Statement by Michael Pintard, Bahamas Minister of Agriculture & Marine Resources
#Nassau, The Bahamas – From April 27, 2020 — Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the great Constituency of Marco City to which I have the honour to represent.
Mr. Speaker, The
Cabinet of The Bahamas has determined that food production is especially
crucial in these times. And that whatever measures we put in place must be
sustained beyond Covid-19. We take
seriously the mandate that has been given by the Prime Minister to fix
outstanding issues that may exist along the entire value chain and supply chain
to ensure that The Bahamas has adequate food resources and the right food
resources for the health and wealth of our people.
Strengthening
existing partners and working with stakeholders to reach common objectives will
be critically important to weather this crisis. My Ministry continue to make
ourselves available to hear the concerns of farmers and fishers and will be
making deliberate efforts to use the available technology to reach out to
farmers and fishers throughout the country.
Mister Speaker,
the COVID-19 crisis is an important opportunity for Bahamians to make healthier
food choices by increasing their consumption of fruit and vegetables. There has
been unprecedented interest expressed in farming over the last few months. We
are responding quickly and carefully. We are making every effort to make local
products accessible and affordable.
- The Packing Houses
remain operational in all our Family Island locations (Andros, Cat Island,
Eleuthera, and Long Island). The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial
Corporation continues to operate the Produce Exchange and The Bahamas
Agricultural and Marine Science Institute has continued local produce
purchases. Both agencies have reoriented their marketing to make ‘value boxes’
available to persons on New Providence who may be facing financial challenges
and have instituted the social distancing protocols to protect employees and
customers. Extended hours have been added on Saturday to facilitate essential
workers.
Additionally, ‘The
Market’ at Gladstone Road has also been opened to allow purchase of domestic
agricultural products.
- Mr. Speaker, the long
overdue renovations to packing houses in San Andros, North Andros, Clarence
Town, Long Island, and Lower Bogue, Eleuthera will commence 1st May,
2020. Contracts have already been signed in the amount of four hundred fifty
four thousand eight hundred and forty dollars ($454,840.00) to renovate the
packing houses in the aforementioned islands.
- Mr. Speaker, the
slaughter house in New Providence has been closed from the initial COVID-19
Emergency Order on March 23rd, 2020. The Government, in consultation
with the relevant authorities is seeking a gradual opening of the abattoir to
allow for the slaughter of animals. We
anticipate that the abattoir will reopen on Tuesday 28th April,
2020. We will upgrade this facility as a matter of urgency. The growth of the
livestock sector depends on a national slaughterhouse system throughout the
relevant islands engaged in animal husbandry.
- The Department of
Agriculture and the Department of Marine Resources have maintained essential services
to farmers and fishers during the period by providing reduced hours to
facilitate urgent matters including facilitating import and export permits. The
Veterinary Services will be implementing telemedicine for livestock farmers on
New Providence and the Family Islands. The information on the times and link
for services will be posted on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Marine Resources.
- Mr. Speaker, the
Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources (MAMR) has also produced an
Emergency Food Production Plan to strengthen food and nutrition security in
this time of crisis. It includes the assistance to farmers in the clearing of
Agricultural Land of which one million eighteen thousand six hundred dollars
($1,018,600.00) has been allocated to farmers throughout The Bahamas with four
hundred seventy-nine thousand six hundred dollars ($479,600.00) out of the said
figure being allocated to Grand Bahama and Abaco (those islands devastated by
Hurricane Dorian). These funds have already been sent to the affected islands.
- Mr. Speaker, my
Ministry is in the process of purchasing and distributing some ten thousand
(10,000) backyard gardening kits throughout The Bahamas. The kits will include
seeds, seedling, fertilizer, drip line, and pro-mix along with guidelines of
how to arrange a proper backyard gardening system. The distribution of these kits
should begin in two weeks.
- Mr. Speaker, our
Ministry is sourcing more than one thousand (1000) hydroponic systems which
will be strategically placed throughout The Bahamas to assist with producing
adequate supplies of vegetables especially leafy greens. The MAMR in
collaboration with the Ministry of Education is adding an additional 22
hydroponics systems to the previously agreed upon number of hydroponics and
aquaponics systems which will be placed in schools throughout The Bahamas.
- Mr. Speaker, two
thousand layer chicks have been purchased from a local vendor and will be
distributed to the Family Islands as soon as this week. This will provide
additional protein and encourage farmers in the various communities to produce
eggs for their local economy. Additionally, some five thousand (5000) layers
are on order from a company in the United Stated and would be available within
the next three weeks for distribution to New Providence farmers. On receipt of
these birds/layers, it is intended to purchase an additional 5000 to 7000
layers to assist farmers further. The MAMR has begun planning to work with the
sector about urgently upgrading the available hatcheries so that we can in the
short to medium term dramatically increase egg production throughout the
Bahamas especially on New Providence, Eleuthera, Abaco and Grand Bahama in
phase one.
- The Ministry’s
Food processing and Cooperative leadership in conjunction with BAIC and BAMSI
and later with Home Economic Teachers and private enterprises will shortly lay
out our plan to accelerate and scale up food processing and light
manufacturing.
- Mr. Speaker, the Department of Marine Resources plays a
pivotal role in the dietary consumption of seafood and the protection of our
Marine Resources. During Hurricane Dorian, Marine Resources vessels were
damaged/destroyed and we have already paid a 50% deposit of two hundred fifty-four
thousand five hundred and twenty dollars ($254,520.00) for three vessels
allocated for Bimini, Grand Bahama, and Abaco with which we expect to replace
those vessels lost.
- Furthermore, we continue to discuss a plan of action to
keep both subsistence and commercial fishers fully engaged in order to feed our
nation and earn foreign currency. Discussions are underway to ensure the reopening
of fish markets in a safe manner and the safe delivery of marine products to stores
and customers.
- In addition, my Ministry is also in the process of
partnering with the Ministry of Social Services, the Ministry of Health, The
Ministry of National Security (Royal Bahamas Police Force), the Ministry of
Transport and Local Government, the Ministry of Education and also food
suppliers and wholesalers, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to launch
the National Food Distribution Program to ensure, as the Prime Minister stated,
that no vulnerable person is left behind.
Mr. Speaker, the
program will target Senior Citizens and Disabled, Persons receiving Social
Services Assistance, Students on the School Lunch Program and Furloughed
Workers. Mr. Speaker, the distribution will include a number of dried goods but
even more importantly Bahamian grown fruits and vegetables, Bahamian marine
products, Bahamian jams, jellies, honey, Bahamian meats, Bahamian soaps, etc.
- Mr. Speaker in order to ensure that adequate animal feed
and agriculture inputs are available to farmers in the various islands and that
we reduce wastage in the movement of agriculture and marine products our
Ministry is documenting available dry, cool and cold storage space.
- Since we last met we have begun to forge important
partnerships upon which we will build. We are excited about the meetings held
with church leaders about national and local agriculture projects we will work
on together. We are encouraged by the initial meeting with the new generation
of agro-youth professionals who are committed to the full incorporation of new
technologies in all aspects of agriculture and marine resources. We intend to
assist them in several key areas as they assist the sector. Our discussions
with approximately 16 Agriculture educators resulted in several key commitments
on both sides. I and the Ministry team have participated in more than two
Ministerial meeting with Ministers throughout the region sharing best practices
and plugging the data gap. We are in ongoing discussions with the leaders in
the fishing and farming sector.
Mister Speaker,
These are
challenging times at a national and personal level for our entire nation.
Constituents and staff members have lost loved ones and other staff, in every
section of the ministry, (Department of Agriculture, Department of Marine
Resources, Cooperatives, Regatta, BAIC, BAMSI, and BAHFSA), and despite these difficult
circumstances show up to work daily and on weekends. I am indeed grateful to
them and to the farmers and fishers throughout the archipelago for their
dedication and support.
Thank you, Mister
Speaker, for this opportunity to update the Honourable House.