A recent announcement by the PNM of more tech for the agriculture sector is being seen as last-minute election gimmicks by an Opposition MP.

Energy Minister Stuart Young said there will be a rollout of more technology for farmers under his tenure as Prime Minister, noting that tech now exists for tasks like checking the soil.

However, Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram believes this is a “sudden interest” in agriculture from Minister Young.

He says Mr Young has been in Cabinet while farmers have begged for assistance as they faced flooding, pests, praedial larceny and lack of proper access roads.

Furthermore, he says fisherfolk have been crying out for a fuel rebate, while grants and incentives have been held up for months.

Mr Young’s statement, meanwhile, came as government distributed $11.2 million to 116 farmers under the Agro-Incentive Grant programme.

The Agriculture Ministry says government has provided nearly $42 million to 435 recipients since the programme’s launch in 2019.