Agriculture key to Grand Bahama growth

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture representative calls for a combined effort in developing agriculture in The Bahamas. Grand Bahama offers perfect opportunity for growth in the sector

The Bahamas Investor Magazine


Agriculture could deliver a much-needed boost to Grand Bahama’s economy, according to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

Against a backdrop of rising food prices, it is crucial that The Bahamas’ increases agricultural production, improves on self-sufficiency and enhances its competitiveness in the export market, according to IICA representative Dr Marikis Alvarez.

Agriculture accounts for just two per cent of The Bahamas’ $7.4 billion gross domestic product and, from 1997 to 2007, the country doubled its spending on vegetable imports to reach a total of $100 million.

Addressing attendees at the Grand Bahama Business Outlook conference held earlier in the year, Dr Alvarez said that Grand Bahama had two important factors–fertile soil and innovative people in the sector–which could help the island grow its economy. “Tropical items are in demand, Grand Bahama can play its part,” he said.

To take advantage of the country’s agricultural potential, the IICA, which has consulted with the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corp, as well as local producers, is advising that national policies focus on research, strengthening technology in the sector and raising awareness of the employment opportunities available.

“[The Bahamas] is at crisis level when it comes to agriculture,” said Dr Alvarez. “There are not enough people in the field. We are not injecting funds into it. We need a multi-disciplinary approach. It is hard for the farmers to do it by themselves.

“Agriculture alone has 240 professions in it. It is one of the areas that is highly researched around the world–today is a new era in agriculture.”

In 2010, the government launched its five-year strategic plan for agriculture and fisheries to address issues in production, processing, distribution and marketing of food. The plan includes a Backyard Gardening programme, which encourages families to start their own gardens.

The government has so far issued more than 4,000 backyard gardening kits to help Bahamians grow their own food, which Dr Alvarez believes could be a potential source of income for households that sell the excess to local traders.

Agriculture/Marine Ministry must produce some answers

Freeport News
Freeport, Grand Bahama- The controversial "long net" issue just will not go away. It is the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources that now has to sort the matter out in the interest of fairplay to all parties concerned.

We make no defence here for David and Paul Mellor, the brothers who have invested in a fishing project, they claim will harvest and farm turna. They call their entity the Bahamas Pelagic Aquaculture Tuna Fishing Program.

While the ministry seems to be ducking and dodging, hoping to come out of this one looking at least adequate, some questions must be asked.

Did the director of marine resources in fact send an e-mail message to the Mellors informing them that they now "have the opportunity to target yellowfin tuna?

What exactly does "opportunity to target yellowfin tuna" mean?

Is that not in essence, permission?

Are the two young Bahamian brothers being frustrated in their upfront attempt to engage in an aspect of the fishing industry that could mean job opportunities for scores of persons and millions of dollars into a sagging economy?

Why were they not discouraged from the project by the ministry before making the investment of securing a vessel and equipment?

Could not the ministry provide officers to watch the proposed operation to ensure that (as promised by the Mellor brothers) no harm is done to the sea life?

Isn't this what the ministry is supposed to be doing in any event?

What's being done about the great poaching element that is reportedly milking the waters of The Bahamas "illegally" daily?

Those who are against a permit being officially granted to the Mellors present a good argument. It just does not seem possible for a mile radius of netting to be able to process exactly the fish sought, secure them and safely filter the others so that they could return to their habitat, without any harm being done.

This would be a monumental task indeed. But, the brothers say they can do it. They say the net is compartmentalized to do exactly that. Well, it seems then, that the ministry needs to step in with their officers who are employed to monitor such proceedings in the interest of the rules and regulations being kept at all times.

It's looking more and more like the ministry has dropped the ball on this one. It took a landslide amount of opposition for a statement denying the permit to be produced.

Now, the Mellors have in their posession, this interesting bit of communication.

Surely the ministry has some answers to give.

Minister Larry Cartwright, you're on the spot.

Your director, Braynen, must either deny the e-mail or explain it.

The next move is that of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources.