BAMSI's extension services makes waves in Long Island
Long Island farmers and residents have reaped the benefits of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute’s (BAMSI) extension services, which brought critical support and new opportunities to the island’s agricultural sector, according to BAMSI officials.
“This year, I have seen more farmers investing their time and energy into farming. More younger persons want to get involved,” said David Adderley, BAMSI’s extension officer in Long Island.
He said the growing interest in farming reflects a renewed focus on agriculture as a viable livelihood, bolstered by BAMSI’s hands-on initiatives and community outreach programs.
In 2024, BAMSI launched several programs and participated in a number of important events in Long Island, including breaking ground for a research and training facility, participating in Mutton Fest, regular farm and school visits, and a summer program hosted in partnership with the Long Island Museum. Seedling production was another focus, with BAMSI providing farmers with healthy seedlings and technical guidance.
“Farmers have benefited from access to healthy seedlings but are looking forward to having access to fruit trees and animals,” said Adderley, a 2016 BAMSI graduate.
Institution officials said while farmers appreciate BAMSI’s efforts, they emphasized the need for the institute to “keep its promises” and continue delivering tangible support.
But they said challenges remain for the island’s farmers. Limited tools and resources, manual irrigation, and pest and disease issues they said posed difficulties. The issues were addressed through the use of pesticides and resourceful problem-solving, but they said more support is needed.
As in other Family Island communities, officials said BAMSI’s seedlings program was a notable success with enthusiastic participation from farmers and residents.
“The results from others who participated before have driven growth in community participation,” said Adderley.
Other highlights for the Long Island extension office include the involvement of young people through summer camp activities, where children learned about plant and animal care and participated in a seedling competition.
Looking ahead, BAMSI officials said they aim to expand its seedling production and encourage more young people to pursue farming as a career. School visits will continue to be a priority, introducing students to the opportunities available at BAMSI College after high school.
Adderley said there are plans to focus on climate-smart practices, such as helping farmers adopt drought-resistant crops and diversify their income through agritourism and alternative crops. And that virtual training sessions and webinars were also on the horizon, aimed at making extension services more accessible and effective.
Other exciting initiatives included a farm-to-school program that would connect farmers with schools to supply fresh produce for meals, and the establishment of a greenhouse at a local school, with technical support from BAMSI.
BAMSI officials said feedback from farmers and social media updates would play a vital role in strengthening BAMSI’s connection with the Long Island community, and that gatherings and visits would be a key strategy to identifying areas for improvement in programs like the seedling initiative.
For Adderley, the motivation behind his work he said was simple yet profound: “Helping my island out with the knowledge, advice and seedlings, and seeing good results motivates me.”
Adderley said communication challenges and unexpected weather conditions impacted BAMSI’s outreach in 2024 and in 2025, improving communication strategies and preparing for unforeseen events would be central to their approach.
BAMSI’s vision is to empower farmers, engage the next generation, and expand its reach through its extension services.
