John Hedden

An effective agricultural policy?

In previous articles (see links below) I have discussed the existing and historic status of agriculture as a part of Bahamian culture and food provisions. We have examined the fact that farming and farmers, in spite of the political rhetoric, are nothing more than the outside children of the modern Bahamian economy.

If we look at our large neighbour, the U.S.A., we will see that some 200 thousand people are active farmers; and these feed the population of some 330 million souls. Further more the majority of these are small homestead type holdings. Agricultural production in the United States easily feeds its population, and leaves large excesses to be exported to other countries.

Contrast this with the Bahamas. Here we have some 2,000 registered farmers and a total food bill of some $700 million dollars of imported product annually for a population of some 330 thousand souls.

In the United States 2 farmers feed 3,300 people adequately. In the Bahamas 2 farmers cannot feed 330 people at all.

I have drawn the above comparison to roughly illustrate the present capability of local production in feeding its own people. I expect politicians and pundits will argue their case and justify their rational in countering my statistics. No matter. What matters is the question below.

So what is the existing national government policy towards agriculture; and where will this policy lead us? Self sufficiency? Sustainable agriculture?

The most apt answer to this was presented by the minister of agriculture  in August 2010 (1 year ago) when he announced the 5 year plan for agriculture in the Bahamas. He presented a seven fold strategy for agriculture which would result in the foundation for a sustainable growth and development of the sector. This included  education, marketing information, technology transfer, institutional strengthening at ministry of agriculture, research and development improvements, legislation and regulation improvements, and upgrading the physical infrastructure.

In other words he has stated that in 2010 agriculture was in a serious state of disrepair. In 2011 it still is.

Now some questions.

1. What is the status of BARTAD (now BARC)? This was a multimillion dollar project funded by the U.S. Government as a gift to the people of the Bahamas in the 1970's. The purpose of this project was for Bahamas-Agricultural-Research-Training-And-Development. The Americans handed a fully equipped and fully functional institution, with an excellent reputation, over to the Bahamian Government. Within a few years the whole project had collapsed.
2. What has happened to the Potter's Cay Produce Exchange? This was set up to assist with marketing for the local farmers.
3. What ever happened to the feed mill set up at C.A.S. (Now GRAC)?
4. What ever happened to the 'Bahama Breed' of sheep, designed and bred specifically for good meat production in our climate? This breed, from C.A.S. In the 1980's, no longer exists; Why?
5. What has happened to the Packing House network specifically set up, and fully equipped, to deal with product grading, packing, and shipment from the islands to New Providence where the market is?
6. What has happened to the Island extension services, the fish and farm supply store, the fruit and vegetable variety trials, the plant propagation unit, the pasture trials, and on and on, and, on?
7. Why is the ministry of agriculture attempting to reinvent institutions and infrastructure that should already be in place? Have we been wasting taxpayer's money all these years? What about the staffing of the agriculture department? Are these the same staff of those lost years? I believe the estimated cost of this plan is some 40 million dollars, which is about the same that was allocated for the now forgotten and failed projects. Is this an example of sustainability? Are we in for another lost investment by the taxpayer?

As usual there is much talk, but no action. We are now into year 2 of this miracle plan. According to the plan, in year 1 some improvements should be :

• Train farmers in good agricultural practice(GAP).
• Assess island needs and increase credit access.
• Promote benefits of local produce and educate consumers.
• Promote GAP to reduce post harvest losses.
• Train extension staff.
• Demonstrate cost effective fruit production systems.
• Research into disease and cropping problems of the country.
• Expand plant propagation facilities.
• Improve packing house systems.

Perhaps the minister, and/or the director would demonstrate the progress in these areas with facts, and not words. I am sure the farming sector would appreciate being directly involved in this wonderful programme.

I won't even begin on what is meant to happen in this present 2nd  year of the plan.

The only move towards improved agricultural production and marketing seems to be coming from BAIC, which is working outside of the plan, or the direct support of the ministry. Maybe the answer is to fire the ministry and let BAIC take over??? At lest we will save the 40 million dollars and the attenuating salaries for hundreds of staff.

Any effective policy for agriculture must involve the private sector in all and every decision process; implying that the people with their feet in the soil should be cultivated and harvested for ideas and innovations. In my opinion the plan requested by the government to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and  since adopted by cabinet, says absolutely nothing new. It is simply a rehash of what has been well known for at least 40 years.

In terms of sustainable agriculture, and food security we need to get real. Our climate is good our soils are not. Our water resources are limited and very fragile. Our labour is expensive and poorly productive. Our land fetches more as real estate. We have no natural agricultural inputs to make us competitive. As long as we understand that all of our inputs will have to be imported, and that we need a good solid permanent agricultural policy including access to land; we will then be able to lower our food import bill and provide an opportunity to genuine farmers to make a living and develop a sense of pride.

Along with this we need a dedicated, well educated, and well practiced, support team from the Ministry of Agriculture that do not need an air conditioned working environment. Farming takes place in the fields not in the office.

The real answer lies in the institutional adoption of a definitive agricultural policy that is written in stone, being impervious to political manipulation no matter the politics of the day, with Prime Minister as king. Until agriculture is treated as an inside child and given a share of the table and the bed, nothing will change.

The only self sufficient facet of farming in the country to date is the amount of hot air produced that could and should be diverted to the sustainable curing of our annual onion crop. Now that is innovation.

Links to previous articles follow

Click each highlighted link for the article.

Part One (1)
Part Two (2)
Part Three (3)
Part Four (4)

Mr. Hedden holds degrees in Botany from UWI Mona Campus and University of Reading UK and graduated from Government High School, Nassau, Bahamas. He has experience as a Horticulturalist for the USAID project BARTAD Andros, Horticulturalist for the Ministry of Agriculture at CAS (now GRAC), and then extension services. Mr. Hedden is now trying to establish a modern demonstration fruit and vegetable farm on 10 acres of 'crown' land. He presently lives on Abaco and has worked with farmers there for the last 25 years.