New deal to boost cocoa exports A London chocolatier is entering a strategic alliance with T&T to buy cocoa beans for export, Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj said yesterday. Maharaj said so during at a parliamentary joint select committee meeting where the Couva. Talparo Tabaquite Talparo Regional Corporation appeared before the JSC headed by Independent Senator Anthony Vieira. Maharaj is a JSC member. Vieira encouraged the corporation to explore more deeply opportunities offered by the once-vibrant cocoa-producing areas under its jurisdiction. He said when he went to Switzerland and other destinations, cholatiers always asked how to get in touch with T&T to source cocoa, and T&T had something to be proud of, which the world wanted, and had the soil required to grow it. He advised the corporation to work with the relevant ministries to develop this area. Owing to the Ebola outbreak, the UK Telegraph two weeks ago reported that fears are increasing that it could spread to the Ivory Coast and Ghana, where 60 per cent of the world’s cocoa is farmed, causing prices to surge and then crash. Cocoa prices have risen 16 per cent in the last year and the average price of cocoa in September is up by 30 per cent over the corresponding period for 2013. The report noted: “Soaring chocolate sales in China are also hitting supply and putting pressure on West African production.” Corporation chairman Henry Awong said many cocoa farms in his area were abandoned over the years, particularly since workers sought URP and similar employment. He said efforts were being made, including a tourism product involving the San Antonio cocoa estate and other landmarks in the area. Maharaj said the London chocolatier with whom Government will be partnering will be working with the La Reunion estate and also buying beans from all over T&T which will be exported to Europe. He said Government is looking at launching the partnership in London in March. The corporation used the Briko AIr Services company to do aerial spraying to eliminate mosquitoes in view of the ChikV and dengue problems. Awong said this cost $12,000 for the spray and and $15,000 to spray 1,500 to 2,000 acres. He said the corporation’s challenges included insufficient labour, continuing vacancies, productivity issues and lack of positive response from major Plipdeco players to partner on initiatives. There are also only eight municipal police officers in the corporation, which serves 160,000 burgesses, but municipal police inspector Debra Rochford Mahabir said the corporation required 100. She noted the problems of schoolgirls skipping school to go liming and the need for better parental supervision for some children. Princes Town corporation officials, who also appeared before the JSC, also cited lack of staff. and an understaffed municipal police unit. Acting Insp Miriam Sankar said the unit didn’t get the police support necessary. Source:: Guardian Business The post New deal to boost cocoa exports appeared first on Trinidad & Tobago Online. #trinidad
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 05:56:24 +0000
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