Soybean Virtual Training Program

Soybean Virtual Training Program
June 28, 2022: Ministry of Agriculture technical personnel are currently attending a three-day Virtual Training Program on Soybean Cultivation. The training is facilitated by technical experts from the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP)MEXICO.
The general objective of the training is to know the technological components of soybeans; as well as the seven varieties introduced by INIFAP, with the aim of maximizing yields in Belize.
The training course will cover the scenario of soybean cultivation in Mexico and in the Yucatan Peninsula, including the different environmental factors in soybean production including technological components involved in the soybean production for yield optimization.

Government of Belize receives an Extensive Profile to Transform its Food Systems

Government of Belize receives an Extensive Profile to Transform its Food Systems
June 24, 2022: The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise is now poised to transform its food systems using an evidence-based and extensive assessment completed earlier this year.
The Belize Food Systems Profile: Catalysing the Sustainable and Inclusive Transformation of Food Systems, was the document formally handed over to the Government of Belize on Wednesday 22nd of June, during a ceremony at the Yo Creek Agriculture Station.
Honorable Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise was handed the document by Representative for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for Belize, Dr Crispim Moreira during his weeklong visit to the country.
Minister Mai remarked that the food systems assessment was very revealing, especially on the fact that Belize imports 40% of its food. He highlighted that while the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the country, the agriculture sector rebounded with a 24% increase in production that contributed to marked improvements in GDP in one year. Despite this, the food systems profile shows that there is still much more to be done. He concluded that the food system cuts across different ministries and departments and everybody has to play their role. The revealing information from the assessment sets the pace for us to focus on what we need to do over the coming years.
The Food Systems Profile is to be used to advance national dialogue on food systems and feed into policies, plans and programmes to enable more resilient and sustainable food systems development in Belize.
FAO Representative, Dr Crispim Moreira remarked during the handover ceremony that, Belize was one of 50 countries of the world that had completed the Food Systems Assessment and that it could be used to increase investment to transform the country’s food systems. He added that many of the challenges faced with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals were linked to the food system and that Belize could become an example of how by transforming the country’s food systems it could positively impact other areas of life.
The Food Systems Profile is the result of months of extensive research, interviews and consultations with various stakeholders across sectors in Belize. It was funded through a
partnership with the European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization o

Sheep Management Workshop

Sheep Management Workshop
June 22, 2022:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), in collaboration with the Taiwan ICDF Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project (Sheep Project Phase II), held a “Sheep Management Workshop” at the Fresh Water Creek Farms in the Stann Creek District on June 22nd, 2022.
Fifteen sheep and goat farmers from around the Stann Creek District participated in the workshop, where two Specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFSE) Mr. Andrew Mejia and Mr. Edgar Tuyud presented on topics including: ⅰ) introduction of sheep project, ⅱ) sheep health management, and ⅲ) sheep traceability system. The Taiwan ICDF specialist Mr. Eason Huang and the project’s field manager Mr. Istvan Metzger presented on topics including: i) sheep nutrition, ii) pasture establishment, and iii) supplemental feeding.
During the afternoon session, the staff of Fresh Water Creek farms demonstrated their daily sheep management activities, which fulfills the objective of the project that involves farmers teaching farmers, and included demonstrations on sheep feeding, sheep breeds, and vitamin application.
The workshop is another commitment of the Sheep Project Phase II to help farmers learn from farmers. The Sheep and Goat Project includes a budget of US$3 million for a four-year implementation of phase II, that was signed by the Governments of Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) in March 2020. The project’s objectives include assisting Belizean farmers in improving the quality of sheep and goats, promoting the domestic consumption of sheep and goat products and to export these products regionally, and strengthening the sheep and goat traceability system to improve value chain efficiencies in Belize.

Signing of Grant Agreements with beneficiaries of the Agri Business Technical Incubator

Signing of Grant Agreements with beneficiaries of the Agri Business Technical Incubator
21st June 2021: The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security & Enterprise in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed today a grant agreements with beneficiaries of the Agri Business Technical incubator grants program.
The Agri Business Technical incubator is a pilot project under Technical Cooperation Program (TCP3801) currently being implemented by the FAO in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security & Enterprise in the Cayo District, Belize.
Total investment awarded was determined by the evaluation committee based on the proposed strategy to address the key weakness. Investments between 5,000 to 15,000 BZD were considered for the award. A total of eight enterprises were supported with funding of a total budget of $59,859.83.
The incubator provides new, micro and small Agriculture based enterprises with Qualification, Training, Advisory and Consulting services to enable them to formalize and accelerate their business development process. Capacity building activities have been taking place through a virtual mechanism to deliver key technical content in 5 key areas of enterprise development.
In addition, mentorship and coaching services are available to each incubated enterprise through an assigned mentor. The Program seeks to provide investments in the form of assets to enable the enterprises to scale up and enhance their business operations. This phase involves financing proposed investments of enterprises that are undergoing the incubation process.

Acting CAO & NFNSC attends Regional Meeting of Rural Youth in the SICA region

June 16, 2022:
Acting Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Victoriano Pascual along with National Food & Nutrition Security Coordinator Mr. Emilio Montero are currently attending a Regional Meeting of Rural Youth in the SICA region in Panama from the 16th to the 18th of June 2022.
The Regional Meeting is organized by the Secretariat of the Agricultural Council Central American (SECAC) and PROCASUR with the support from the International Agriculture Development Fund (FIDA) and the Ministry of Agricultural Development of the Republic of Panama, in the Project framework: Young Leaders of Territorial Rural Development in the SICA region.
The purpose of the Meeting is to dialogue and agree on action measures within the strategic framework 2022-2230, to promote the inclusion of rural youth according to conditions and specific priorities of the countries of the region, with a view to achieving development programmes more relevant, inclusive and sustainable rural and territorial for rural youth, leaving no one behind.
The Regional Meeting will combine sessions of discussion on different related topics and field visits and exchange of experiences with outstanding experiences of rural youth supported by the Ministry of Agricultural Development of Panama (MIDA).
The results and recommendations of the Regional Meeting will feed the Strategy of Rural Youth for the SICA Region (2022-2030) and will contribute to the definition and adequacy of the lines of action, in link with learnings and national initiatives of rural development, in force at national level and which are supposed to be transversal to the way in which aims to expand and strengthen the transformative role of rural youth in development of the agricultural, rural and territorial sector in the countries of the SICA region.

How to make Bio fertilizer and Bio insecticides Training

June 15, 2022:
Extension officers from the Belize District Agriculture Department were in Lucky Strike showing farmers from that village how to make bio fertilizer and bio insecticides from commonly available material around the household and farm.
Extension officers Abimael Puck, Andy Che, Noel Ramos and Vicente Tuyub (supported by Cooperatives Department and RRB) held a demonstration session, using materials such as black pepper, garlic, soap, ashes, molasses, habanero peppers and various plants to make insecticides and fertilizers.
The session is part of an initiative to show farmers how to lower costs and substitute chemical fertilizers the world of agriculture is used to. Organically grown foods command higher prices and are better for the environment. Minister Jose Abelardo Mai has recently been very vocal in supporting the substitution of fertilizers, which are sky high in price due to the war in Ukraine and global shipping crisis.
The same sessions will be carried out in all districts as part of a campaign by the Ministry to educate farmers about making their own fertilizers and insecticide.
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Completion of a one-week intensive Technical Training of Trainers workshop

A one-week intensive Technical “Training of Trainers” workshop in Coconut and Beekeeping concluded today for Technical Officers and Farmers involved in the production and processing of coconut and honey. The workshops came through collaboration with the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) and the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) of Mexico.
The training capacitated forty-five persons and focused on the strengthening of the Coconut Value Chain through the Application of Good Manufacturing Practices in Processing of Products and by-products, whereas the beekeeping training focused on equipping the participants with knowledge to tackle the rising issues of climate change, small hive beetle issues and the production of honey from stingless bees (Meliponiculture).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise extends its heartfelt thank you to the Government and people of Mexico as well as to the Mexican Technical Facilitators Dr. Jorge Ismael Tucuch Haas, Dr. Ruben Guillermo Medina Hernandez, Mr. Justo Abelardo Tepal Chale and Mr. Octavio Rojas Rodríguez from the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) of Mexico.
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Technical Visit for Schools involve in the AMEXID CARICOM FAO School Feeding project

Technical Visit for Schools involve in the AMEXID/CARICOM/FAO School Feeding project
A technical visit was conducted for three schools in the Northern Districts involved in the AMEXID/CARICOM/FAO School Feeding project. The visit was facilitated by FAO Project Coordinator Mrs. Cathleen Juan. Accompanying her were staff from the Ministries of Agriculture and Education along with Ambassador of Mexico to Belize H.E. Martha Zamarripa.
The sub-project on “Resilient school feeding programs” aims to strengthen the capacities of institutions and stakeholders to implement resilient and sustainable National School Feeding Programs in Belize.
The Mexico-CARICOM-FAO Initiative began its implementation in October 2018 with the objective of increasing the resilience of Caribbean countries to global systemic risks via the updating and / or design of public policy instruments that improve the livelihoods and well-being of families and communities, provide access to healthy food and the management of their natural resources by increasing adaptation and resilience to climate change.

Acting Chief Agriculture Officer attends Ribbon Cutting for St. Matthew’s Anglican School in Pomona

Dr. Victoriano Pascual, Acting Chief Agriculture Officer, was guest speaker at St. Matthew’s Anglican School in Pomona, Stann Creek. The school cut ribbon on their new chicken coop and vegetable garden beds.
The chicken coop and variety of vegetables they have planted, including carrots, cilantro, sweet peppers and lettuce, have been obtained through the help of 22 students from the University of Arkansas.
The students have helped build the coop and covered structure as part of a project the University has engaged in. Principal Anna Mae Ferguson and her staff, the volunteers, Dr. Pascual and the students participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony. Students will be able to participate in lessons on growing their own produce and maintain their school canteen at the same time.
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Coconut Training

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise through the Bilateral Cooperation Project with the Mexican Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Mexican International Agency for Cooperation and Development and the National Research Institute of Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock of Mexico is hosting a five-day training session from the 6th to the 10th of June 2022, for Coconut Farmers. The training is being held at the Agro-processing Unit in Central Farm.
The objective of the training is to strengthen the coconut value chain through the application of good manufacturing practices in processing products and by-products, as well as to consolidate the coconut production chain by pluralizing the areas of opportunity in the markets.
Currently, coconut trees grow in 93 countries, due to its resistance and its ability to move long distances floating in the sea. All parts of the plant have the potential to be harnessed providing sustenance, food, shelter and home to its producers. The vast majority of producers are of meager resources and live in rural areas with very little extension of land for their cultivation.
The training is facilitated by Mexican Facilitators M.C. Justo Abelardo Tepal Chale and M.C. Octavio Rojas Rodríguez.