NASSAU, Bahamas — The Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) officially opened its Poultry Research and Training Centre yesterday. The learning center is expected to produce one million eggs annually for The Bahamas, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting said at the opening ceremony, The Nassau Guardian reported on Tuesday, April 18, in an article written by Chester Robards.
Sweeting added that the learning center, which will house 3,800 birds in a state-of-the-art cage system, is expected to aid in the creation of a sustainable poultry production program for The Bahamas.
“Additionally, there will be free-range chickens that will also produce eggs. We expect that this poultry research and training center will be able to offer tertiary education opportunities for The Bahamas and the region, and provide real-world experience for those seeking to enter the lucrative business of poultry farming,” said Sweeting.
“Further, the institute will hold poultry courses and seminars on layer husbandry, incubation, quality assurance methods and nutrition.
“Currently, The Bahamas spends over $12.5 million on imported eggs and a staggering $1 billion on imported food overall. This government is seeking to make a paradigm shift by making The Bahamas more food secure. We not only want to reduce our imports, but we are hopeful that in the near future we can increase our exports as well.”
Sweeting’s ministry recently launched the Golden Yolk project, which is expected to take the country’s egg production to 27 million eggs per year, from the little more than three quarters of a million currently produced.
Executive Chairman of BAMSI Senator Tyrel Young said in a press statement on the training center that while food production is a benefit of the program, its main focus will be expanding the understanding of egg production and poultry rearing.
“While the production of eggs is an important goal for us, our primary focus is broadening the scope of knowledge, experience and exposure for our students, farmers and agri-prenuers through the newly established Research and Training Centre,” said Young.
See complete article in The Nassau Guardian at https://thenassauguardian.com/bamsi-poultry-facility-eyeing-one-million-eggs-annually/
