SWEETING WILL LEAD A DELEGATION OF 19 PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
NASSAU, Bahamas — The Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs is hoping new technology from Middle Eastern partners, a national food strategy now in development and directives set out in the country’s National Development Plan will bring the country into some semblance of food security, as the global COVID-19 pandemic drives food insecurity through rising prices and supply chain problems, The Nassau Guardian reported on February 14.
Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting will be traveling to Dubai this month for the inaugural Food for Future Summit & Expo, where he is expected to give remarks during a world leadership panel on food security, according to a statement from his ministry.
Sweeting said this country continues to struggle to attract young farmers and innovate in the sector with technology. He explained it is his hope to create linkages at the summit and to find technology that could increase local food production.
“We are looking to gain a lot of knowledge and interact and hopefully explore the possibilities where we can work along with other governments to aid in our fight for food security,” Sweeting said.
“We want to mix with persons not just across the world, but with persons who have intimate knowledge on how we can modernize the industry, implement technological advances in the sector and network with persons that have beaten the challenges of food security.
“We have a challenge with technology, modernization and getting persons involved in the sector. We’ve seen that a lot of farmers are of age and the transfer of knowledge is not happening. We’ve missed a generation or possibly two. We are looking at engaging younger persons and finding ways for them to become successful farmers.”
Food prices are on the rise in The Bahamas because of global inflation and continuing supply chain issues brought on by the pandemic. Local food retailers said in the media recently that Bahamians should brace for further price increases and prepare to budget money wisely.
Sweeting said in the statement that small countries like The Bahamas are being affected much more than larger countries in the midst of food supply issues. See complete article in The Nassau Guardian at https://thenassauguardian.com/agriculture-minister-heading-to-dubai-to-tackle-food-insecurity/
