CHIEF Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC), Shawn Tudor, says he is optimistic about the future of agriculture in Barbados and the developmental role that the corporation will continue to play.
His comments came recently as he highlighted some of the gains of the BADMC, which he says despite some challenges over the last year and a half, 45 Barbadians were taken out of employment and as December 31, 2016 the corporation was in a stronger financial position than the previous year.
According to Tudor, “We have bought several thousand kilograms worth of produce from farmers that otherwise would not have had that opportunity. We have distinguished ourselves as the leading centre for food innovation in the country. We have come up with several new products, especially value-added products from cassava,” he reported.
The CEO revealed that during the hectic Christmas season, the BADMC had to bring on persons to work two shifts in order to meet the demands for the value-added products, including the Blackbelly lamb ham and the beef ham. “We couldn’t get enough to sell,” he mused.
As the corporation seeks to expand its operations, Tudor also revealed that a cassava processing mill from Colombia will soon be received. “So that we can process as much as a 1 000 kg of flour per shift. That mill can also process sweet potato and breadfruit and we will do all of those as well,” he assured.
He said this is one of the attempts being taken to be innovative and respond to the market, with the view of adding value. “A lot of innovation going on, and that innovation is bearing fruit; in terms of revenue, in terms of employing Barbadians.”
Saying that some persons are of the view that the BADMC is competing with the private sector, he disagreed, saying the corporation is taking produce from Barbadian farmers who otherwise would not have a market for their goods. “We take the produce, employ Barbadian people to add value to these products and then have others sell them in our Carmeta’s shops across the range of supermarkets. When you say we are competing with the private sector... I know we are adding value to products,” he countered. (JH)