The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) project known as "Agri-Vision 2021" is intended to take local production to the half-billion dollar mark over the next five years, said Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V. Alfred Gray.

The project is a five-year food security plan.

Gray reiterated that BAMSI would take over the management of the government's Research and Agriculture Centre (GRAC) on Gladstone Road.

"One of the new features of GRAC will be the establishment of an urban agriculture center as we seek to enhance food production in our urban centers of Nassau and Freeport," he said.

The minister also provided an update on BAMSI and its international connections.

"The institute is now integrated into the regional research network as it will be the locale for the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the premier agricultural research entity in CARICOM," he said.

Previously, the prime minister said that Bahamians working as counterparts to CARDI professionals would be able to undertake research in The Bahamas and earn University of the West Indies (UWI) postgraduate qualifications at both the master's and doctoral degree levels.

Gray mentioned that two agricultural research professionals in crop and livestock production would be stationed at the institute to conduct research in conjunction with the institute on crop and livestock husbandry challenges facing the agricultural sector of The Bahamas.

He added that CARDI professionals would lend support to the faculty of the institute in the capacity as lecturers.

Xian Smith, Guardian Business Reporter

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