International Day of Cooperatives 2019

On the 05th of July 2019, the Cooperative Department under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture celebrated its 97th International Day of Cooperatives under the theme “Coops 4 Decent Work,” at the San Ignacio Welcome Center.

The aim of the celebration was to increase awareness of cooperatives. The day highlighted the complementary goals and objectives of the United Nations (UN) and the international cooperative movement in finding a resolution for the major problems addressed by the UN in strengthening and extending partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors.

This year’s theme is a fundamental mechanism for inclusion and social justice. Making decent work a reality for all is embedded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Considering today’s relatively high unemployment levels, particularly among the youth, increased job insecurity, and widening inequalities, the 2019 Coops Day theme is purposefully linked on “promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”

In Belize, there are currently 66 active cooperative enterprises. Fifty-seven (57) of them are registered cooperatives, three are in a status called pre-cooperative, and the remaining six are aspirants in the middle stages of development. By industrial sector, 30 are engaged in agriculture, 17 in transportation, and the remainder spread over fishing, arts & crafts, consumer, and tourism, among others. Total members consist of 2,800, with most of them being male ranking from ages 31 to 40 years.

Cooperatives, as people-centered enterprises and key development actors, have a strong role to play in creating decent jobs and empowering local communities both economically and socially.

Small Hive Beetle Advisory #4 Belize

The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, is a scavenger and parasite of honey bee colonies. The beetle is native to Africa, but was introduced to the US (1996), Canada (2002), Australia (2002), Jamaica (2005), Mexico (2007), Cuba (2012), Salvador (2013), Nicaragua (2014), Costa Rica (2015) and Belize (2016) mainly by commercial movement of bees. It is highly suspected that the incursion of the small hive beetle into northern Belize is due to the illegal trade of Honey Bee products, equipment and materials.

Considered a minor pest in its home range, the small hive beetle has become a major problem in introduced areas. Both adult and larval beetles feed on larvae, pollen, honey and bee brood. The adult female lays her eggs in the hive. The larvae hatch and feed on brood, pollen and honey, then leave the hive to pupate in the soil, where the adults hatch, then fly to look for new hives. Spread can therefore be rapid, as the adults have a range of approximately 13 kilometers. When infestation is heavy, the bees may desert the hive.

A good management by beekeepers is necessary to protect against A. tumida. Maintenance of strong colonies and good husbandry are key elements. Therefore, the most effective control against small hive beetle is maintaining colony strength, coupled with minimizing empty frames of comb, reducing small hive beetle population with the placement of traps containing a broad spectrum insecticide only accessible by the small hive beetle and to discontinue the illegal importation of Honey Bee products, equipment and materials. The diagnosis is made by identifying adult beetles in the hive.

The Ministry of Agriculture in coordination with BAHA and OIRSA will continue providing support to beekeepers in the control of this devastating pest.

Beekeepers are advised to contact Mr. Mario Howe (626-6059) of The Ministry of Agriculture or Dr. Joe Myers (601-6890) of BAHA for any further information.

Closing Ceremony for the Conclusion of the Five Days Train-the-Trainers Workshop on Climate-Smart Agriculture

Belmopan. June 21st, 2019. The Minister of Agriculture Senator Hon. Godwin Hulse and UNDP Country Office Resident Representative a.i. Mr. Aldo Garcia issued Certificate of Completion to forty-four participants who attended a five-day Train-the-Trainers Workshop on Climate-Smart Agriculture. The closing ceremony was held at the Administrative and Technical Conference Room, National Agriculture and Trade Showground Belmopan.

The training which commenced on Monday, June 17, 2019, was through a collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP). Facilitators for the training were personnel from Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE).

The training objective was to strengthen the capacity of Extension and Cooperative Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, lead farmers and high school teachers. The sessions consisted of theory and practical, centered on the use and implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture and Farmer Field School methodology approach.

Climate Smart Agriculture is a variation of agricultural best practices that has been transformed and reoriented to support development and ensure food security in the face of climate change. CSA aims to tackle three main objectives: sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and farmers’ incomes, adapting and building resilience to climate change, and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Formation of the Belize Parliamentary Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition

On Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 Speaker of the House the Hon. Laura Longsworth hosted a sensitization meeting on the formation of the Belize Parliamentary Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition. The meeting was held at the National Assembly Building in Belmopan.

The objective of the meeting was to inform members of their roles and responsibilities as Belize joins the region in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

Present at the meeting was Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Patrick Faber, Speaker of the House Hon. Laura Longsworth, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Health.

Export of Crude Soybean Oil

On the 25th of March 2019, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, the Belize Agriculture Health Authority and the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation facilitated discussions between private sector representatives, from Little Belize, Ship Yard, Blue Creek and Spanish Lookout and the Jamaican distribution and a regional manufacturing company Seprod. The Seprod team consisted of CEO, Richard Pandoaie and three colleagues.

Discussions between the two groups revolved around Seprod’s interests in purchasing more soybean from Belize for soybean oil and soybean meal production to produce a wholly CARICOM product. Discussions also considered the potential of corn. 

On January, 2019, Belize for the first time exported five (5) containers of crude soybean oil to Seprod, Jamaica. Seprod refined the product and in turn exported it to Belize branding it as “Lider” a 100% Soya Bean GMO free product. 

The Ministry of Agriculture is actively supporting the partnership between private sector entities, engaging regional trade and investment.

Climate-Smart Agriculture in Belize World Bank Document

ABSTRACT

Agriculture in Belize is susceptible to weather variability and vulnerable to climate hazards, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is agriculture that has been transformed and reoriented to support development and ensure food security in the face of climate change. CSA practices have potential to deliver triple wins in contributing to Belize’s agricultural development goals by sustainably increasing productivity, enhancing resilience, and reducing or removing greenhouse gases (GHGs). Many farmers in Belize are already using CSA measures to some degree. However, more widespread adoption of many CSA technologies has been hindered by a lack of information and technical knowledge, as well as the scarcity of resources to pay for initial investment costs. This country profile provides a snapshot of a set of promising CSA practices, assesses their climate smartness taking into account a range of potential hazards, identifies organizations currently working to promote CSA in Belize and policies under implementation, and discusses possible sources of financing needed to implement CSA at scale.

For more information kindly open link below:

http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/301461541662271068/Climate-Smart-Agriculture-in-Belize

131878-REVISED-PUBLIC-Belize-CSA-Country-Profile-FINAL