BAMSI enrollment up, Campbell says
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Jomo Campbell said yesterday that the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Sciences Institute (BAMSI) experienced record enrollment in the Fall 2025 semester.
He said a program geared toward attracting and encouraging youth interested in the field of agriculture and marine resources to pursue studies at BAMSI is underway.
Campbell said enrollment at BAMSI increased by 15 percent over the last year.
Officials have stated that the rise in enrollment indicates a growing interest in the agricultural sector, but despite the hike, the institution still struggles with recruiting younger persons.
“Agriculture for quite some time has been an aging industry, with an average age of about 65 to 66 years,” Campbell said.
“We are pleased to share with you that the overall growth of the industry has grown by 26.3 percent, and that is the largest growth in the last 33 years, so our efforts are literally bearing fruit.
“In a few short weeks, you will see one of the other initiatives that we have aimed towards ensuring the increase in excitement and awareness towards agriculture.
“We try to launch projects that are scientifically based to attract the younger persons so they know that agriculture isn’t just the straw hat and cutlass anymore in the sun. It actually revolves around laptops now, smartphones.
“Some people do it from home in an air-conditioned setting.”
He said, “Container farming is a 12-month business, it doesn’t stop. It’s for small island developing states like The Bahamas. It’s very conducive, especially for climate change and excessive weather conditions.
“We are making it attractive. We’re making it exciting, and that is what the young people want, and that speaks directly to the growth in the environment, and we look forward to other programs as well.”
Campbell added that officials are also trying to increase the number of women enrolling in BAMSI.
The revitalization of BAMSI has been a longstanding effort, with the Davis administration and successive governments speaking to the importance of food sustainability.
In 2021, then Minister of Agriculture Clay Sweeting said officials were trying to revive the Andros facility, and bring the institute up to international standard to accommodate more students.
On October 6, the ministry will address the public with further details, Campbell said.
