Value Chain and Market Assessment Validation Workshop

27th, April 2022,
The Ministry of Agriculture Policy Unit along with Technical Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Cooperative Department are currently attending a one day Value Chain and Market Assessment Validation Workshop for eight commodities, (sweet pepper, tomatoes, onion, cabbage, hot pepper, carrots, pineapple and honey and honey by-products) at the University of Belize Central Farm conference room.
The objective of the planned workshop is to review and validate the information provided by key actors in the value chain as well as to identify and prioritize potential value chain production, processing, and marketing efficiency improvements benefiting smallholders, women, youth, and other actors along the value chain.
This workshop is facilitated by the Resilient Rural Belize (RRB) Programme in collaboration with the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE).
CATIE is a regional center situated in Costa Rica that dedicates to research and graduate education in agriculture, and the management, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Its members include Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Venezuela, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the State of Acre in Brazil.

Training of Trainers in Advanced Beekeeping Management Practices

April 25, 2022:
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) through the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) Honey Production Redevelopment Support Project (Honey Project) is currently conducting a weeklong workshop entitled “Training of Trainers in Advanced Beekeeping Management Practices” that is being held at the Yo-Creek Agriculture Station, Yo-Creek Village, Orange Walk District from the 25th to 29th April 2022.
The training includes topics such as i) group dynamics, ii) record keeping, iii) good manufacturing practices iv) Facilitation in Diversification v) Marketing and vi) Value-addition of Honey and Honey Products. This is being done with the collaboration of institutions such as the Cooperative Department, and both local and international consultants. The capacity building is aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial skills, organization, value addition and marketing.
The workshop forms a part of a grant agreement, Component 3 of Belize 2nd Cycle Country Assistance Program, that was signed on 21st November 2018 between the Government of Belize and the Caribbean Develop Fund (CDF). The overall objective of the Project is for the expansion of the honey production subsector in Belize, targeting the delivery of new and additional capabilities to women and disadvantaged youth to reap the advantages of employment and empowerment through sector specific knowledge acquisition.
The workshop is being held with 20 beekeepers and 5 Extension Officers from the Belize, Orange Walk and Corozal Districts.

Agricultural Labor Technician for Peasant Leaders Training Course

Agricultural Labor Technician for Peasant Leaders Training Course
A delegation of 30 Belizeans are traveling to Colombia for a 90-day training course. On April 24, 2022, the first group of 15 Belizean left the Philip Goldson Airport.
The courses come through the project for Agricultural Labor Technician for Peasant Leaders. Countries participating are from the Mesoamerica Project which includes Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Cost Rica.
The Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia, APC Colombia, in compliance with its mission as a coordinating source of international cooperation, is seeking to strengthen South-South Cooperation with the countries of the Andean Community (Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru) and some countries of the Mesoamerica Project (Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Costa Rica). The project covers 30 full scholarships to each of the countries to participate in the course “Agricultural Labor Technician” that will be held In Colombia. The course will be taught by the PANACA Foundation under full immersion modality for a period of 82 days.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE: The Agricultural Labor Technical Training Program designed by the Panaca Foundation seeks to develop technical skills in agriculture and animal production, making the beneficiaries live the day to day of business productive units with high quality standards, under the guidance of specialized professionals and expert personnel who manage production processes in the facilities of the Interactive Center for Science and Technology of the Agricultural Sector, Fundapanaca.
During the development of the training modules, the beneficiaries will carry out practical activities in agricultural mechanization, operation of irrigation systems, management of semi-annual crops, establishment of orchards, livestock, pig farming, production of minor species. Simultaneously, the beneficiaries will participate in activities that develop their human and life skills, empowering them to become agents of change in their communities as integral beings strengthened with a positive attitude.
The course seeks to foster an entrepreneurial spirit and inspire each participant to develop their own life project and, at the same time, become an inspiring and formative model among the peasants of their own environment, guided by principles of discipline, leadership, respect, cultural exchange and love for the countryside.
Criteria’s Fundapanaca establishes as a profile for those who are going to take the course are the following: ✓ Be over 18 years old ✓ Basic schooling: mathematics and literacy ✓ Agricultural Vocation ✓ Demonstrate a sense of belonging to your community ✓ Communication skills and community leadership, ✓ Write and read in Spanish as well be fluent in the Spanish language. ✓ Be from a rural area.

Training for Maya Green Growers Co-operative of San Antonio

Training for Maya Green Growers Co-operative of San Antonio
On Wednesday, April 20, 2022 the Department of Co-operatives facilitated to Maya Green Growers Co-operative of San Antonio, Cayo a training workshop on the conduct of meetings. Meetings are important for the success of any organization. In co-operatives there are two main classes of meetings: general meetings and management committee meetings. General meetings are meetings where all members of a co-operative attend. Section 21 of the Co-operative Societies Act (Chapter 313, Laws of Belize) Subsidiary reads that “The supreme authority in a registered society shall be vested in the general meeting of members at which every member has a right to attend and vote on all questions.” This is where and how members exercise their ownership, authority and control of the co-operative.
There is no fixed number of special general meetings to be held in a year; the number depends on the frequency at which urgent issues arise.
In every co-operative, members elect a Management Committee to run the affairs of the society on their behalf. That committee should consist of seven members.
In order to carry out duties entrusted by the general meetings, the committee is mandated to hold monthly meetings. However, these may be more often depending on the business of the co-operative.
The discussions during such meetings typically include:
• consideration and confirmation of the minutes of the previous meetings;
• discussion on and verification of the accounts of the co-op (liquidity position);
• receipt of and discussion on various reports of the co-op (includes activity and sub committee reports).
• discussion of the financial obligations of the co-op (creditors and other commitments).
• discussion on any other matters that affects the running of the business of the co-op

Meeting with Productores de Frutas Tradicionales Bromelia of St Margaret’s Village

Meeting with Productores de Frutas Tradicionales Bromelia of St Margaret’s Village

 

On Thursday, April 21, 2022 the Department of Co-operatives facilitated a meeting with Productores de Frutas Tradicionales Bromelia of St Margaret’s Village, Cayo.

The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a revision of their Internal Policies. The Bylaws and Internal Policies make up a co-operative’s regulatory and guidance documents and are subject to review and revisions from time to time.

The Department of Co-operatives has oversight of co-operative functions across the country and makes constant efforts to monitor and review their various activities to assist the co-operatives in how they conduct their business and to ensure compliance with their internal policies.

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New Acting Chief Agriculture Officer

Notice
New Acting Chief Agriculture Officer
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise announces the retirement of former Chief Agriculture Officer Andrew Harrison from active service in the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security & Enterprise, thanks “Chief” Harrison for his many years of dedication and service and wishes him well in all his future endeavors.
At the same time Ministry announces that Dr. Victoriano Pascual, formerly Director of Water Management and Climate Change, now assumes duties as Acting Chief Agriculture Officer.

Handing Over of Seedlings

April 22, 2022:
This morning the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with IICA and the Canadian Fund for local Initiative handed over seedlings to Ms. Ivone Codd from the Ministry of Education. The seedlings are to be distributed to selected schools in the Belize District.
The seedling distribution follows an initiative by both the MAFSE and MOECYS to introduce gardening to urban schools and to assist with school feeding programs. Three is also the hope schools will include planting seedlings as part of their curriculum. Seedlings have previously been successfully grown by city schools like Stella Maris School in Belize City.

Ministry of Agriculture and Taiwan ICDF Organize Sheep Management Field Day

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise in collaboration with the Taiwan ICDF Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project (Sheep Project Phase II) held a “Sheep Management Field Day” at the farm of Mr. Leovijildo Wicab in San Felipe Village, Orange Walk, on April 22, 2022.

The event had the participation of 25 sheep and goat farmers, extension officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, the project manager and specialist from the Taiwan Technical Mission in Belize as well as other interested parties from both the Orange Walk and Corozal districts. The field day included demonstrations in forage cutting, supplemental feeding, sheep barn, record keeping, animal husbandry and mutton dishes serving.

An experienced sheep farmer, Mr. Wicab demonstrated his daily farm management activities, which fulfils an objective of the project that involves farmers teaching farmers.

The Sheep Project Phase II includes a US$3 million budget for the four-year implementation that was signed by the governments of Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) in March 2020. The objectives include, among others, to continue to assist Belizean farmers to further improve the quality of their sheep and goats, to conduct a market study and value chain analysis to promote consumption and market penetration for sheep and goat products, and to strengthen the sheep and goat traceability system to improve value chain efficiencies.

Ministry of Agriculture Annual General Meeting

Ministry of Agriculture Concludes AGM
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise hosted its two-day AGM at Ayin-Ha Resort in Lemonal Village. The First day event was opened by the Minister of Agriculture main address, which was then followed by presentation from the Міnіѕtrу оf Аgrісulturе Роlісу аnd Ѕtаtіѕtісѕ unit, Vеgеtаblеѕ аnd Rооt Сrорѕ, Fruіt Тrееѕ, Grаіnѕ аnd Тrаdіtіоnаlѕ, Lіvеѕtосk, Аgrо-Рrосеѕѕіng, аnd Fооd Ѕесurіtу аnd Nutrіtіоn as well other various unit from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The objective of the AGM was to present accomplishments and workplans that will guide the Ministry in its planning, activities, and initiatives. The workplans outlined the vision of the various departments and partner agencies to promote agriculture locally and to be more export-oriented under the new programmatic framework of vegetable and root crops, grains, traditional crops, and livestock, among others.

Оn Dау Тwо, thе рrеѕеntаtіоnѕ was carried on bу thе раrtnеrѕ іn dеvеlорmеnt which included thе Реѕtісіdеѕ Соntrоl Воаrd, ВАНА, thе Ѕugаr Іnduѕtrу Rеѕеаrсh аnd Dеvеlорmеnt Іnѕtіtutе, Rеѕіlіеnt Rurаl Веlіzе, thе Веlіzе Lіvеѕtосk Рrоduсеrѕ Аѕѕосіаtіоn, thе Dіrесtоrаtе fоr Іntеrnаtіоnаl Тrаdе, DFС, Веltrаіdе, аnd thе Саrіbbеаn Аgrісulturе Rеѕеаrсh аnd Dеvеlорmеnt Іnѕtіtutе followed bу thе Fооd аnd Аgrісulturе Оrgаnіzаtіоn, thе Іntеr-Аmеrісаn Іnѕtіtutе fоr Аgrісulturе Соореrаtіоn оn Аgrісulturе, ОІRЅА, the Free Zone, аnd thе Yа’ахсhé Соnѕеrvаtіоn Тruѕt.

Handing over of Bio-safety Kits

Handing over of Bio-safety Kits
On April 7, 2022: The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise handed over Biosafety kits to the Ministry of Education, which in turn handed them over to 26 primary schools countrywide. The Bio-safety kits include washbasins, dispensers, masks and hand sanitizers with a value of BZD$27,058 funded by the Mesoamerica Hunger Free Program.
“Mesoamerica Hunger Free AMEXCID-FAO” is a joint initiative of the Government of Mexico, through the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which works in coordination with institutions in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, to provide them with innovative development solutions.
Present to hand over the kits was Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai, while CEO in the Ministry of Education Dian Maheia received the kits on behalf of the 26 schools countrywide that will get the kits. Also present were principals of recipient primary schools from the Orange Walk District.
The ceremony was held at August Pine Ridge Roman Catholic School in the Orange Walk District.