The Tribune

BY FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

ABACO farmers are pushing for a larger role in national food security, with the island’s newly-formed farmers association setting its sights on significantly increasing local production and eventually supplying up to half of the country’s food.

Nick Miaoulis, president of the Abaco Farmers Association (AFA), said the group’s goal is to bring commercial farmers, small growers, backyard producers and aspiring farmers together to strengthen the agricultural sector and make it a larger economic pillar.

“Without an association, it’s going to be almost impossible for agriculture to move forward. All the farmers need to collaborate, hold hands, share information and collect data. All of that is important, just like you run a business. Farming is a business,” said Mr Miaoulis.

The AFA was formally established on August 4 and is seeking to create a stronger collective voice for farmers while improving access to agricultural machinery, inputs, technical training, markets and development opportunities.

Mr Miaoulis said the association wants farmers of all sizes to work together rather than address the sector’s challenges individually.

“If we can really get this going and get the backyard, small, medium-sized and big farmers all on board and hold hands, this can be very successful,” he said.

The association is also exploring ways to improve access to tractors and other agricultural machinery, which can represent a significant cost for individual farmers seeking to clear land, prepare fields and expand production.

Mr Miaoulis said greater cooperation could help farmers overcome some of those barriers while allowing the industry to expand.

The AFA is also developing its Ready-to-Grow Backyard Farming Programme, which is intended to encourage households to grow more of their own food using established vegetable seedlings that can be taken home and transplanted.

The programme is being developed around the message “Take It Home. Plant It Today. Grow Food for Your Family” and the association plans to seek grant funding and partnerships to help subsidise starter kits.

Mr Miaoulis said the push to increase local production would take time but argued that steady progress could produce significant results over the long term.

“If we can supply 50 percent of our food, that is a huge success. And everybody has to be patient. It’s not going to happen overnight. But if every year we could take a step in the right direction, in 10 short years we could have better quality food and we’d be feeding our people,” he said.

He also criticised the quality of some imported food products, arguing that greater domestic production would give Bahamians more control over the food being consumed locally.

“We’ve got a better quality product than what they’re shipping here. They send us seconds and thirds. Now we know what our food is, at least, and we can supply it,” sais Mr Miaoulis.

The association has identified youth participation as another priority, with Mr Miaoulis arguing that the future of agriculture will depend increasingly on technology, data and business skills.

“We need young people who have that technology skill. I’m in my 70s. My wife is in her 70s. We’re in our early 70s. We need data collection with technology. That is very important. We need young people. It’s just not planting a seed,” he said.

The AFA intends to work with the Government, agricultural agencies, private businesses, educational institutions and other partners as it develops its programmes and seeks to expand participation in agriculture.

Mr Miaoulis said the association ultimately wants to help position agriculture as a meaningful contributor to the economy while strengthening Abaco’s ability to feed its own communities and contribute to national food security.