Local farming initiative announced in Parliament
A new farming initiative launched by the Government to help strengthen domestic food supply was unveiled in the House of Assembly.
Diallo Rabain, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, said Grow Local was developed by the Department of Planning in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He said that despite agriculture having played an important role in Bermuda’s history, culture and resilience, there had been a significant decline over many decades, making the island increasingly reliant on imported food and more vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, extreme weather events and international price volatility.
“According to information held in the planning system, Bermuda currently has approximately 737 acres of designated agricultural land,” Mr Rabain told MPs.
“However, only around half of this is currently being used for agricultural purposes meaning that we have substantial capacity to increase local crop production.”
Mr Rabain said while planning received multiple requests for the removal of protective agricultural designations for development purposes, the DENR receives multiple enquiries each month from people looking for land to farm.
“The Grow Local initiative has been developed to address this disconnect,” he said.
“Central to the initiative is an online platform which seeks to connect willing landowners with prospective farmers to maximise farming opportunities across the island.
“Through the platform, landowners will be able to market land within their ownership which they are willing to make available for farming opportunities, prospective farmers will be able to view details of available sites and the department will be able to make landowners aware of any enquiries received and make the necessary connections.
“It is important to highlight that the platform is a facilitation tool and any decisions regarding the use of land within private ownership will remain entirely at the discretion of the landowner. Any subsequent arrangements or agreements will be at the discretion of the participants.
“The initiative will not be restricted to designated agricultural land, any sites suitable for farming purposes could be included.”
Mr Rabain said that any sites entering into the initiative that do not have an agricultural reserve designation, will not be designated as agricultural reserve through this process.
“The aim is not to re-zone, it is only to explore potential,” he said.
For more details of the Grow Local initiative, visit the Department of Planning website at planning.gov.bm
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