“SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY”
EXCERPTS FROM ESSAYS
There are many ways that we as Bahamians and other Caribbean citizens can assist
in “sustaining agriculture for regional food security”. Some of these ways include
planting more crops, increasing tax on imported crops so that Caribbean nationals
can be encouraged to plant their own crops; and educate the children in schools
about the positive effects of maintaining agriculture.
Dwayne Clarke
Preston H. Albury Secondary
Eleuthra
Grade 11, Age 16
I feel that increasing regional farming and agricultural productivity can lead to healthy
regional sustainability. By producing the crops and livestock needed for daily
consumption and putting them on a large scale to the population, we would be helping
not only the agricultural industry but also fostering economic development within the
Region.
Rudolph N. Johnson
Preston H. Albury Secondary
Eleuthra
Grade 11, Age 16
A sustained agricultural environment can create an organic garden and landscape
which is wholly integrated into the school’s curriculum and lunch program.
Community efforts can preserve agricultural land and encourage sustained
agricultural practices. They can also support local food producers and facilitate the
production and distribution of locally produced food, through farmer markets and
cooperative food buying.
Travis S. Black
Faith Temple Christian Academy
Nassau
Grade 11, Age 16
“SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY”
EXCERPTS FROM ESSAYS
Sadly, when new jobs are introduced such as tourism, and banking, farming is looked
down upon by the locals in the Bahamas. With this attitude we cannot improve our
farming. We need to encourage people to be farmers, on small scales like back yard
farming as well as large scale.
Nakhaz Gay
Faith Temple
New Providence
Grade 11, Age 16
Currently, the future of food security in The Bahamas is in severe jeopardy, especially
as the focus of economic development shifts from extractive natural resources and
agriculture to tourism. If trade ties were ever severed, The Bahamas would not be
able to feed itself for six weeks. For the health of the nation, it is essential that local
food systems be redeveloped so that the islands can be more self sufficient and
prosperous.
Donario Archer
Faith Temple
New Providence
Grade 11, Age 16
Regional food security ensures that agriculture is sustained to enable citizens to live
wholesome and productive lives. Prosperous farming is farming which enhances the
quality of life for farmers and the society as a whole. This goal can be achieved by
using more human resources. People must be able to make a profit.
Quitel Ferguson
Crooked Island High School
Crooked Island
Grade 11, Age 15
“SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY”
EXCERPTS FROM ESSAYS
Every country has the responsibility to reduce the imports and become more
independent in relation to the production of food in that nation. Agriculture provides
for the needs of consumers in the local area; and it will keep money within the
region.
Tomeka Moss
Crooked Island High School
Crooked Island
Grade 11, Age 15
By having agricultural sustainability coming into stream, the implications for traditional
and non-traditional agriculture produce would result in enhanced efficiency and
competitiveness.
Camille Wright
Anatol Rodgers High School
Nassau
Grade 9, Age 14
The Bahamas and CARICOM countries depend too much on imported goods and
working materials which come from the US. I think that we as a group of people
should take pride and responsibility for our own crop production and start cultivating
our own crops. The people, especially the younger ones should learn to be hard
working enough and start farming their own ... the elderly folks time may soon come
to an end, and as the youths we are responsible for taking their places and come into
command of things.
Jeremy Sturrup
South Andros High School
Andros
Grade 11, Age 15
“SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY”
EXCERPTS FROM ESSAYS
Today this movement for sustainable agriculture is garnering increasing support and
acceptance within mainstream agriculture. Sustainable agriculture offers innovative
and economically viable opportunities for growers, labourers, and consumers, in the
entire food system. It thus combines three main goals, environmental health,
economic profitability, and social and economic equity.
Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Therefore, stewardship of both natural and human resources is of prime importance.
Tyrus Ambrose
Arthur’s Town High
Cat Island
Grade 11, Age 15
Farmers and other agricultural thinkers have established a strong set of guiding
principles for sustainability, based on stewardship and economic justice. Producers
and researchers are annually increasing the pace of improvements in agro-ecology
systems making them more efficient and profitable.
As sustainable agriculture seeks to make the best use of nature’s goods and services,
so the technologies and practices must be locally adapted. Agricultural systems with
high social and human capital are able to innovate in the face of uncertainty.
Beinka Rolle
Arthur’s Town High
Cat Island
Grade 11, Age 16
“SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY”
EXCERPTS FROM ESSAYS
Regional food security is important because whether it is local or regional it brings
farmers closer to consumers by producing fruits and vegetables or raising livestock or
fish closer to the places they are sold.
To achieve lasting self-reliance at the national and household levels, initiatives must
be founded on the principles of economic feasibility, equity, broad participation, and
the sustainable use of natural resources.
Janice Seymour
Arthur’s Town High
Cat Island
Grade 10, Age 14
In my country the climate is suitable for vegetable and fruit farming. But to achieve
the status of sustainable agriculture – fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and fish need to
be cultivated, grown, and reared in larger quantities than is being done presently.
And this has to be done on a consistent basis.
Garrinique Moxey
Mangrove Cay High
Andros
Grade 11, Age 16
During these crucial economic times, we The Bahamas, along with our fellow
Caribbean island nations must come together to develop solutions which not only help
us to survive during our current economic predicament but also long after it is over.
Georgette Greenslade
St. John’s College
Nassau
Grade 12, Age 17
“SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY”
EXCERPTS FROM ESSAYS
It could be argued that about eighty five percent of the Bahamian population abstain
from engaging in sustainable agriculture. Moreover it is very obvious that my fellow
Bahamians lack knowledge of what sustainable agriculture is and how it can really
guarantee food security in the Bahamas and in the region.
For sustainable agriculture to be most effective, it must be introduced in the primary
schools and then continued in high schools. Agriculture Science ought to be a
compulsory subject.
How breath taking it would be to see hosts of farming communities! All the houses
with kitchen gardens! Youths planting delicious tomatoes and other vegetables. The
Bahamian Government must give financial aid to persons who are interested in
Agriculture.
Contenta Pluck
C.V. Bethel
New Providence
Grade 10, Age 14
Food security is not a main issue at the moment in territories where much fertile land
is available for use. There will be always be opportunity for persons to utilise the land
to produce food for personal and commercial use. Nevertheless, what will happen a
few years from now in the face of a growing population and an unstable/unpredictable
climate condition? Ensuring that enough food is produced for all races and nations is
important if we are serious about keeping the world hunger-free and from the fear of
further starvation.
Ayeshia Nurse
Saint John’s College
Nassau
Grade 11, Age 16
“SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY”
EXCERPTS FROM ESSAYS
If we were to zoom out once more to CARICOM we can see that exporting to other
CARICOM nations can help our region to be more food secure. Hence, if each
CARICOM country does what The Bahamas is doing to increase agriculture and keep
it in the region, we are sure to have sustainable agriculture for regional food security.
Kadegia Long
South Andros High School
South Andros
Grade 11, Age 15