The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Agriculture’s Agri-Business Expo 2015 opened yesterday at the Gladstone Road Agricultural Centre.

The event, which runs until this Saturday, will allow a sample of agricultural producers, mostly from New Providence to showcase a wide variety of products and services.

Speaking to a packed crowd at the Gladstone Road Agricultural Centre yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Perry Christie stressed the importance of further developing and capitalising on the country’s agricultural sector.

“There’s an imperative here, and that imperative is the Bahamas has to recognise the value of its assets, the value of its resources,” he said.

“And if other people can use those resources, other countries, to create export industries from, then it goes to follow that there is something missing in the Bahamas if we cannot do the same thing.”

Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray added: “Food security is very important, and the government is very serious about the food security of our people. We cannot take anything for granted as it relates to food security and in fact food provision. We must as a country seek, as soon as possible, to be in a position to produce sufficient food to feed ourselves rather than think of the effects of another 9/11,” he said, referring to the terrorist attack in the United States.

Participants in this year’s expo will showcase their products while engaging in friendly trade and competition, according to officials.

Goods such as livestock, vegetables, fruits, root crops, and handicraft will be on display with the intention of depicting the “wide variety of produce food throughout New Providence”.

According to Mr Christie, 15 expos, including the one in New Providence will be held throughout the country this year. He said it is expected that all inhabited islands will ultimately be able to host an expo.