BAMSI: A year of growth and community impact
Farmers and fishers on Cat Island have experienced a transformative year thanks to BAMSI's extension services. Spearheaded by Alfred Stubbs, BAMSI extension officer, the programme has not only tackled key challenges in agriculture but also fostered community development and collaboration.
“BAMSI’s extension services have had a very strong and positive impact throughout the communities of Cat Island,” Mr Stubbs said. “Not only do our services provide learning opportunities for the locals, but we also assist with addressing challenges within the community.”
One of the standout achievements of 2024 was BAMSI’s seedling distribution initiative. From July to December 1, a total of 8,512 seedlings were distributed to farmers. The effort culminated in a highly anticipated two-day island-wide distribution on December 9 and 10 at the BAMSI main office in Knowles, Cat Island. During this event, over 12,000 seedlings were given out, including sweet pepper, habanero pepper, okra, squash, tomatoes, beets, onion, celery, broccoli, carrots, basil, and cucumber.
“The distribution was successful as anticipated, and the local farmers came out in abundance to show support to the BAMSI department,” he said. In total, more than 30 trays of seedlings were distributed, amounting to approximately 12,000 seedlings.
According to Mr Stubbs, who is a 2018 graduate of BAMSI’s associate degree programme in agriculture, the impact of the seedling distribution programme has been profound. “It provides farmers with high-quality and hardy seedlings to transplant into their farms. When these seedlings mature, farmers can decide whether to put their produce to market or reserve some to ensure they always have good-quality seeds.” Additionally, the initiative fostered collaboration and knowledge-sharing among farmers, bringing together individuals with varying levels of expertise to support one another.
BAMSI’s extension services have tackled various challenges in Cat Island, including pest management, drought and poor water quality. Transportation remains a critical issue, with many farms located off rugged dirt roads. Mr Stubbs highlighted the importance of improved transportation: “It allows us to reach more farmers, implement more demonstration plots and field days, and respond quickly to problems.”
Despite these hurdles, the team made significant progress in 2024, including:
Breadfruit Orchards: Two orchards were established in the southern region with 200 trees, made possible through a donation from The Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister.
Shade Houses for Schools: Two shade houses were set up at Old Bight and Arthur’s Town High Schools, providing students with valuable hands-on agricultural experience.
Looking ahead, BAMSI aims to expand its outreach and encourage commercial farming in Cat Island. “We want our farmers to learn as much farming knowledge as they possibly can,” Mr. Stubbs said. He envisions workshops and training sessions as key to helping farmers transition to large-scale farming for profit.
Plans for 2025 also include:
Collaborations with the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister and the Chinese Ambassador on new projects.
Increased school visits and farming meetings to keep the community informed and engaged.
Enhanced workshops to introduce farmers to improved agricultural technologies, such as mechanised farming and efficient irrigation systems.
Mr Stubbs said he takes pride in the ability of BAMSI’s Extension Services programme to foster community and measure impact through feedback. “I always try to be available to support and encourage their work, and they always appreciate my dedication,” he said. His personal motivations include helping others, developing innovative solutions and making a difference in the lives of those he serves.
As BAMSI’s extension services continue to grow, its influence on Cat Island is undeniable., “In the year 2025, I see extension services evolving to help farmers adapt to new technologies and innovations and increasing support of rural communities as they look to develop their agriculture sector and increase their agricultural products.”
By empowering local farmers and addressing their needs, BAMSI is paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future for Cat Island.
For more information on BAMSI’s extension services or to connect with Mr Stubbs, email info@bamsibahamas.edu.bs visit www.bamsibahamas.edu.bs or follow BAMSI on social media.
