The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute’s (CARDI) representative Michele Singh has, to date, initiated five research topics which are being studied, analyzed and evaluated by BAMSI’s professional/technical staff.

CARDI is fulfilling an important void in BAMSI’s work as research is one of three pillars (research, training, extension) of the Institute. Bahamian Agriculture now has the research capacity to address the various challenges which farmers and food processors are facing in the field or in their agribusinesses.

CARDI is the premier agricultural research and development agency in CARICOM. Now that the Bahamas is a member of CARDI, it has provided the Bahamas with access to a range of technical expertise in the various disciplines of agriculture.

Sometime during the year, CARDI staff in the Bahamas will be bolstered by another expert. In addition, a graduate of BAMSI will be employed by CARDI and become a staff member of this regional Institute.

Ms. Singh’s expertise, specifically in animal science, has been a tremendous asset to BAMSI’s small ruminants programme. She has provided valuable information for the Institute’s Associated Farmers Programme (AFP) which is national in scope; the AFP includes crop and livestock farmers and agro-processors at the cottage industry level as well.

The Bahamas is the most northerly CARICOM state. This is a comparative advantage which will provide Bahamian Agriculture with the potential to produce and export a range of sub-tropical fruits and vegetables to our CARICOM sister states in the Eastern Caribbean, Lesser Antilles and South and Central America.

CARDI has acted as an intermediary in organizing a week long Post-Harvest Workshop beginning Monday 25th March and held in both New Providence and Andros and Skyped for audiences in Long Island and Eleuthera. The lecturer for the workshop, Dr. Majeed Mohammed, of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, UWI, St. Augustine, is an acknowledged expert in the field of post-harvest agricultural technology regionally.

CARDI through its presence in The Bahamas has facilitated the integration process between The Bahamas and CARICOM. The Bahamas is now totally immersed in the regional Agricultural Development agenda. BAMSI is about to sign a memorandum of understanding with CARDI thereby solidifying this arrangement.

Michele Singh, Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute’s (CARDI) Bahamas representative.

Yolanda Deleveaux

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

The Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute