National Meeting on Vegetable Production and Projections for Seasonal Crops Held in Belmopan

A national meeting on vegetable production and projections for seasonal crops was held in Belmopan last week bringing together vegetable producers from across the country. The meeting aimed to review current production levels and discuss the upcoming planting season to ensure the continued supply of quality vegetables to the Belizean market.
Key stakeholders actively participated in the meeting, including representatives from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC), and Supplies Control. Leading the discussions was Minister of State, Hon. Alex Balona, alongside officers from the Ministry of Agriculture. Together, the group discussed best practices for vegetable farming, market demands, and strategies for addressing challenges such as climate variability, pests, and disease control.
This collaborative effort underscores the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing Belize’s agricultural productivity while supporting local farmers through improved planning, access to resources, and technical assistance.
The Ministry of Agriculture remains dedicated to fostering resilience and sustainability within the agricultural sector, with this meeting marking another step toward achieving those goals.

MAFSE and CRESAP Host Pitahaya Management Training in Central Farm

Central Farm, Cayo District – The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE), in collaboration with the Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture Project (CRESAP), hosted a Pitahaya Management Training today at the Agriculture Conference Room in Central Farm, Cayo District. The training was attended by approximately 40 participants, primarily farmers from the Cayo District.
The training featured presentations by personnel from the Ministry’s Extension Service and Research Team. Attendees were guided through various aspects of pitahaya cultivation, including plant care and management techniques to boost productivity and crop resilience.
In addition to the presentations, outdoor demonstrations were conducted on key agricultural practices such as composting, vermiculture, and the preparation of organic fertilizers. These hands-on activities provided participants with practical knowledge on how to enhance soil fertility and sustainability in their farming operations.
This training is part of MAFSE’s and CRESAP ongoing efforts to strengthen farmers’ capacities and promote sustainable agricultural practices in Belize.

National Consultation on the Food Security and Nutrition Policy of Central America and the Dominican Republic

National Consultation on the Food Security and Nutrition Policy of Central America and the Dominican Republic
Today, Belize hosted the National Consultation on the Regional Action Plan (PAR) for the Food and Nutrition Security Policy (POLSAN) of Central America and the Dominican Republic 2024-2028. The consultation, held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise in Belmopan, brought together key stakeholders to discuss and align national efforts with the regional food security framework.
The event commenced with opening remarks by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP). The speakers underscored the importance of regional cooperation to address food security challenges, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global price crises.
Participants were introduced to the POLSAN 2024-2028 by the General Secretariat of SICA, followed by an overview of Belize’s national policies on food security and nutrition. The sessions emphasized the need for an integrated, intersectoral approach to ensure permanent access to safe and nutritious food for all Belizeans.
The consultation featured group discussions on how to adapt and prioritize the POLSAN measures within the national context. Representatives from agriculture, health, social sectors, civil society, and international organizations worked together to refine the regional action plan to meet Belize’s unique needs.
As part of the closing remarks, representatives reaffirmed Belize’s commitment to collaborating with SICA Member States to enhance food security and nutrition for all Central Americans and Dominicans.
The outcomes from today’s consultation will contribute to the upcoming regional validation workshop in October 2024, further ensuring that Belize’s voice is reflected in the final regional action plan.

DEVELOPMENT OF A RISK BASED SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY IMPORT AND EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BELIZE PROJECT CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS FOR THE DESIGN OF A WEB BASED SANITARY AND PHYTO-SANITARY INSPECTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR BELIZE

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2024 Cooperative Department Annual Report Building Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods

Introduction: The Cooperative Department has had a productive year, with significant strides in enhancing cooperative societies across Belize. The focus for 2023-2024 has been on fostering sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and laying the groundwork for future growth. Below are the key achievements, lessons learned, and future priorities outlined in our Annual Report.

Key Achievements (2023-2024):

  • New Registrations: Two new cooperatives were successfully registered:
    • Northern Coconut Growers Co-operative Society Ltd. in San Estevan, Orange Walk
    • Indian Church Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd. in Indian Church, Orange Walk
  • Capacity Building Workshops: These workshops focused on:
    • Benefits of organization for small-scale producers and service providers
    • Conduct of meetings and proper minutes-taking
    • Bookkeeping and records management
    • Cooperative administration and management
    • Specialized training for honey byproducts for women cooperatives
    • National Healthy Start School Feeding Project
  • Exchange Visits: Facilitated exchange visits to enhance learning and collaboration between cooperatives.
  • Project Development: Successfully drafted and defended the “Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods Building Resilience-Investments in Cooperatives” project before GEF-SGP UNDP.
  • Curriculum Development: Further development of the cooperative registration and capacity building curriculum, along with enhancement of the staff manual.

Lessons Learned:

  • Successes: There was higher-than-expected interest and comprehension among stakeholders in capacity-building programs. This indicates a strong demand for continued education and support.
  • Challenges: The department faced a growing demand for its services, which was challenging to meet due to decreasing resources.

Future Priorities & Plans:

  • Digital Transformation: Plans are in place to digitize the current cooperative registry and the training and registration processes.
  • Legal Restructuring: Formalizing legal revisions and restructuring within the cooperative sector to better meet the needs of modern cooperative societies.

Conclusion & Recommendations:

  • Strengths & Opportunities: The cooperative sector in Belize is becoming more vibrant and dynamic, contributing significantly to the economy and improving the livelihoods of its members. There is renewed interest in the cooperative business model, backed by strong political support.
  • Weaknesses & Threats: However, challenges such as undertrained staff, antiquated legislation, resistance to change, and a reducing budget continue to pose threats. Addressing these issues will require additional resources and strategic planning.

Final Thoughts: “If you want to be incrementally better: Be competitive. If you want to be exponentially better: Be cooperative.”

The Cooperative Department remains committed to fostering a resilient cooperative sector in Belize. We look forward to another year of growth and development.

Contact Information: For more details, please contact the Cooperative Department at:

  • Phone: 822-2648
  • Email: info@coops.bz

 

2024 Annual Update: Policy Unit’s Role in Strengthening Belize’s Agricultural Sector

CONSULTANCY SERVICES

CONSULTANCY SERVICES – INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS FOR THE DESIGN OF A WEB-BASED

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SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE BELIZE PROGRAM

Sustainable and Inclusive Belize Program 

Overview: The Sustainable Agriculture Program is designed to promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, increase climate resilience and environmental sustainability, and enhance productivity in specific crops and livestock production. The primary objective is to increase competitiveness and access to markets for farmers and agribusinesses.

Program Benefits The program offers several benefits, including:

  1. Technical Assistance
    • Assistance in creating a Farm Plan (FP) or Green Agri-Business Plan.
  2. Co-Financing
    • Partial implementation of a viable farm plan with a maximum of BZE$4,000.00 through a voucher system.
  3. Grants
    • Partial financing for selected green agri-business plans:
      • Up to BZE$50,000.00 for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
      • Up to BZE$150,000.00 for farm groups.
  4. Capacity Building
    • Support to enhance farm management capabilities.
  5. Learning by Doing
    • Activities such as farmers’ field schools and farmer-to-farmer exchange programs.

Beneficiaries and Target Groups The program targets the following groups:

  • Small farmers
  • Women farmers
  • Indigenous farmers
  • Migrant farmers
  • Youth farmers
  • Farm groups
  • MSMEs in the agriculture sector

Eligibility Criteria

Individual Farmers

  • Proof of land tenure (property title, possession right, lease, or community/collective land).
  • Qualify as a small farmer with 0.5 to 20 acres of land in production.
  • Register in the Belize Agriculture Information Management System (BAIMS) or commit to register.
  • Producer of one or more priority agricultural commodities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE), excluding traditional commodities.
  • Farm in operation for at least 12 months.
  • No harmful environmental impact.
  • Ability to provide a minimum of 15% of the total Farm Plan cost in cash or in-kind contribution.

Farm Groups

  • Evidence of working as a group for at least one year prior to application.
  • Ownership title of land or possessory right to use or occupy the land.
  • Registered as a cooperative/association or commit to formalize.
  • Participation of women, youth, indigenous, and/or migrant farmers.

MSMEs

  • Evidence of conducting related business activities for at least one year.
  • Proof of registration certificate or commitment to formalize (letter of commitment).
  • Qualify as MSMEs in Belize.

MSMEs Classification

  • Micro Enterprises: Less than 5 employees, annual revenues < BZ$100,000.
  • Small Enterprises: 5 – 20 employees, annual revenues ≥ BZ$100,000 and < BZ$500,000.
  • Medium Enterprises: 21 – 51 employees, annual revenues ≥ BZ$500,000 and < BZ$4.5 million.

Contact Information For more information or to apply, please contact your district extension office:

Conclusion The Sustainable Agriculture Program aims to build a resilient and competitive agricultural sector in Belize by supporting small and marginalized farmers, enhancing environmental sustainability, and promoting access to markets through strategic support and capacity-building initiatives.

To apply kindly See Application Below:

 Application forms for small farmer

Sustainable and Inclusive Application form- MSME FG

Representatives from AMEXCID Conduct Site Visits and Attend Training for Sembrando Vida Project Beneficiaries in Belize

Representatives from the Mexican Agency for International Development and Cooperation (AMEXICID) recently visited Belize to assess the progress and development of the Sembrando Vida Project. The delegation engaged in site visits and participated in training sessions organized for farmers, focusing on organic bio practices.
The site visits took place in several districts across Belize, including Toledo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, and Cayo. During these visits, the AMEXICID representatives had the opportunity to observe firsthand how the Sembrando Vida Project has been implemented and the impact it has had on local communities.
One of the highlights of the visit was the attendance of the training sessions dedicated to farmers participating in the Sembrando Vida Project. The training focused on organic bio practices, emphasizing sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural techniques.
Farmers, as beneficiaries of the project, had the chance to enhance their knowledge and skills in adopting organic farming methods.
The AMEXICID delegation expressed their commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture and rural development in Belize. They underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration and the exchange of best practices to address common challenges faced by agricultural communities.
The site visits and training sessions are part of a comprehensive evaluation process to assess the success and challenges of the Sembrando Vida Project in Belize. Following this initial visit, a follow-up with the directors of AMEXCID (Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation) is planned to further discuss strategies and potential areas for improvement.
The Sembrando Vida Project, a government program in Mexico, aims to provide financial support to farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The extension of this initiative to Belize reflects a shared commitment to fostering economic development, environmental conservation, and improved livelihoods in the region.
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Successful Completion of Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) Training

A successful five-day training on Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) concluded on March 1st, 2024, with 30 participants receiving certificates of completion. This collaborative effort between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) took place at the Central Farm Tilapia Hatchery Conference Room in Belize.
The SHEP approach focuses on empowering smallholder farmers, encouraging them to view farming as a sustainable business. The emphasis is on enhancing both marketing and production skills, aligning with the overarching goal of promoting resilient and successful agricultural practices in Belize.
The Ministry of Agriculture and JICA express gratitude to all participants, acknowledging their commitment to advancing agricultural practices in Belize through the SHEP approach. This collaboration marks a significant step towards building a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector in the region.