Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram has commended Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her leadership and diplomatic engagement at the Shield of the Americas Summit 2026 held in Doral, Florida.
In a statement, Ratiram said the summit represents an important opportunity to deepen agricultural cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, particularly in areas such as food security, climate-resilient farming and modern agricultural technologies.
The minister said the Prime Minister’s engagement has helped position Trinidad and Tobago as a serious partner in regional discussions on agriculture, trade and sustainable development.
Ratiram also pointed to recent discussions with officials from the United States Department of Agriculture and the U.S. diplomatic mission in Trinidad and Tobago, which explored opportunities to expand collaboration in pest control, bio-security systems and fisheries management.
Among the potential opportunities identified are increased agricultural exports, with the government targeting up to one billion US dollars in exports over time.
Particular attention is being given to products such as Trinidad’s Scorpion and Moruga peppers and the country’s internationally recognised Trinitario fine-flavoured cocoa.
Ratiram also highlighted plans to encourage greater youth participation in agriculture through training, technology and entrepreneurship programmes.
He said the ministry remains committed to strengthening international partnerships to improve food security, boost productivity and create new economic opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago’s agricultural sector.
