Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources Food Security Showcase

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – In a country where food security and sustainability are front-page issues, one institution is shaping the future.

The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute, better known as BAMSI, is training the next generation of farmers, scientists and innovators — from students fresh out of high school to adults ready to re-skill or launch new careers.

BAMSI’s President, Dr. Raveenia Roberts-Hanna, said that their goal is to be a catalyst for change.

Dr. Raveenia Roberts-Hanna – President, BAMSI

“Should the borders close, we have to be in a position to really feed ourselves. And this is why BAMSI was born. BAMSI was really born out of a sense of urgency to get our country on the pathway to food security and food sustainability. So we’re here to train the next generation of not just farmers, but agriculturists, soil chemists, fishermen and aquaculturists to really take the helm where they should be and bring this country back to a sense of stability.”

Before students step into BAMSI, the path often begins at the Agriculture and Marine Science Centre.

It’s where Bahamian teens, ages 15 to 17, get hands-on training, connecting tradition with innovation.

Coordinator of the Agriculture Marine Cadet Program, Romeo Josey Jr., tells us how the program is designed to spark curiosity and prepare them for the future.

Romeo Josey Jr. – Coordinator, Agriculture Marine Cadet Program

“So what we’re doing now is introducing them to real-time industry experiences, preparing them not only for careers but also for academic life afterward. One of the main things we want to do is filter them into BAMSI. Once they’ve gone through the course over a three-year period, from grades 10 through 12, they will receive certificates in areas such as backyard farming and aquaponics, and they’ll be able to enter BAMSI with some credits already earned. We also have persons learning about hydroponics, aquaponics, new technologies and agricultural drones concerning farming in The Bahamas and around the world.”

And that pipeline from AMC into BAMSI is only part of the story.

The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation steps in next, driving innovation, entrepreneurship and support for farmers across the islands.

With programs like the Golden Yolk Project, BAIC is bridging government investment with farmer empowerment.

BAIC’s Food Processing Manager, Tonjia Burrows, had this to say.

Tonjia Burrows – Food Processing Manager, BAIC

“We import more eggs, vegetables and other products, and if we can do it ourselves, because here in The Bahamas we have farmers who can produce fabulous produce, it’s an opportunity for everyone to see what we have and what we have to offer throughout our ministry.”

And beyond the big projects, I spoke with Vonya Williams, a local farmer who has been in the industry for more than 10 years.

Vonya Williams – Local Farmer and Entrepreneur, Da Okra Orchid

“We’ve been farming seasonally, and as our name hints, we’ve successfully been farming beautiful okra, and we decided to name our farm Da Okra Orchid. We found that we were successful with our plantings, and we’ve been attending the farmers market on Gladstone Road for many years. We wanted to do more than just sell our products, so we finally decided to make chips, and for years now, that’s what we’ve been doing.”