THE National Secure Livelihoods Programme (NSLP) is another project initiated by government, and is intended to secure livelihood options for Amerindian villages and hinterland communities, especially in Region 1, where it was piloted. Agricultural projects such as aquaculture, crab rearing, honey production and the cultivation of pineapples were executed in communities.
The NSLP also sought to provide employment opportunities, sustain food security, and generate incomes, through forms of economic diversification and utilising new farming techniques in various communities.
“Currently, we are grappling with the sustainability aspect of the programme because we have had in the majority enough success to want to continue to invest in the sustainability of the projects,” Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, said during a press briefing Thursday at the ministry’s conference room, Quamina Street.
Minister Sukhai noted that farmers are much energised to get back into pineapple cultivation since the 39-acre pilot which they cultivated produced and are ready for the trial run at the pineapple factory in Region 1.
The factory is producing pineapple chunks, and these will also be sent as samples to the pineapple fair in France. Minister Sukhai stated that the factory has been certified for production and the farmers’ cultivation plots have also received organic certification.
Despite some setbacks, the production of honey has been successful. Communities have complained about the difficulties they face in maintaining permanent bee hives, but the ministry has constantly been assisting in rebuilding them. Additionally, crab wood oil and cassava products did well under this programme.
 
Challenges
The aquaculture and crab-fattening and processing projects encountered some difficulties, not in production, but sustainability, because crabs are seasonal.The communities need technical support and the ministry is seeking additional technical assistance for these two projects.
The ministry has been engaging the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and they are willing to provide the assistance once the finalisation has been completed, she said.
Tobago village, as part of this programme, had set up an aquaculture farm in the community. However, there were some challenges with fingerlings. The ministry has already identified the areas to be tightened up, and has been working with National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) with respect to the fingerlings that have to be replaced in the ponds.
The ministry will continue to work with the farmers to overcome the challenges that would crop up over time.