News – Page 32 – Agriculture

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise Tours the Stann Creek District

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise Tours the Stann Creek District

Hon. Abelardo Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, visited the Stann Creek District as part of his familiarization tour of Agriculture Departments and agribusinesses in the country.

The Minister first met with the staff of the Stann Creek District Agricultural Office at Hope Creek. He then proceeded to visit several farms and agro-production facilities, including farms at Roseville, Tex Bel Farm in Maya Center Village, Corridgeree Belize Ltd. in Silk Grass Village, and Silk Grass Farms facilities where he saw a coconut oil production factory and industrial coconut husking facilities. The Minister also visited Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods, Sabal Cassava Food Products Farm at Mile 3 on the Hummingbird Highway, and Villafranco Farm in Hope Creek Village.

Minister Mai was impressed with the scale and quality of the commodities being produced and the commitment of agro-producers. He engaged in lively discussions with the farmers and producers on various issues and topics.

Minister Mai’s tour continues in other districts.

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Completes Tour of Toledo District

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Completes Tour of Toledo District

Hon. Abelardo Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise went on a tour of agribusinesses in the Toledo District from January 28-29, 2021. Minister Mai visited several businesses where he held meetings with the staff. These included the Toledo District Agriculture Station, the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation Rice Mill at Big Falls; several shrimp farms, including Aquamar and BelEuro; and the Naledo turmeric processing facility.

Several farms were visited where the Minister held meetings of agro-related concerns, including meetings with the southern cattle and agro-product traders and exporters and the Toledo Cacao Growers Association. Minister Mai stated that he was impressed with the work at some of the farms, such as the Herson Blandon Farm and the Leslie Parham Farm.

The Minister noted the issues and concerns presented by agro-producers and shared his commitment to trying to find a way forward. He reiterated his Ministry’s mission of putting Belizean products first.

Minister Mai was accompanied by Hon. Mike Espat, Toledo East Area Representative and Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment.

The Minister will continue his national tour in the coming months.

Minister of Agriculture and Ambassador of Taiwan Tours the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center in Central Farm

Minister of Agriculture and the Ambassador of Taiwan Tours the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center in Central Farm

The Minister of Agriculture the Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai along with H.E Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan toured the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center in Central Farm on Thursday, February 4th, 2021.

The purpose of the tour was to get first-hand knowledge of the project and discuss the future collaboration between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of China Taiwan. The “Genetic Improvement for Sheep and Goat Breeding Belize –Taiwan Project” Agreement was signed on December 2, 2015. The purpose of the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center in Central Farm is to introduce quality breeding stocks and building the capacity of technicians and farmers to improve the general production of sheep. The thrее improved brееdѕ оf ѕhеер, are the Ваrbаdоѕ Вlасk Веllу, Dоrреr аnd Каtаhdіn.

After the tour Minister Mai announced that the price for sheep will be adjusted so that it can be more affordable to the farmers. The current price for the male breeding stock stands at $1000 Bz.

Belize and St. Kitts-Nevis Settle Trade Dispute over Brown Sugar

Belize and St. Kitts-Nevis Settle Trade Dispute over Brown Sugar

Belmopan. January 22, 2021. 5:00 p.m.

Belize and the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis this week settled a trade dispute that had been ongoing in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) over trade in brown sugar.

Belize had sued Saint Kitts-Nevis, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and CARICOM, alleging that the two CARICOM member states were importing brown sugar from countries outside the Single Market without imposing the 40% Common External Tariff (CET). Belize alleged that because of this treaty violation, Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) and Santander Sugar were losing sales to these countries. It was also alleged that the CARICOM Secretariat had failed to ensure that the CET was imposed by St. Kitts and Trinidad & Tobago, which by extension facilitated trade by the two respondents in which they did not apply the CET.

Belize is seeking a ruling from the CCJ that requires the full application of the 40% CET on Brown Sugar imported from non-CARICOM sources; the establishment of the Monitoring Mechanism for Sugar that was approved by the COTED in 2019; implementation of the Monitoring Mechanism once finalized; and compensation for lost sales suffered by the sugar industry of Belize as an economic injury.

Shortly after being notified of the legal action taken by Belize in the CCJ, the Government of Saint Kitts-Nevis commenced discussions with Belize on a possible out-of-court settlement. After targeted negotiations led by the Office of the Solicitor General, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration and BSI, Saint Kitts-Nevis and Belize reached an out-of-court settlement on conditions satisfactory to Belize.

This out-of-court settlement is a major victory for the sugar industry of Belize, which has been disadvantaged by imports of sugar from non-CARICOM sources, including Guatemala, as this sugar is displacing regionally produced sugar from the CARICOM Single Market. The sugar industry is now assured that it will get the trade policy support that it is entitled under the Revised Treaty, including the application of the CET, and a renewed opportunity to fully enter the market of Saint Kitts-Nevis.

The case continues in the CCJ against the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and CARICOM.

The Government of Belize extends its thanks and appreciation for the support provided by the BSI, Santander Sugar, and the Sugar Association of the Caribbean in the ongoing effort to secure access to the CARICOM market for sugar and to ensure the survival and sustainable development of the sugar industry of Belize.

Ends

Belize Export First Shipment of Chicken to CARICOM

Belize Export First Shipment of Chicken to CARICOM

On December 23, 2020, Belize exported 16,000 lbs of assorted chicken meat to Grenada, the first-ever shipment of poultry products to the CARICOM region. This success was through the partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise

Western Dairies Belize under the Right of Establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) incorporated Western Dairies Grenada Ltd. in 2018 to serve as a hub for exports into the CARICOM market. The Directorate-General for Foreign Trade (DGFT) supported the company throughout the establishment process. This newly formed operation has been the conduit for several shipments of Western Dairies ice cream into the Grenada market and has now begun diversifying with the export of chicken cuts.

Belize’s Poultry Industry has been promising for export opportunities since the Caribbean Animal Health and Food Safety Agency’s (CAHFSA) 2017 risk assessment cleared Belize’s two processing facilities as ready-for-export within the CSME.

Over the last several days, the Government of Belize, through the leadership of Ministers Hon. Eamon Courtenay and Hon. Jose Mai, held focused discussions with their Grenadian counterparts to secure market entry for the Industry. Both Ministers remain committed to fostering strong public-private partnerships with the Belize Poultry Association and other private entities like Western Dairies Belize to facilitate market penetration for local producers.

The Ministries, through this medium, congratulate the Western Dairies Belize and the Belize Poultry Association on this historic milestone.

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Tours Western Dairies Facilities

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Tours Western Dairies Facilities

On the 21st of January, 2021. the Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise toured the Western Dairies processing facilities and a dairy farm in Spanish Lookout.

The purpose of the tour was for the Minister to learn more about the Western Dairies brand of dairy products and the processes involved in producing milk products such as fresh milk, yogurt, cheeses, and ice cream. The tour included an overview of the products, an extended tour of the processing plant, and a question and answer session with the press. After lunch, the Minister and his team were taken on a tour of a dairy farm to see the first stages in milk production.

Minister Mai has been vigorous in supporting Belizean dairy products, despite some public criticism as it relates to imported milk and milk products. These products will still be available although the Minister has alluded to limiting importation permits for milk and milk products because of an irresponsible saturation of the market under the previous administration. The Minister continues to champion the cause of local producers of dairy products, pointing out the high costs of production faced by farmers and producers in comparison to imported products.

Minister Mai stated that he hopes the tour will aid in increasing awareness of the availability and quality of Belizean milk and milk products. He encourages Belizeans to buy locally made products to contribute to rebuilding the economy.

The Minister was accompanied on the tour by his Chief Executive Officer, Servulo Baeza; Senior Technical Adviser, Digno Polanco; and other officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise.

May be an image of 5 people, people sitting and people standing

+11

Minister of Agriculture Receives Donation from OIRSA

Minister of Agriculture Receives Donation from OIRSA

18 December 2020:

The Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, the Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai today received a donation from the OIRSA Regional Emergency Funds to assist farmers and livestock producers affected by the recent floods.

This has come about after the Central American Ministers of Agriculture (CIRSA) met virtually on the 13^th of November to declare a Regional Emergency for Central American countries due to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Under this declaration CIRSA approved the use of OIRSA Regional Emergency funds to assist farmers and livestock producers affected with re-establishing their production systems, rescuing animals due to flooding, and safeguarding against pest and disease outbreaks due to the effects of the storms. The Ministers unanimously approved a budget of US$100,000 per country that was affected.

The Ministry of Agriculture, along with BAHA and the assistance of OIRSA Belize, developed an emergency plan for Belize and submitted it for approval. Today OIRSA is delivering to the Ministry of Agriculture part of these materials according to the plan to assist farmers to get back on their feet as well as to assist livestock producers.

The plan consists mainly of providing assistance for the rescuing of and feeds for animals from flooded areas, providing seeds for vegetable farmers, and monitoring for pests and diseases that might arise because of the flooding.

ENDS

Exportation of Live Cattle to Mexico

Exportation of Live Cattle to Mexico

Belmopan. December 9, 2020. 5:00 p.m.

A ceremony to commemorate the exportation of another consignment of live cattle to Mexico was held today at Blue Creek Village in the Orange Walk District. A total of 629 heads of cattle are expected to be exported to Mexico.

The main speakers at the ceremony were the Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, and Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration. Minister Courtenay pledged his Ministry’s support for export-oriented activities such as cattle export and stated that the collaboration between the two ministries and relevant stakeholders will continue to strengthen the formalization of the cattle trade. Minister Mai underscored the importance of the cattle trade as an important economic activity for Belize. The Minister said that the value of export earnings of the cattle trade is right behind that of sugar, a long-established export commodity.

Also present at the ceremony were the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration, Hon. Ramon Cervantes; representatives from Sukarne, a Mexican meat processing company, which is the buyer of the cattle being exported; as well as officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and cattle farmers from the area.

Prior to the ceremony, the ministers and other guests as well as the media were given a tour of the quarantine facility where the cattle are being kept until they are loaded for export.

Ends

Minister of Agriculture Attends Meeting to Discuss Re-opening of the Corozal Free Zone

Minister of Agriculture Attends Meeting to Discuss Re-opening of the Corozal Free Zone

Belmopan. December 4, 2020. 11:28 a.m.

On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and other officials of the Ministry of Agriculture met with representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Chamber of Commerce of the Corozal Free Zone to discuss the re-opening of the Northern Free Zone.

The meeting was held in an atmosphere of cordiality as the discussion focused on the details of the operation and health measures that must be put in place if the Free Zone is re-opened. Minister Mai committed to ensuring that Government looks after the interest of investors and the public to safeguard the health of all while keeping in mind the need of the country to deal with the economic difficulties brought on by COVID-19.

Investors agreed to cooperate to fast track the opening of the Corozal Free Zone as promised by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño. The plan will be expedited and taken to Cabinet for discussion and final approval.

Ends

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Discuss Curfew Issues Affecting Agro Producers

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Discuss Curfew Issues Affecting Agro Producers

27^th, November 2020: Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai; Minister of Public Utilities and Logistics Rodwell Ferguson; Minister of Rural Transformation, Labor and Local Government Community Development and Rural Development Oscar Requeña; Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Orlando Habet, along with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, CEO Servulo Baeza and members of the management team of the Ministry of Agriculture met this afternoon in Belmopan, to discuss issues having to do with the curfew regulations to be imposed over the weekend and their effects on producers and the movement of essential goods, services, and products.

The meeting was held to facilitate agro-producers around the country as the new curfew regulations are implemented this weekend. Curfew regulations often affect producers who sometimes need to move animals and essential products during the hours of curfew. The Ministry of Agriculture has taken a leadership role in ensuring producers are affected as little as possible by curfew regulations, as the productive sector is important to the wellbeing of the nation.