| Rice imports into Trinidad and Tobago in 2005 represented approximately 95% of domestic demand. Local production has been declining since reaching a peak of 21,000 tonnes in 1992. Present production is 3,500 tonnes. Rice is produced under a variety of production systems and on farms of varying sizes, productivity and quality of output. This paper examines the competitiveness of four production systems used in Trinidad and Tobago, viz.: the transplanting system (ST), the broadcast seeded system (SB)(both being small farms and highly labour intensive), the partially mechanized system of medium sized farms (MM) and a fully mechanized large farm utilizing aerial technology in the production system (CRP). The methodology involved the collection of data on... |
