The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tibunemedia.net

A Cabinet Minister yesterday revealed that the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is currently producing less than $2 million worth of food,and cannot kepe up with demand for local produce.

Speaking with reporters ahead of a Cabinet meeting, V Alfred Gray, minister of agriculture and marine resources, said: “ The farm is doing extremely well. We are harvesting now since the hurricane. There is no stopping BAMSI right now.

“We only wish we had more products because we cannot grow enough of what we sell, and that speaks to the need for people to be involved in the farming processes because we import $900 million worth of food.

“BAMSI so far is only producing less than $2 million. We’re talking about a lot of needs even if it’s just backyard farming. BAMSI is leading the way in that regard.”

BAMSI president, Godfrey Eneas, recently told Tribune Business that the institution is getting set to release its ‘Agribusiness 2021’ plan, which he promised will put agriculture in the Bahamas on a path to sustainability.

“Right now we have a small ruminants programme, and we are going to soon start pork and poultry production to restart the sector,” said Dr Eneas.

“You cannot continue to take food for granted. I am thankful that the country is at last awakening to the fact that we need to be more self-sufficient. We have identified 32 crops and four livestock species that we can become more self-sufficient in.”

Mr Gray also told Tribune Business that the ban on Brazilian beef is still in effect.  “We expect that it will stay in effect until we are satisfied as a country that our people are not in harm’s way, and will not be impacted if they were to eat or otherwise consume the products which will be offered for sale in the future,” he said.

“For now we are waiting for the Brazilian government to give us satisfaction that we should be importing their beef products. We’re not listening to importers or distributors. We are going to deal with the government of Brazil. Unless they satisfy us as a country the ban will stay in place.”

Brazilian authorities have said several major meat processors in that country were “selling rotten beef and poultry”, and bribing inspectors to allow the contaminated product through into the food chain.

The Brazilian authorities have reportedly suspended 33 government officials over the allegations, which claim these practices have been ongoing for years.

Three meat processing plants have been closed, and another 21 are said to be under investigation, with exports from all suspended.

More than 30 companies have been accused of unhygienic practices, including JBS, the world’s largest beef exporter, and BRF, the world’s top poultry producer. The companies have denied the allegations.