Echoing these sentiments was one resident and farmer, who said ‘we must come together as a community economically’.
To the 100 farmers and stakeholders present the main message was ‘ALL beans offered for sale, for this upcoming crop, by cocoa farmers of T&T will be purchased’; an assurance that came from the Chairman arising out of ongoing discussions the key stakeholders in the sector, including the buying agents, fermentary operators and Cocoa and Coffee Cooperatives. However, the Chairman stressed that there is a need to ramp up cocoa production to have a more commanding presence in the market place, and moreso that the quality management systems employed maintains the fine and flavor reputation currently enjoyed on the world stage. He called on the farmers to avail themselves of the research and extension services available.
He noted that recognizing that there are constraints, we need to have an ongoing conversation on ‘how do we progress in dealing with these constraints?’ As a critical player in the revolution, the Cocoa Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (CDCTTL) was introduced to successfully lead the sector to a position of viability, expansion and modernization. As a special purpose state company, CDCTTL will provide support for the development of the cocoa industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
The issues that were raised by the farmers primarily included labour shortage, financial losses due to fires, and the high transport cost to access plants at nurseries located in the north. One farmer said ‘there is no development without labour’ while another Mr. Oscar Cadette opined that ‘we must make agriculture an honourable profession’. In response to a concern that we do not continue to follow the aged model of simply selling beans, the Board elaborated on the plans for developing the local market.
CDCTTL’s goal is to make cocoa production in Trinidad and Tobago a financially viable activity, contributing to economic diversification by integration and development of the cocoa value chain. CDCTTL’s mission is to empower stakeholders by leading and facilitating the development of the fine or flavor cocoa sector in an efficient, innovative, and transparent manner to increase production whilst ensuring adherence to international standards of quality, leading to improved value and a globally recognized brand.
The Session commenced with a presentation by Mrs. Monica Lessey of the Report on the project: Integrating the farmer into the cocoa value chain, administered by the South West Local Economic Development Project Agriculture Sub-committee. The strategic goal of which was to increase the competitiveness of the agriculture sector by supporting potential industries and developing market linkages. One of the sub-projects was a market-driven, community led, public-private collaboration for the cocoa sector; this included a Farmers’ Forum and Agri-Expo and an introductory training course in Chocolate Making – from Pod to Bar, supported by CDCTTL.
The CDCTTL Directors present were introduced to the audience; they included Dr. Carlisle Pemberton, Mr. Kamaldeo Maharaj, Mrs. Jacqueline Rawlins, Mr. Jenson Alexander and Mr. Fitz Clarence Waldropt. This session represented the second in a series of seven planned for the coming weeks.
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For further information please contact:
The Cocoa Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago
868-671-1001