During the second term of the 2024/2025 Academic Year, Cari-Bois partnered with the Scotiabank Foundation to empower ten (10) students with climate journalism skills as part of the third edition of Cari-Bois’ Youth Journalism Project. For their first assignment, students wrote an article about the effects of climate change on agriculture. This story was written by Ananyah Matthews of Brazil Secondary School.
Agriculture is the discipline, expertise and science of growing crops and raising animals to produce food while climate change refers to the changes in the earth’s climate patterns over short periods of time primarily due to human activity in modern times.
In recent times, the interconnectedness of agriculture and climate change has been in focus as the phenomenon of climate change continues to disrupt food production across the world including in Trinidad and Tobago.
During a recent visit to the WHYFARM Headquarters in Siparia, co-founder and director of the agribusiness, Alpha Senon, shared that his business has experienced some of the effects of climate change.
While working on the farm, Sennon has seen the effects of exceedingly high temperatures on his crops as well as the effects of extreme rainfall for prolonged periods of time.
For example, in the rainy season, the excessive rainfall causes the grass to overgrow frequently and the soil to be saturated for prolonged periods which make it difficult to grow crops.
Sennon and the farm’s workers have been experimenting with different methods to assist the farm in adapting to the changing growing conditions.
For example, Senon’s team has expanded the number of ponds in the farm to assist with irrigation during drought.
The farm has also started using mixed farming techniques and incorporating new innovative techniques like hydroponics which is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil.
Hydroponics is a way to preserve more water by recycling nutrients,reducing evaporation, preventing runoff, and using efficient irrigation techniques for sustainability.
The use of hydroponics at WHYFARM follows similar methods seen in farming operations around the world where farmers are using newer techniques – like hydroponics, aquaponics, microgreens, and vertical farming – to deal with decreasing soil health as a result of both extreme droughts and extreme rainfall leading to erosion, depending on the location.
Societies, like Trinidad and Tobago, must address the effects of climate change on agriculture as food security is important to the existence of any country.
Everyone can play their part by reducing emissions.
Instead of using fossil fuel powered vehicles, people can walk or even ride bikes to their destinations.
Participating in climate protests and supporting eco-friendly companies are also ways to be part of the change to mitigate the acceleration of climate change.
A very special thank you to the Scotiabank Foundation for supporting the development of young people through initiatives like the Cari-Bois Youth Journalism Project.
