ANDROS, Bahamas — The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) will be the “saving grace” of The Bahamas’ agriculture sector, said BAMSI General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Alaasis Braynen in a recent press release.
The BAMSI release adds that a critical review and analysis of the agriculture sector’s history and growth projections show that an “increase in trained personnel, wider access to improved research and cutting-edge technological advancements, and improvements to extension/support services to farmers and other producers are key in transforming the industry and redirecting its path toward steady growth”.
These comments from BAMSI were issued after the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) suggested that the government should reduce its fiscal ties to the agriculture sector and the agencies designed to support it.
Braynen explained that the government’s support of BAMSI and similar agencies is crucial to the success of the sector.
“Without such intervention and financial support by the government, with all things remaining status quo, there would be no stopping the ultimate and total collapse of the industry,” he said. “This will increase the overall risk of the economy of the Bahamas due to the lack of diversification.”
According to Braynen, BAMSI has already produced qualified graduates who are now farmers, extension officer and those “situated within the value chain between production to sales”. https://thenassauguardian.com/2018/10/09/braynen-bamsi-will-be-saving-grace-of-agriculture-sector/
