Training Schedule for Coconut Farmers of Stann Creek

On May 17th 2022, the National Stakeholders Platform Technical Committee met to plan training for coconut farmers. The First training is scheduled for June 3rd, 2022 starting at 9:00 am in Red Bank village, Stann Creek district. Topic to be discussed is “Control of Coconut Beetle using Integrated Pest Control Methodology “.
Adult beetles cause damage to palms by boring holes into the central growing point of the crown to feed on the young host tissue sap (juice).
They start by tearing or drilling their way through softer young unopened fronds into the center of the growing spike where they feed on the sap. They may come out through the base of the frond midrib (10-50 cm from the base). When the damaged young frond opens, and V or wedge shaped sections of the leaf are missing.
Some signs of the presence of the beetle also include excreted plant tissue and insect droppings (frass) emerging from the entrance holes. Holes in the base of frond stems are also commonly seen. But the holes themselves can also be obscured by the base of the fronds.

BMDC Rice Mill in PG is now Operational

The Belize Marketing and Development Corporation’s (BMDC) rice mill in PG, is now operational, and serving the rice farmers of the Toledo district. At one time there seemed to have been plans to shelve this multi-million dollar investment, break it to pieces and sell the parts. With a change of government and administration came a change of attitude. Today the rice mill is churning out high quality Belizean rice, and the small farmers of the area have crops they can sell. Incomes are being generated and life is better for those Toledo farmers.
Rice Production in the Toledo and Stann Creek area has benefited from direct assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture which offers high level technical support throughout the production process. With the guidance of the Ministry and its multiple partners rice production in the south is experiencing a highly awaited improvement in the quality of paddy being produced.
Initially only Milpa farmers were present in the south and would make use of the mill; today both Milpa and Mechanized farmers have been delivering paddy to the BMDC mill.

Orange Walk Beekeepers Officially Registered

On May 13th 2022, the Orange Walk Beekeepers Co-operative Society Limited, were today officially registered in a ceremony at Central Park in Orange Walk Town.
The group has been a pre-co-op for a while and saw their dream of being an official co-operative and being able to benefit from all the advantages of working together come true this morning.
On hand to witness were the Registrar of Cooperatives Gareth Murillo, Mayor of Orange Walk Ladrick Sheppard and CEO in the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security & Enterprise Servulo Baeza, as well as many other supporters.
Accepting the new co-op’s registration certificate was Ms. Ileana Ayuso on behalf of the other members.
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Guatemalan Delegation on a Technical visit to Belize

On May 12th 2022, the Guatemalan Vice Minister of Agriculture for the Peten Department Ingeniero Elmer Oliva Pacheco were on a 2 day technical visit to Belize upon an invitation from the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai.
The Vice Minister was accompanied by Ing. Juan Carlos Barquin, Chief Agriculture Officer for Peten, and Ing. Maynor Arevalo Dubon, Director for Agricultural Development for Peten.
The purpose of the visit was for the delegation to establish linkages between both Ministries for future cooperation since Belize and Peten share similar geographic conditions, similar crops and population profiles.
During there visit the Ministry of Agriculture had the opportunity to present on the programs and projects the Ministry has been working on, as well discuss cooperation between both Agriculture Ministries. On the second day the delegation toured the Central Farm Agriculture Station.

Mexican President Announces zero tariffs for Belize Agriculture Products

On the 7th of May 2022, the Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador visited Belize and announced to the nation that all Belizean Agriculture products, including cattle will be allowed to enter Mexico free of tariffs.

This has been one of the greatest moments in the history for both nations which the government of Belize had been seeking, especially for the reduction of tariffs for cattle. A heartfelt thankyou goes out to Minister Courtenay and his team for achieving an acceptable Trade Agreement that would benefit our producers. This announcement on the zero tariffs on agriculture products will radically change the future of agriculture in our nation.

On behalf of the farmers and people of Belize, the Minister of Agriculture thanks President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and the government of Mexico for granting such opportunity.

Red kidney Bean Producers Meeting

On the 3rd of May 2022, The Ministry of Agriculture host a meeting with Red kidney bean Producers’  at the National Agriculture and Trade Showgrounds Conference room.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss red kidney bean production statistics and the potential for the export market, especially for any excess red kidney beans supply after local market demand has been fulfilled. Belize consumes up to 3 million pounds of RK beans annually.
Attending the meeting were producer groups from around the country, especially the Mennonite communities in Corozal, Orange Walk and Cayo Districts, and personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Training for Orange Walk Beekeepers on Finances and Record keeping

On May 3rd, 2022 the Orange Walk Co-operatives Department hosted a one-day training session for the Orange Walk Beekeepers. The event was hosted at the Yo Creek Agriculture Station in the Orange Walk District.
The training, which focused on finances and record keeping, was facilitated by Inspector of Cooperative Records Mr. Hector Torres.
The Orange Walk Beekeepers were formed in 2016 and is made up of 25 active members. This workshop is the last training session being hosted for the group, which now will qualify to be registered as a new Cooperative.

Animal Health Week

On April 30, 2022, the Minister of Agriculture declared the first unified Animal Health Week. The event which is celebrated  from Saturday April 30 to Friday May 6, 2022 was declared open by Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, who pointed out the importance of vets to agriculture in the improving economy.
He also emphasized improving relationships between the Ministry and vets. The short ceremony declaring the week open was held at the Animal Medical Center in Belize City.

Training on Grafting Techniques

On April 28, 2022 the Ministry of Agriculture hosted a technical training on grafting techniques to 30 farmers from the Northern Sugarcane Growers’ Association.
The purpose of the training was to impart basic knowledge and develop skills about propagating different types of plants by budding and grafting. As well provide basic knowledge about tools and equipment’s and growing structures used in nursery for plant production and entrepreneurial skills of plant propagation as a means of income diversification.
Grafting is an art that becomes more successful with practices and therefore, this workshop has given hands-on instruction on grafting techniques. The session  covered information of the benefits of grafting, root stock choice and scion wood selection and collection as well demonstration of grafting techniques used in fruit tree propagation.

Exchange Visit

April 28, 2022, the Resilient Rural Belize, and both the Department of Co-operatives and Extension Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, organized and coordinated an exchange visit of two farmer groups from the Corozal District to the Cayo District.
The Northern Sustainable Agro Producers Group of Xaibe Village and Concepcion Farmers Group of Concepcion Village visited Maya Green Growers Co-operative and SAYAB Farmers Group, both of San Antonio Village, Cayo.
The purpose of the visit was for the farmer enterprises to exchange experiences and discuss best practices; as well facilitate introspective review of organization development and administration; by open communication, coordination, collaboration, and partnership channels; and stimulating discussion on gap analysis.
The visit also included stops at Lower Barton Creek and Central Farm.