The Bahamas has officially joined countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, and Nigeria in taking a vested interest in food sustainability and expanding its agricultural sector. Through a groundbreaking collaboration with BTVI, BAMSI, Dimitra Incorporated, Innovate 242, and the Ministry for Grand Bahama, the AgTech Pilot Cohort was launched at the Harold DeGregory Complex.
This initiative marks a significant step toward equipping Bahamian youth with cutting-edge technology skills to transform farming and food security in the country.
According to the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, the program is designed to empower the next generation by introducing specialized software training to support agricultural advancement.
“We’ll be able to offer tech-focused classes, and it will also serve as the home of the Young Innovators Club,” Minister Moxey stated. “This program is aligned with our government’s plan to expand opportunities island by island. We truly support our students in endeavors like this, which have already received Cabinet approval.”
The AgTech program leverages Dimitra’s global expertise, which spans nearly 30 countries, supporting over 9 million farmers and the production of more than 60 different crops worldwide.
Orthyneil Pinder, General Manager of the Bahamian Corporation, emphasized that the 52-week program targets youth between the ages of 17 and 25. Participants will not only receive training and gainful employment opportunities in agriculture, but will also be provided with a weekly stipend and the computers.
“We look forward to seeing students and parents support this program by applying so we can select the best candidates to pioneer this initiative here in Grand Bahama,” Pinder said.
John Trask, CEO of Dimitra Incorporated, highlighted the company’s commitment to bringing innovation and global expertise to The Bahamas.
“Our platform integrates blockchain, mobile technology, machine learning, satellite and drone imagery, and advanced farming research. Having relocated here, I envision building a technology hub in the Bahamas where developers can design AI, web, and mobile applications to help farmers worldwide. We already collaborate with the United Nations and ECA, the agricultural agency for the Americas, and this program opens the door for Bahamian youth to participate in this global mission.”
Undersecretary Carol Roach and Gayla Wallace, Assistant Manager for BTVI’s Grand Bahama North Campus, further stressed the importance of ensuring the Bahamas is an active participant in the global digital agricultural economy.
Registration for the AgTech Pilot Cohort is now open. Interested persons may apply digitally through the Ministry for Grand Bahama’s Facebook page and other online platforms, or in person at the Collab Unit at the Harold DeGregory Complex.
This initiative aims to stimulate technological advancement, provide hands-on training, and attract a new generation of Bahamians to view agriculture not just as tradition, but as a sustainable and innovative career path.
By Shakara Trott/Bahamas Information Services
