On April 26, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry, toured the agro-processing facility of iFarmTT Ltd. (iFarm) located at the Moruga Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park.
iFarm, a recipient of the Ministry’s Grant Fund Facility (GFF) for TT$250,000.00, has utilised the Moruga Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park to further expand its operations in response to increasing market demand for its agricultural products, produced through indoor vertical farming.
The tour, led by iFram Directors David Johnston and Nicholas Nanton, provided Minister Gopee-Scoon with detailed insight into the new machinery and equipment acquired through the GFF grant for the production of vegetables, salad mixes and mushrooms. The four-year old agri-tech firm, which leased one of the factory shells at the park in April 2023, utilises Vertical Farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The technique eliminates the need for traditional approaches such as razing or clearing forested areas, and other natural habitats for agricultural development and focuses on the cultivation of fresh produce year-round. The company produces several leafy green products for local retail stores, home delivery and restaurants.
During the tour, Johnston explained that the company produces a quality local product, with no pesticides or insecticides and specifically harvests 1500 plants per day, excluding its production of mushrooms. With the potential for export, the company is looking toward medium to long-term growth. Minister Gopee-Scoon commended iFarm on their ongoing improvement and expansion, noting the company’s use of technology through online controlled systems.
The country’s first Agro-Processing Park, the Moruga Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park, which opened in 2020, continues to benefit surrounding communities through the creation of employment and opportunities for business growth. The other park tenants, which are in various stages of operations, include food-processing companies Woodsman Caribbean Limited, Caribbean Specialty Foods, Trinidad Chocolate Factory and Royal Dates. The Park’s infrastructure includes an established road network, all necessary utilities (telecommunications, electrical and water supply, drainage, sewerage and a waste treatment facility), factory shells outfitted with offices and washrooms, and cold storage spaces where needed.
Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley officially opened the Moruga Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park, which is owned and managed by Evolving Tecknologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (eTeck), on Tuesday 15 July, 2020.
