Nassau Bahamas - A team of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) specialists are conducting an assessment of the Bahamas? agricultural and fisheries sectors on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources.

The team is led by Dr Dunstan Campbell, FAO representative for The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Beliz.

The entire process takes three months. A week-long collection of primary data began Sunday. Official ceremonies were held Monday at SuperClubs Breezes.

Dr Campbell said the intended outcome is a five-year development plan for the Bahamas? agricultural sector.

?This exercise is long in coming and much needed,? said Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources Under-secretary Philip Miller. ?It has been difficult to move forward in agriculture without a plan.?

Dr Campbell?s team includes technical expertise in livestock, land and water, and extension services.

?We have also brought on board some local technical people,? he added, ?and of course we are using the resources of the Ministry of Agriculture because these are the people on the ground and who live with the challenges.?

He pointed to the problems the world has faced in recent years with rising food and fuel prices, and the detrimental impact it has had on households.

?The Government of The Bahamas has responded,? he said, ?and is looking forward to strengthening the agricultural sector.

?But before doing that we need an understanding of what the situation on the ground is and what are the potentials. To achieve this we are conducting a rapid assessment.?

This includes an analysis of all the background data, what is being done now, what can be done, and what are the areas that the team can advise where a difference can be made to the agricultural sector in The Bahamas, he said.

The program will be ?very intensive? with visits to the islands and sessions with farmers, agro-processors, persons in marketing, suppliers, traders, and trade policy-makers.

?We want to have a comprehensive picture of the agricultural situation here in The Bahamas,? said Dr Campbell.

Under-secretary Miller underscored the impact this study would have on the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources? budget preparation.

?We need to know exactly what the needs of the agricultural sector are so we can create programs that would meet those needs,? he said.

?We need that information to assist us with the budget so we can have real programs to assist the farmers.?