Water resources and food security: a Caribbean case study

Abstract

Domestic and industrial water demands have been the dominant factors in the management of the water resources in Trinidad, and its irrigation demand has been masked by the virtual water embedded in grain imports, made possible by a vibrant economy underpinned by oil and gas. This has led to an illusion of food security. Moreover, considering the island's ample land and water resources, its dependence on imported grain is unfortunate, since rice and corn can be grown locally. This neglect of agriculture, which has historical roots, is evident by about 37% of the arable land being unused and less than 2% of arable land being under irrigation. Against this background, the island's oil and gas reserves are expected to be depleted, at current rates of production, in about 10 and 60 years respectively. These possibilities raise concerns about the sustainability of grain imports and food security on the island. This technical note briefly examines these issues and shows that it should be possible for the island to achieve a large measure of food sufficiency, provided the issue of virtual water is addressed in the island's water resources planning.