"This allows the whole country access to the farmers' produce," Key said. "All the purchaser has to do is view the site, make the contact, and make shipping and payment arrangements." The program comes as BAIC looks to actively remove the constraints of the production side of the agricultural industry in Andros — arguably home to some of the most fertile soil in The Bahamas. Key points to the Big Yard Farmers Company Limited, an association of North Andros farmers that started a small farm supply store to service its members, as a good example of the success of the industry.

"The company was growing at a slow pace and for our purposes we need the company to grow faster, to keep pace with the demands of the farmers and to increase its market share," said Key. "BAIC assisted them with getting organized and registered [and] gave the company a $20,000 grant to assist in expanding its farm supplies operation. "Before the grant was made, the store was operating on a revolving account of $8,000, eight months after the grant the company is operating on a revolving account of $70,000."

Source: The Nassau Guardian