Youth Farmers Left in the Lurch | Trinidad and Tobago News

Trinidad and Tobago’s $7 billion annual food import bill just got a lot more expensive—and a lot more frustrating—for young farmers. Three flagship youth agriculture programs, designed to train, equip, and house the next generation of local growers, are now abandoned, leaving 1500 hopeful graduates stranded. After a government change in April, these initiatives—including homesteads, shade houses, and aquaculture projects—were abruptly halted. Promises of land, housing, and funding vanished, even as money was supposedly allocated. One graduate, who quit a stable job to invest in his homestead only to see it vandalized and left unfinished, says he was set up to fail. Experts warn this collapse deepens food insecurity as imports surge and domestic production plummets. With no clear plan to rebuild local farming, consumers face higher prices—and the nation’s future on the farm hangs in the balance. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/96767d645248532c