Agricultural sustainability, aimed at empowering local farmers and cottage industry workers to increase productivity in food production was the focus of the 2015 Gladstone Road Agricultural Expo. 

Hundreds of Bahamians supported the event held at the Gladstone Road Agricultural Center on Gladstone Road, March 5, sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources, and Local Government, coupled with BAIC and BAMSI.

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government the Hon. Alfred Gray, attuned to the increasing popularity of the Farmer’s Market and the community’s desire for locally-grown produce -- noted his Ministry will give more Farmers Markets promotion and encourage weekly listings of local produce available in the local produce exchanges.

He said: “Food security, Ladies and Gentlemen, is very important and the Government is very serious about food security of people. The theme for this year’s Expo is ‘Progressing Towards Food Security, Our Food, Our Future, Our Bahamas’. This theme speaks to my Ministry’s commitment in this regard. This Expo then demonstrates a strong partnership between my Ministry, stakeholders, producers, and buyers alike.

“I therefore wish to invite everyone to join my Ministry in our efforts to promote, encourage, and stimulate the Agri-Business Sector towards enhancing increase of supply and food security within The Bahamas.”

Minister Gray said that 9/11 has taught us well that we cannot take anything for granted as it relates to food security, and in fact, food provision.

“We must as a country, seek as soon as possible, to be in a position to produce sufficient food to feed ourselves, rather than to think of the effect of another 9/11,” said Minister Gray.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, my Ministry is pleased to be sponsoring some 15 Agri-Business Expos. And they’ll be taking place throughout our country. These Expos are intended to showcase what each island produces. The Expos have already begun and we will go up to the end of April almost every week to expose ‘The Week’ in all our Family Islands,” said Minister Gray.

“I told you before we’ve begun and we’ve gone to Eleuthera, we’ve gone to Inagua, and those Expos were very successful.”

Minister Gray said other Expos will take place in Grand Bahama, Abaco, Long Island, San Salvador, and Rum Cay, Mangrove Cay, South Andros, North Andros, Mayaguana, Crooked Island, Acklins, Cat Island, and Exuma.

“These Expos not only highlight what is produced, but we see them as a means of unifying our country, unifying the communities to which these Expos take place, while helping to boost the local economy,” said Minister Gray.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this Expo marks the seventh to be held in New Providence. For all indications, it promises to be even bigger and better than ever before. By mentioning BAMSI, I just want to tell you that the Government of The Bahamas, on the advent of BAMSI, has taken this bold step towards addressing the issue of food security for our Bahamas, once and for all.”

Minister Gray said BAMSI’s the critical component in our country’s infrastructure for food production and security.

“I can assure you, Ladies and Gentlemen, that this institution will eventually become one of the greatest institutions in our country’s development. I only invite you, whenever you visit, to have some authorization,” said Minister Gray.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the Farmer’s Market is a big thing around The Bahamas. I believe that Farmer’s Markets are intended to supplement what is available for sale and the Produce Exchange, and at our Packing Houses in the Family Islands. It is the commitment of my Ministry that we place more emphasis on promoting these Farmer’s Markets in the immediate future throughout The Bahamas, particularly on weekends.”

Minister Gray said this will give producers and handicraft artisans venues for showcasing what they make; what they produce. And they will have a ready market on the weekends to sell what they grow or what they make.

“It is also my intention, Ladies and Gentlemen, to invite the Produce Exchange, now under the management of BAIC, to cause a weekly list of what is available at the Produce Exchange and the many markets in the Family Islands, particularly the Packing Houses to be listed in the newspapers and sometimes perhaps, on radio. So that on any given weekend, those household keepers, and those who are willing to buy, will know what is available before they go to the Produce Exchange,” said Minister Gray.

“And I invite you to look in the newspaper, listen to the radio, we are going to select a Friday or a Monday, so that those who are willing to go and buy from the Produce Exchange or the Packing Houses will know what is available and what price might be per pound, so that they go with money in hand. That makes sense to me.”

Minister Gray said he offered his congratulations in advance to the winners and participants in the various competitions. He thanked the schools that participated in this Expo. He also said he appreciated the organizational efforts through the Ministry for making the Expo a smashing success.