Agriculture and food in Bahamas

Agriculture in Bahamas

The Bahamas is an archipelago of 700 islands and 2,400 cays in the Caribbean Sea. The Bahamas has a total area of 245,737 acres that can be used for farming. Most arable land on Bahamas is on New Providence, Abaco, Andros, and Grand Bahama islands. Agriculture in Bahamas is a small-scale, mostly domestic activity. The most lucrative export of agriculture products are grapefruits which generate US$459 million annually . The government has taken steps towards expanding this industry, reserving 182 thousand hectares (452 acres) exclusively for farming; all but 20 percent will be used to grow fruit trees like oranges or grapefruit which are exported globally due their high value price. Climate change has also had its negative effects on this thriving industry due primarily from more intensive severe weather events paired with rising ocean temperatures which lead not only does further crop destruction but may cause mass fish deaths. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP. Agriculture and fisheries account for 3% of all jobs in the Bahamas, but it's an important industry because this country needs diversification. The government supports agriculture through programs like value chain development measures; research with extension services that provide farmers more knowledge about how they can improve their crops or animals' health by providing food security. The Bahamas is a net importer of food, importing almost 90% of its supply. 80% percent come from the United States. The agricultural industry in the Bahamas is an important part of its economy. The focus lies with four main areas: crops, poultry and livestock production as well as dairy farming. Domestic consumption accounts for most agricultural products while exports include lobster. The most popular export products among non-fish agricultural are corals (28%), mollusk shells or crustaceans(21%) beverages such spirits ; tobacco(10%).

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Agriculture production in Bahamas

The Bahamas is a country in the Caribbean, and they have been known as major citrus producers. In 2005 there was an outbreak that devastated this industry for many years afterwards; however their grapefruit remains one of the most productive on earth even without being subject to canker or hurricane damage! Other than citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits which account for about 80% each by volume exported from The Bahamas (overall), notable agricultural food products include bananas, mangos vegetables mostly tomatoes/avocadoes with onions. The Bahamian government offers financial relief for some products, but not all. Major Crops for Bahamas include: Onions, Okra,Tomatoes, Sugar Cane, Lemons, Limes, Sweet Potatoes, Oranges, Grapefruit, Cucumbers.

Fisheries in Bahamas

The Caribbean spiny lobster is the largest species found in Nassau Bay and it accounts for 90% of commercial fishery exports. The fishery makes up 90% of total exports with about 9,000 full-time and part time jobs created since 2010. Caribbean lobsters are largely exported as tails because there's not enough meat on them to make it worth catching normally however people still purchase this delicacy. The Bahamas was the second-largest importer of Caribbean spiny lobster imports (13% ) to United States. The spiny lobster is caught using wooden "lathe" traps or casitas on the ocean floor in Bahamas. Beginning in 2009 though, this sustainable industry has worked closely alongside other stakeholders (Bahamas Marine Exporters Association worked with the World Wildlife Fund, Bahamas Department of Marine Resources, and The Nature Conservancy ) to improve their sustainability efforts through certification to improve lobster fishery. The Bahamian spiny lobster fishery has achieved MSC certification in 2018, which makes it the first Caribbean fishery to participate in this program and allows its products to carry a "blue fish" label.