The goal of the Unit with the support of line ministries and private sector is to increase market development, access and penetration of Belize’s agricultural commodities. In addition the Unit performs an essential role in enhancing accountability, transparency and coordination within the Ministry.

The unit is considered the “The think tank of the Ministry.” It is responsible for steering the direction of the Ministry’s National Agricultural Food Policy (NAFP) 2015-2030 and ensuring that programs and activities implemented by the Ministry fulfill the policy objectives.

The following are the main activities lead by the Unit:

1. Policy:
   a. Supports the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit in monitoring the progress of the NAFP 2015-2030
   b. Recommends amendments to policy based on Stakeholder consultation and dialogue
2. Agricultural Trade
   a. Contributes Agriculture positions in trade discussions both at the international and regional level. Represents Agriculture at CARICOM (COTED) and in Central American relations such as (PSA Belize Guatemala, Mexico and El Salvador).
   b. Holds Public/ Private sector dialogues and creates Working Groups to ensure the needs of farmers and producers are addressed.
3. Statistics
   a. The Unit is responsible for the monitoring, compilation and dissemination of Agricultural Data of major agricultural commodities.
   b. This year the Ministry is embarking on the implementation of an IDB supported project which is aimed at strengthening the Agricultural data collection system of the Ministry. The output of the project will include the development of a farmer and farm registry, a National Agricultural Statistical System (NASS) and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) that uses FAO data standards. It is expected that with the development of the database system users will have access to timely, reliable figures for the purpose of agricultural forecasting and planning.
   c. Write reports, present on challenges and forecasted developments in Agriculture to private and public sectors.

The following are data that can be obtained from the Unit:

1. Agriculture trade ( export and imports, quantity and value
2. Trimester and yearly Production Data ( acres and yields)
3. Quarantine statistics ( agriculture crops, imports/exports, quantity and value)
4. Agriculture Input prices ( fertilizers and chemicals)
5. Agriculture market prices ( retail and wholesale for grains, legumes, vegetables and meat)
6. Marine production ( conch, whole fish, lobsters and fillet fish)
7. Stock data ( grains and legumes and sugar, wheat flour)
8. Agriculture production cycle
9. Major production locations ( commodity, district, village)
10. Contact information of major producers and farmers

Mr. Alfonso Bautista, Statistician
alfonso.bautista@agriculture.gov.bz
Phone #: 822-2241
National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds Headquarters

Mr. Gregorio Canto, Statistical Analyst
statsofficer1@agriculture.gov.bz
Phone #: 822-2241
National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds Headquarters

The main objective of the Agro-processing Multi-service Facility in Central Farm is to provide training and technical assistance for the creation and expansion of small and medium sized agro-processing enterprises. The Agro- processing Unit focuses on product research and development for the transformation of local produce into value added agricultural products as well as the transfer of technology for agri- business development to improve income generation and food security.

The Agro-processing Unit started as a Pilot Project in 1999 with the collaboration of the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan Technical Mission in Belize. The main objective was to enhance food processing technology and the application of food science concepts in Belize. By 2002, the ROC, Taiwan Technical Mission had already introduced equipment to be used for product research and training in food processing techniques, but the space to set up all the equipment was limited.

Some of the main activities performed by the Unit are:

1. To coordinate training such as food safety, standards, labelling and packaging of products and quality control with the respective agency for training.
2. Increase the variety of agro-based processed products on the local markets, improve quality of local agro-based processed products.
3. Increase the number of small and medium enterprises involved in the processing of agricultural commodities.

The following are a few of the main services provided by the Unit:

1. The production of enriched, flavoured, banana porridge, to be distributed to targeted schools for their School Feeding Program.
   The use of technologies to preserve and add value to specific local agricultural commodities that have a production surplus” e.g jams, jellies, peanut butter, tomato salsas, pepper sauces and beans.
2. The processing of raw traditional commodities such as cassava and banana into flour for the production of baked products (breads, pastries).
3. The processing and packaging of cheese, milk and yogurt.
4. The production soy bean bi-products such as soy milk, soy sauce using new technologies.
5. The packaging of bi-products e.g honey; training of university students, women’s groups and farmers on the agro-processing techniques of the commodities mentioned above.

Agro-processing Coordinator

Earvin Gentle – Email: agroprocessing@agriculture.gov.bz

Ms. Anna Howe – Email: ahowe@agriculture.gov.bz

• Ministry of Education
• Belize Marketing and Development Cooperation

To increase human resource by efficiently increasing rural prosperity, while improving the livelihood of producers, food security and generating technologies through applied and adaptive research in agriculture.

The Central Farm Research and Innovation Center started as an Ex-servicemen Rehabilitation Scheme on the 20th of October, 1948, it was later then changed to an Experimental Station. Over the years the station have develop to what it is now a centralized station compromised of five main sections: Administration, Livestock, Crops, Research and Development, Agro-processing and Agriculture Engineering.

1. Some of the activities performed by the station are:
2. Provide Water Supply for the station for irrigation and livestock during the rainy and summer season.
3. Maintenance of building and office furniture’s.
4. Housing Rentals.
5. Provide tractor service for the general public and famers.
6. Provide vehicle maintenance for the Ministry and its departments.
7. Landscaping and land maintenance.

Shamir Carillo (Station Manager)
Telephone: (501)-804-2079
Fax: (501)-804-3074
Email: smanager.cf@agriculture.gov.bz