Livestock Farmers exchange visit to Peten

Fifteen dairy farmers from Shipyard and Spanish Lookout are currently on a 2-day exchange visit in Peten. The exchange visit comes through a follow up meeting held between the livestock technical officers of MAGA Peten, Western Dairies and the Ministry of Agriculture.
The objective is to exchange ideas, technology and innovation in the area of breeding (genetics) nutrition, agroprocessing, and animal husbandry.
This activity is in line with the Ministerial memorandum of agreement signed in 2022 between Hon. Jose Mai and Vice Minister Elmer Oliva Pacheco of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Guatemala, Peten.

Handing over of the project BELIZE RESILIENT SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM to the Ministry of Education

Today the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Enterprise handed over the project: BELIZE RESILIENT SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM to the Ministry of Education. The project comes under the sub – project MEXICO-CARICOM-FAO INITIATIVE: – “COOPERATION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE IN THE CARIBBEAN”.
The school feeding programmes in the Caribbean, as elsewhere, have long been established and recognized as an important instrument in facilitating learning, especially for poor and vulnerable school children.
The Government of Belize under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise along with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology embraced the Belize Healthy Start School Feeding Initiative stipulated in #plan Belize manifesto – a promise that the government made to the Belizean people.
Under the technical cooperation with FAO, this bilateral program contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)., in particular to SDGs No. 1, 2, 3, and 4; Respectively being, NO POVERTY, ZERO HUNGER, GOOD HEALTH & WELL BEING AND QUALITY EDUCATION.
With the aid from the Mexican Government, through the Mexican International Development Cooperation Agency (AMEXCID), and with technical support from the FAO, the project seeks to strengthen institutional plans for achieving food and nutrition security and providing support for individual smallholder farmers and or family farming.
The Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has developed a methodology to provide both technical and financial assistance to countries interested in improving their National School Feeding Programs.
Each of the beneficiary schools has received a covered structure with raised beds and seedlings of different varieties. Planting is also in progress. The schools will also be receiving trainings on how to manage their gardens. The trainings are also coming up for small farmers and cooperatives, with the goal of connecting these farmers to school feeding programs, so that the produce can be sold directly to schools.
The school feeding menu consists of a majority of locally grown items. School cooks and administrations have been provided with menu planning tools, allowing them to predict their need for products and be able to order from producers.
Finally, the project aims to connect local cooperatives and farmers directly with schools, establishing a mutual beneficial relationship.
Present at the event was Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Education, Minister of National Security, Chief of Mission-Mexico, FAO Representatives and other invited Guests.

Completion of a two week training on Empowering women and Youth in Agroprocessing and Value adding

Twenty-seven food processors were successfully certified and awarded today for completing a two-week training program.
The training program, which was funded by the Republic of China, Taiwan, was facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture Agroprocessing Unit under the project Empowering Women and Youth to Generate Income through Agroprocessing and Value Addition of Locally Grown Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables Project”.
Food processors will now be able to standardize and used their knowledge to upgrade their product to another level. This training seeks to address several issues in Plan Belize such as
• reducing imports
• expanding exports
• reducing food losses
• strengthen food security.
• promoting health living
• linking agriculture with tourism
• capacity building for women and youth to become positive contributors to the development of the economy.
The twenty-seven participants who received the training are from across the country mainly women and youths. The group received capacity building in product development and value addition in the safe processing of salsa casera, pickled jalapeno, pineapple preserve, and pineapple jam.
The objective of the training was to Improve the productive and technical skills of youth and women for improved livelihood in the agro-productive sector. As well support the increase of locally produced commodities, supply growing national demand for processed food and beverages and to mitigate against increased cost of imported value-added products and replace and substitute imports, expand exports, and strengthen the linkages between agriculture and the tourism sector.
Collaborators for this training was the Ministry of Agriculture Agro-processing Unit, Ministry of Health Public Health Department, Belize Marketing Development Cooperation, Belize Bureau of Standards.

Donation of four breeding sheep to the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Food of the Republic of Guatemala

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), in collaboration with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project, donated four breeding sheep to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food of the Republic of Guatemala (MAGA) on April 29. The Dorper, Katahdin, and Barbados Black Belly sheep breeds will be used to improve the existing genetic stock at MAGA.
The donation follows a memorandum of agreement signed between MAFSE and MAGA in 2022 to advance the agricultural development of both countries in technical areas such as livestock, agro-processing, fruit trees, research, innovation, and technological transfer. This agreement has also resulted in Belize’s technical officers receiving training in various thematic areas in Guatemala and Guatemalan officers visiting Belize to offer training sessions.
The Government of Belize, and by extension, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, remains committed to regional partnerships for the growth and development of the agricultural sector. This donation also forms a wider partnership with the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) through advancing the sheep sub-sector in Belize and the region.

Food Handler Training for NATS Food Vendors

The National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) Committee hereby notifies all food vendors that they need to possess a valid Food Handler’s Certificate to be able to sell food at the NATS on April 29th and 30th.
Those who do not have a valid Food Handler’s Certificate are required to attend a Food Handler’s Training session on Thursday, April 20th, at the NATS Showgrounds Mainstage Pavilion at 2:00 p.m.
For more information, please contact:
Clifford Martinez – Coordinator, National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS)
National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) HeadquartersNATS Grounds
Belmopan, Cayo District
Telephone: 822-2648 or 623-0606
Email: nats@agriculture.gov.bz

Joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security

The Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) is a landmark decision under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that recognizes the unique potential of agriculture in tackling climate change. The Koronivia decision addresses six interrelated topics on soils, nutrient use, water, livestock, methods for assessing adaptation, and the socio-economic and food security dimensions of climate change across the agricultural sectors. The decision resonates with FAO’s core mandate to eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, reduce rural poverty, and make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable.

cop27 Koronivia

Orange Walk Cooperative Department Facilitate Meeting with Minister of Transport and the Northern Bus Owners

A meeting was held on Sunday 16th Of April with the Hon. Rodwell Ferguson Minister of Transport, and owners of the northern bus companies to discuss collaboration and advantages cooperatives have in the bus industry.
The meeting, which took place at the Yo Creek Agriculture Station, was facilitated by the Orange Walk Cooperatives Department.
Some bus companies in Orange Walk and Corozal have shown interest in forming a cooperative and have currently been engaged in various meetings with the Cooperative Department. Other matters discussed in the meeting included the new bus regulations.
Present at the meeting was Ms. Dian Vasquez, Chief Transport Officer, Ms. Shanoy Gentle, Senior Transport Planner, and Cooperative Officers Mr. Francis Vega, Mr. Leonardo Tzib and Mr. Edwardo Leiva.

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project

A Memorandum of Understanding for the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project (CRESAP) was signed today 13th of April 2023 in Belmopan. The MoU was signed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Belize Agriculture Health Authority, Pesticides Control Board, University of Belize, the National Meteorological Service and the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation.
The CRESAP project is being financed by an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan of US$25 million, US$2.5 of counterpart funds and US$18.20 million of commercial financing. Under the Project, support will be provided to agricultural producers to adopt climate-smart agriculture technologies via matching grants and private capital mobilization, and investments in strategic collective agricultural infrastructure assets will be made, to contribute to increased agricultural production and sustainability.
The total number of direct beneficiaries that CRESAP is expected to reach are 7,300 heads of household, of whom 7,000 will be farmers. When all members of the beneficiary households are considered, a total of 29,000 individuals (6.9 percent of the country’s population) will benefit from the Project, of whom about 28,700 will be members of farm households. CRESAP will aim for women farmers to be at least 30 percent of beneficiaries.
The CRESAP came about after the Government of Belize (GoB) desired to support innovative, climate-smart technologies, better rural infrastructure, improve linkages to financing and access to markets, and improved production practices. Thus, the GoB decided to develop the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project (CRESAP) which will promote the adoption of climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices and finance more resilient rural infrastructure, increasing agricultural productivity while making farmers less vulnerable to climate change. The CRESAP project will also strengthen the institutional capacity of the relevant ministries and public institutions. Given the vulnerability to climate disasters, the Project contains a Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) as well.
The Project consists of 2 components:
Component 1: Institutional Strengthening (US$2.9375 million – financed by IBRD) This component focuses on strengthening the capacity of key public institutions (government agencies and academic organizations) to support a more productive and sustainable agricultural sector. The component will finance goods, small works, equipment, studies, training, consulting, and advisory services to:
Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise
Belize Agriculture Health Authority
Pesticides Control Board
University of Belize
National Meteorological Service
Belize Marketing and Development Corporation
Component 2: Investments in Climate-Smart Agriculture (Total Cost: US$39.7 million, of which IBRD: US$19 million; commercial finance from Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs): US$18.2 million, and beneficiary farmers: US$2.5 million).
This component will finance three subcomponents: The three subcomponents are interrelated and complementary leading to the objective of strengthening the capacity of farmers and participating financial intermediaries engaging in climate-smart agricultural investments under the Project, as to be able to take advantage of the provision of financing to farmers (matching grants and loans from PFIs) to adopt CSA technologies and practices, and increasing their productivity, levels of income and resiliency to climate change and weather events.
Present for the signing was Minister of Agriculture, Security and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai, CEO Servulo Baeza of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and heads of the participating signatory organizations.

Memorandum of Understanding on the Ocean Country Partnership Programme

The Governments of Belize and the United Kingdom signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Ocean Country Partnership Programme at a ceremony held at the British High Commissioner’s Residence on March 29.
The Ocean Country Partnership Programme is funded by the Blue Plant Fund through Official Development Assistance (ODA) and has three thematic areas of focus: marine biodiversity, marine pollution, and sustainable seafood. The programme provides support to partnering countries by establishing a collaborative framework to strengthen marine science expertise, develop science-based policy and management tools, and create educational resources for coastal communities.
This agreement is between the Government of the United Kingdom, represented by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Government of Belize represented by the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation as the lead agency, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and the Ministry of Economic Development respectively.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by C.E.O. Kennedy Carrillo on behalf of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, C.E.O. Dr. Kenrick Williams on behalf of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, C.E.O. Servulo Baeza on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, and C.E.O. Dr. Osmond Martinez on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Development and Her Excellency, Nicole Davison, British High Commissioner to Belize on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom.
Belize is the second country worldwide and first country in the Caribbean to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of the United Kingdom for the Ocean Country Partnership Programme.

Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Belize and the Ministry of Agriculture

A memorandum of understanding between the University of Belize (UB) and the Ministry of Agriculture was signed today to establish institutional cooperation.
The University of Belize and the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Enterprise will cooperate in collective efforts and resources, to build capacity, share and promote knowledge transfer, expertise, data and information to strengthen the common interests and respective missions of both institutions.
Present for the signing was the President of UB, Dr. Vincent Palacio, and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Servulo Baeza. A ribbon cutting was also held for four newly constructed dorms.