A new opportunity is sprouting for local farmers in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), as the Department of Agriculture has launched a dedicated grant program offering up to $20,000 to residents involved, or interested, in agricultural development. Separate from the MSME program administered through Invest TCI, this initiative marks a strategic step in the government's five-year plan to boost domestic food production and reduce dependency on imports.
Speaking during an interview on April 24, 2025, Director of Agriculture Wilhelmina Kissoonsingh shared that the grant program is designed to support both new and existing farmers.
"We in the Department of Agriculture have a farmer's grant. It's $20,000 and $15,000. $15,000 for what we call the new farmers that are getting in, and the $20,000 for already established farmers," she explained.
The new grant initiative is underpinned by the department's broader strategy for "import substitution," targeting a 10% reduction in food imports over the next five years. Currently, the islands import virtually all of their food.
Training and education are also critical components of this agricultural push. "We do farm visits, help set up irrigation systems, and even have an online plant clinic," she said. The department offers free public training sessions both virtually and in person, with a hydroponics training scheduled in Grand Turk next week.
Read more at The Turks & Caicos Sun