The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Just 8 percent of all land allocated for Bahamian farming is presently being used for such purposes, it was revealed yesterday.

Dr Burnell Cardron, general practitioner and owner, Pompey Medical & Heastie’s Farm, told the Andros Business Outlook conference that just 7,650 hectares are presently being cultivated out of the 95,000 set aside for agricultural purposes.

Noting that agriculture accounts for just 2 percent of Bahamian gross domestic product (GDP), or economic output, she added that while 6 percent of total Bahamian land is arable land, of that percentage just 10 percent is presently being used for farming.

Dr Cardron's comments came as she encouraged Bahamians to exploit indigenous plants and fruits as a source of foreign currency-earning exports that can lower The Bahamas' food import bill, increase revenues and employment.

"The Bahamas has the capacity to develop its agricultural industry using sustainable methods of farming customised to a variety of crops, even including our indigenous plants that are found in abundance," she said.

“We can create markets for exports, and this can help to reduce our food bill. And we can also enter untapped industries, which can create more job opportunities and increase income generation, resulting in a more stable economy.

“And considering that all future generations can benefit from the groundwork from what we do today, I think it would be in our best interest to look at some of our indigenous plants and see how they can be of benefit to us all.”

Dr Cardron explained that after paying out production and labour costs, the native sapodilla plant can bring in over $6,400 per acre annually.

Using data obtained from Florida farmers, she added: "One acre of sapodilla actually yields between 5,000 to 8,000 pounds annually. So you can see it's quite lucrative once you put the time and effort into it. On average, net returns, you can yield 6,500 pounds per acre annually.”

The average price per pound is $1.80, meaning that one acre of sapodilla can generate gross yields of about $11,700 annually. The net returns, after production costs and labour expenses are paid, generate about 99 cents per pound. And that equates to about $6,407 per acre annually net.

Dr Cardron said the sapodilla plant has numerous uses, including the production of natural chewing gum, medicines, skincare products, cosmetics and biodiesel. She added that sustainable agriculture should ensure The Bahamas protects its environment and maximises use of renewable resources.

She added: “There are antioxidants found in sapodilla which can help assist in anti-aging. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-Pyretic properties. And it can also be used as an anti-microbial and an analgesic. It's also hepatic protective and helps with detoxification, and also it has a cholesterol lowering effect.

“With regards to the processing of the sapodilla, the fruit can be used and processed in a variety of different ways. You can use the sapodilla to make jams, jellies, wine, different fruit juices, ice cream. And also, the by-products of sapodilla, particularly the seeds, you can make sapodilla oil and it can also be used make biodiesel and also used in cosmetics.

“The bark of the sapodilla can be used to treat dysentery, and particularly the sap that comes from the bark is used to make natural gum. It has a coagulated white, milky, latex substance which consists about 15 percent of rubber and 38% percent of resin," Dr Cardron continued.

"It was once used as filling for tooth cavities, and the Mayans and Aztecs also use the white sap to freshen their breaths and clean their teeth. The leaves, and also the peel of the sapodilla, can be used and it also has quite a few medicinal benefits as well. Sustainable agriculture has to be able to protect our environment. It has to expand our natural resources and also make the best of our non-renewable resources.

“Threats to our agricultural system can relate to lack of protection of agricultural lands. You can have fires where persons engage in the slash and burn technique,and that can pose a risk of uncontained fires, and a lack of water supply especially, in the central and southern Bahamas where we have limited freshwater reserves and poor water quality. We have to consider climate change increasing temperatures, flooding and hurricanes, and also various different [plant] diseases.”