The Inter-America Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Trinidad and Tobago, with a request from the Secretary of Agriculture Gary Melville, under the Division of Agriculture, Land and Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment, Tobago House of Assembly (THA), held a series of interactive activities in Tobago with the ultimate goal of developing agro-tourism related projects specifically targeting new and existing entrepreneurs in Tobago, given the vast potential for Agro-Tourism on the island.

IICA was pleased to provide technical support through its Agri-Business Specialist in Agro-tourism, Ena Harvey, who conducted an assessment of the Agro-Tourism potential on the island.

The activities were conducted during a three-day period during which Harvey visited several agro-tourism sites, including Adventure Eco-Farm, Ken Noble’s Farm, Argyle Falls-Roxborough Estate (which is the cocoa route linked to the Tobago Cocoa Estate), the Charlotteville/ Speyside Farmers Cooperative farm, Greville Nicholson’s farm and Mapp farm.

The Agro-Tourism Specialist also visited major processors of traditional confectionery, cassava products (including cassava cake, cassola, cassava pone, farine and pasta), beverages, seasoning and smoked meats.

On the final day of the visit, IICA and the Division of Agriculture held an Agro/Eco-Tourism Stakeholders’ Meeting at the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities conference room.

Introductory and welcome remarks were made by the IICA Representative in Trinidad and Tobago, Gregg Rawlins and the Division of Agriculture.

Harvey engaged in discussions with several stakeholders giving her recommendations and strategies for improvement of the sub-sector.

The workshop also provided information on market trends and opportunities in the tourism and food-service sectors. A comprehensive review of the potential for Agro-Tourism development in Tobago in the areas of Agro-Eco Tourism, Culinary Tourism, Trade and Agro Heritage and craft was also achieved.

The IICA Agro-tourism specialist, who is based in Costa Rica, headquarters of the IICA,was able to share success stories, models and experiences of Agro-tourism linkages in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For additional information on IICA, visit the office located at # 10 Austin Street, St Augustine or call us on (868)-645-4555, 645-5020 or visit our website on www.iica.int and www.iica.int/trinidadandtobago.