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.

Soybean Training Seminar in Muna Yucatan

Twenty participants from within the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and the private sector are attending a four-day soybean training seminar in Muna, Yucatan, from March 28 to March 31.
The seminar will look at topics such as agronomic management from planting to harvesting, use of technology and innovation in soybean production over the course of 3 days. On day four they will participate in a National Soybean Forum, where a field day showcasing the different soybean varieties produced in Mexico will be held, technical experts from all over Mexico will share their experiences in the soybean industry, as well as businesses will exhibit machinery and value-added products.
Participants include Mennonite representation from Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek, CARDI, MAFSE Extension Department, farmers and members from the private sector. The soybean training sessions are part of the bilateral agreement for cooperation in agriculture signed between Belize and Mexico in August 2021. Since that signing Mexican experts have visited Belize several times to observe trials and share information on varieties, cultivation and best practices, while now Belizean farmers and extension officers are visiting Mexico as part of the program.
The training sessions are being organized by INIFAP, the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (National Institute of Forestry, Crop and Livestock Research) .

Minister of Agriculture meets with Reimers Feed Mill Representatives

Representatives from Reimers Feed Mill met this evening with Minister Jose Abelardo Mai to discuss collaboration, challenges, export opportunities and it’s 2023 work plan.
The mill is currently one of the leading suppliers of animal feed. The company has expanded in different parts of the country to promote its business to small-scale backyard farmers. Recently the company has been contemplating in exporting their feed to Guatemala.

Rehabilitation Center receives donation from the Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) donated 75 chicks, mixed Rhode Island Red and Black Sexlink, and 100 lbs of chick starter ration to Jacob Farm. The farm is a rehabilitation center for alcohol and drug addicts which is located in Patchakan, Corozal, and currently rehabs 22 males.
The main purpose of the donation is to boost the institution’s agriculture livestock program, thus ensuring a constant supply of quality eggs and meat to their kitchen. In keeping with Plan Belize, the MAFSE will assist organizations that include agriculture as part of their positive discipline program in helping out at risk youth and adults.

Presentation on the Agrarian Diagnostic in Southern Belize

The Toledo Agriculture Department in collaboration with the IDB and Economic Development Project conducted a presentation on the “Agrarian Diagnostic in Southern Belize”.
The agrarian system is a concept to understand the agriculture and agro- economy in one delimited area. The presentation, which was facilitated by Consultant Ms. Charlotte Boston, was attended by 49 persons who all participated in the presentation. The event was held yesterday at the TCGA processing facility, Toledo District.

Sheep Farmers Field School Session

The Corozal District Agriculture Coordinator Mr. Fred Roches conducted a session of sheep farmers field school with members of Corozal Sheep Cooperative. The main objectives of the field school were to facilitate Sheep farmers to learn innovative production systems and be able to adapt to climate change, as well Empower Sheep farmers with knowledge, skills and critical decision making.
The second training session will be done April 19th 2023.

International Day of Forests

In commemoration and celebration of this year’s International Day of the Forest, Minister of Agriculture Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai along with the Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, planted timber and fruit trees at three different high schools in Belmopan.
A total of 40 Fruit trees were donated to the Ministry of Sustainable Development by the Ministry of Agriculture to commemorate this event.
In 2012, the United Nations Assembly declared March 21st as the International Day of Forests with the objective to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.
This year’s theme, “Healthy Forests for Healthy People,” brings awareness to forests and how much our forests contribute to our health. Forests also provide countless important health benefits, such as fresh air, clean water and aesthetically pleasing sceneries and landscapes. Healthy forests and a healthy environment are directly linked to healthier lives. Over the past 100 years, Belize has invested significantly in protecting and managing its natural capital for the benefit of Belizeans. It boasts 60.9% of forest cover with a 0.75% deforestation rate, which include protected natural areas, wetlands and mangroves, contributing over 20% to Belize’s GDP.