Leading The Way to Food Security
As the cost of food staples increases, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is actively working to improve the island’s food production capacity, including through its leadership within the agricultural sector.
On Monday (January 31st), a new board was installed at the Tobago Agribusiness Development Company (TADCO).
“The purpose of TADCO is to support farmers and those involved in agro-processing,” Secretary for Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development Nathisha Charles-Pantin said.
The Food Security Secretary indicated that in forming the board that would lead TADCO, the proficiency of persons within an area was considered.
“We decentralised different aspects. You have agro-processing, food production, livestock production, the Capital of Paradise, which is the fishing vessel, and the operational aspect. And we assessed people’s qualifications and their experiences, and based on that, we put them over these different areas so that we can capitalise on their expertise,” she said.
The Secretary issued the board members with their instruments of appointment for the next year, at the Division’s MILSHRIV Administrative Complex.
The TADCO board members are the following:
Kenneth Jones- Chairman
Ricardo Alfred- Deputy Chairman
Shuntelle Melville- Member
Dale Lovelace- Member
Orwin Dillon- Member
Dr. Melissa Williams-Reid – Member
Hollis Walker- Member
Bindley Benjamin- Member
Bernadette Quashie- Member
Anthony Christmas- Member
Merete Douglas- Board Secretary
TADCO was officially launched on December 10, 2020 and was formed through the amalgamation of the former companies inclusive of the Fish Processing Company of Tobago Limited (FIPCOT), Tobago Cassava Products Limited (TCPL), and Tobago Cold Storage and Warehouse Facility Limited (TCOSWAF).
The mandate of the company is to sustainably maximize the country’s food security and export potential of Tobago’s eco-food branded products.