Agriculture – Page 5

Valley of Peace Lagoon Farmers Cooperative Host Annual General Meeting

Valley of Peace Lagoon Farmers’ Co-operative hosted their Annual General Meeting yesterday 28th November with twenty-seven members in attendance.

At the meeting financial statements were presented and there were elections for representation on the Management Committee. Newly elected members are Ever Blandon, Luis Cerritos, Maritza Blandon, Jose Meza, Guillermo Marroquin, Mauricio Evora, and Jose Cerritos.

Present for the AGM were members of the Department of Co-operatives in the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Enterprise, who supervised the elections and oversaw the meeting process.

The Co-op plants and harvests vegetables for the Cayo market and beyond. They have been successful as an organization that works together to access opportunities available through grants and projects for their membership.

IICA BAHA FAO and MAFSE Collaborate to Enhance Food Safety in the Agro processing Industry

Twenty aspiring professionals and individuals in the agro-processing industry are currently receiving capacity building in Belmopan on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and its pre-requisite programmes. The event seeks to equip participants with practical skills and knowledge crucial for ensuring the production of safe foods. The event is being facilitated by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in collaboration with the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE).

The training session will cover three essential components:

1. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP):

• Emphasizing adherence to established procedures to ensure consistent, high-quality production.

2. Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP):

• Providing detailed guidelines on maintaining a clean and sanitary processing environment.

3. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP):

• A globally recognized system, often mandatory for food production in many countries.

• Proactively monitoring potential hazards throughout the supply and process chain to ensure the production of safe food products.

The HACCP system plays a pivotal role in food safety by taking a proactive approach to identify and mitigate potential risks, ensuring that food products are not injurious to consumers. This training aligns seamlessly with the broader objective of the “Building Export Ready Micro, Small and Medium-sized Agri-Exporters” project, aiming to enhance the market readiness of agri-exporters in Caribbean countries.

The overarching goal is to facilitate the capturing of regional and extra-regional market opportunities, ultimately boosting the competitiveness of agro-products from the Caribbean in both regional and international markets.

An indispensable condition to generate income foster rural retention and tackle climate change in Central America

Connecting rural areas: An indispensable condition to generate income, foster rural retention and tackle climate change in Central America

By: Manuel Otero

Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

A pioneer in the field of development economics, Nobel laureate Michael Kremer often cites four areas as key to driving prosperity and eradicating poverty: education, health, access to drinking water and agriculture.

Kremer, a professor at the University of Chicago and IICA Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Issues, who is internationally renowned for his contributions to alleviating global poverty, prioritizes agriculture due to its key role in generating income and fostering well-being in rural areas. This is especially important for family farmers, who are always at a risk of falling behind due to their lack of access to knowledge and technologies.

In addition to education and health, digital agriculture, too, can offer effective and rapid solutions that allow for transferring knowledge, incorporating it into daily tasks and generating benefits that trigger virtuous growth processes. Specifically, it has the potential to make available to low-income farmers key tools such as useful information on weather for crop management, on soil health, and on ways to improve specific agricultural practices, among other data.

These types of information services are of vital importance for the weakest link in the agriculture sector. They empower farmers and enable them to increase their yields and income; foster rural retention and generational succession in rural areas, which, in turn, prevents mass migration; and make farmers key players in the fight against climate change.

To enable farmers to reach their full potential, it is crucial to foster connectivity, bridge gaps between urban and rural areas, as well as improve access to the Internet and communication services through technology, placing special emphasis on women and youth.

A number of limitations are slowing down the agricultural digitalization process. Some are more obvious, such as obstacles with respect to infrastructure and the availability of devices. Others are more subtle, such as the lack of awareness of the economic opportunities afforded by these resources and the deficient use of digital technologies.

According to a 2022 study by IICA, the World Bank, Bayer, CAF, Microsoft and Syngenta, approximately 72 million rural dwellers in 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries lack access to connectivity services with the minimum quality standards.

Despite the progress achieved since 2020, Central America is not only one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world, but also one of the regions with the greatest internal disparities with respect to significant rural connectivity. This indicator measures regular Internet use, access to appropriate devices, sufficient data availability and connection speed.

According to 2022 data by the World Bank and UNDP, 74% of urban households in Central America have fixed Internet connections, compared to 42% of rural households.

This is a difference of 32 percentage points, compared to the average urban-rural gap of 28 percentage points in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to data by IICA, the World Bank, Bayer, CAF, Microsoft and Syngenta.

In 2020, connectivity levels varied greatly among Central American countries: while Costa Rica and Panama had high levels of connectivity, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua comprised the low connectivity cluster.

In 2022, in the aftermath of the pandemic, progress achieved with respect to connectivity transformed this scenario in El Salvador and Honduras. The former country moved up from the low connectivity cluster to the medium-level cluster. The latter country, in turn, saw access expand by almost 13% thanks to policies implemented to foster connectivity among vulnerable households and specific public and private sector plans aimed at improving access to rural connectivity through differentiated rates for mobile phone services.

Despite these changes and relative improvements, three countries (Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) remain at a disadvantage. Tracking changes with respect to the status of rural connectivity allows for demonstrating that much remains to be done in this area.

Thanks to the proactive role assumed by international cooperation and public-private partnerships, public policies were implemented to address the emergency situation triggered by the pandemic. Within this scenario, Central America faces the added challenge of expanding its connectivity levels, for which it will need to intensify efforts to foster investment programs and digitalization ecosystems for agriculture.

This is an urgent agenda, especially for regions such as the Dry Corridor, where close to 30 million people suffer from social issues such as mass migration and the impact of climate change, and where agriculture employs 42 percent of the population. In that region, 1 out of every 3 people have access to just one meal a day, due to a confluence of factors, including inadequate natural resources management, high unemployment rates and low levels of schooling .

Incorporating and expanding the use of digital technologies in daily activities will further improve living conditions for women, youth and the rural population as a whole, which are key to food security and environmental sustainability; and will also contribute to boosting agricultural development and preventing environmental risks.

Training on Handling and Control of the Hematophageal Bat

The OIRSA, through its Bovine Paralytic Rabies Surveillance and Control Project control, developed a training on handling and control of the hematophageal bat. Belizean technicians participated in the activity and had the support of Dr. Mariano Arroyo from SENASA Costa Rica.
Also, as part of OIRSA’s Bovine Health 🇷 program, in support of the countries in the region, hematophageal bat catching equipment was delivered to the staff of BAHA from Belize and SENASA.

National Soil Survey in Belize

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise in collaboration with the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) technical support from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the University of the West Indies (UWI St. Augustine), is executing a National Soil Survey in Belize. The National Soil Survey is one of the items under the project ‘Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS) Multi-Country Soil Management Initiative for Integrated Landscape Restoration and Sustainable Food Systems: Phase 1 (CSIDSSOILCARE Phase 1)’. The objective of the CSIDS SOILCARE Phase 1 project is to strengthen Caribbean SIDS with the necessary tools for adopting policies, measures, and best practices and support the review of legal and institutional frameworks to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and Climate Resilience. The project is being implemented over the next four years in eight participating countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia.

All reactions:

Rehabilitation of the Corozal Free Zone Road

The rehabilitation of the Corozal Free Zone (CFZ) access road is closer and closer as the contract to get the work going was signed today at a brief ceremony at the CFZ conference facilities.

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai was keynote speaker and praised the work done to get the project going. Minister of Defence and Border Security Hon. Florencio Marin Jr. was also present and spoke of the benefits the infrastructure would bring to the more than 1,500 workers of the CFZ.

CEO in the Ministry of Economic Development Osmond Martinez described the process leading to the actualization of the project, which is being funded by a grant from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, CABEI, at some 2 million dollars.

CEO of the CFZ Neri Ramirez spoke of upcoming projects for the CFZ, including connection to the BWS grid to bring quality potable water to the CFZ.

The Corozal Free Zone sees over 1.1 million visitors per year and contributes some 13% to the nation’s GDP. More than 300 businesses are registered to do business with 1,500 persons employed.

Work begins in the first week of December by RJB Construction Company Ltd, which was awarded the contract in an open tender process approved by the contractor general.

Honey Induction Traceability Workshop

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) in close collaboration with Resilient Rural Belize (RRB) conducted a 1-day Honey Induction Traceability Training Worship at Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College (CEMJC) San Roman, Corozal District.

The workshop is an integral part of a national plan and the strategic development agenda that aims to contribute to the growth and development of the Honey Industry. A total of 25 producers including women and youth benefited from the training. The main goal was to sensitize producers on how to embrace Honey Traceability as a important tool to control and manage Pests and Diseases and Market Access.

The other important thematic areas covered was Supplemental Feeding and Integrated Pest Management for a productive and sustainable beekeeping farm activity.

Culmination of Honey By-Products Workshop

The highly anticipated closing ceremony of the Honey By-Products Workshop unfolded today in Central Farm, marking the conclusion of an immersive journey for 30 dedicated participants. Throughout the workshop, held over the past days, participants delved into the rich realms of propolis, purple maguey, bee venom, and mosquito repellents. Their endeavors culminated in the creation of a range of innovative beauty and skincare products made from honey, finalizing with the development of a honey soap infused with the nourishing of coconut oil.

Attendees not only displayed their creative ability but also demonstrated unwavering dedication to transforming bee-derived elements into exquisite, sustainable products. The workshop’s success is a testament to the collaborative spirit and commitment to enhancing the value of honey products and creating new opportunities in the honey industry.

The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai is thrilled with the outcomes and the enthusiasm displayed by participants, while acknowledging the support of the Cooperative Department, Sociedad Cooperativa Melitzaak and the Belize Marketing and Development Co-operation for being the visionary force behind the workshop.

The closing ceremony served as a joyous celebration of the collective journey undertaken by participants, accentuating the intersection of science, nature, and innovation. As participants carry their creations home, the workshop leaves behind a legacy of knowledge, creativity, and a profound appreciation for the wonders of the hive.

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Ninth Multilateral Meeting of Medfly Program

The 9th Multilateral Meeting of Medfly Program Commissioners from Mexico, Guatemala and the USA, with Belize as an honorary member, is taking place in Mexico City on November 8, 2023. Belize is represented at the meeting by CEO in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), Servulo Baeza, and Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) Managing Director Zoe Zetina.

During the meeting Belize signed the 2024 Work Plan for the Cooperative Fruit Fly Control Program with the United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). This work plan is under the Memorandum of Understanding between the MAFSE and the USDA signed in Washington on December 8th, 1976. The work plan, including financial plans, describes the responsibilities that USDA-APHIS and MAFSE/BAHA have for implementing the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Control Program in 2024.

The multilateral agreement is between Guatemala, Mexico and USA. Belize participates with these countries in a regional strategy to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly in the region and suppress spread to any other regions.

The Mediterranean fruit fly is considered the most important agricultural pest in the world. It has spread throughout the Mediterranean region, southern Europe, the Middle East, Western Australia, South and Central America and Hawaii. The Medfly can infest hundreds of varieties of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Belize is so far from Medfly free, thanks to collaborative efforts by BAHA and partner agencies in our neighboring Central American countries with traps and border vigilance.

Manufacturing and Processing of Honey By-Products Workshop

The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Enterprise and the Cooperative Department, in collaboration with Sociedad Cooperativa Melitzaak, are currently hosting a three-day workshop on the manufacturing and processing of honey by-products in Central Farm. The workshop which started today is a significant step towards enhancing the value of honey products and creating new opportunities in the honey industry, with a particular focus on empowering women and youth in this sector.

The workshop is being conducted by Sociedad Cooperativa Melitzaak, a cooperative based in Quintana Roo, Mexico, known for its expertise in producing cosmetic and food products derived from honey and beehive resources, including pollen, royal jelly, and propolis.

Honey production has long been a cornerstone of the agricultural sector, and the Ministry of Agriculture recognizes its importance. In collaboration with local honey producers, the Ministry has identified the need to add value to honey products, fostering increased income generation and job opportunities for the community, with a special emphasis on women and youth.

During the three days participants will learn the art of crafting honey-based soap using high-quality ingredients such as honey, coconut oil, and aloe vera, which are not only beneficial for the skin but also add value to honey products. Attendees will also learn how to prepare nutritious and essential food supplements for bees, create healing ointments using natural bee product, create an effective insect repellent using neem, honey, and bee wax, as well acquire the knowledge to make nutritious honey granola infused with dehydrated fruits and seeds, confectionery gummies infused with propolis, and product Packaging.

The workshop facilitated is an exciting opportunity for honey producers to expand their knowledge and skills, thus contributing to the development and diversification of the honey industry. By embracing the potential of honey by-products, it enhances the economic growth of the sector and provide valuable employment opportunities particularly to women and youth.