Page 15 – Agriculture

Appointment of a New Task Force for the Shrimp Industry

Belmopan, January 25, 2023:

Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, has appointed a new task force for the shrimp industry. The task force will address constraints and a way forward to revive the industry.

Appointments to the task force take effect today at its inaugural meeting held at the Belize Agriculture Health Authority (BAHA) conference room in Belmopan. Minister Mai, who joined virtually, expressed his confidence in the members appointed and outlined his expectations of the task force.

The Task Force comprises eight members:

1. Hugh O’Brien, Program Director for Citrus and Diversification, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise – Chairman

2. Alvin Henderson, Chairman of the Shrimp Growers Association

3. Charlie Naresh Punwani, Owner of Quality Shrimp Farm

4. Silvia Mendez, Animal Health Officer, BAHA

5. Digno Polanco, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise

6. Dr. Osmond Martinez, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Economic Development

7. Richard Reid, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

8. Representative from the Development Finance Corporation

A three-month timeframe is being granted to the task force to complete its work and submit recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, who will then submit them to Cabinet for final consideration.

Shrimp production in Belize peaked at 16 million pounds in 2014, earning over $90 million in foreign exchange. However, in 2015, the industry was hit with the Early Mortality Syndrome, which decimated the industry. Production went downhill and since 2016, annual production has hovered between one and two million pounds, barely enough to supply the local market.

National Vegetable Stakeholders Meeting

26th January 2023

The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) held its annual National Vegetable Stakeholders meeting with vegetable producers from the various productive areas around the country at the National Agriculture and Trade Showgrounds in Belmopan.

The meeting focused on the present status of the national vegetable crop production season 2022-2023. Other items discussed were the validation of the production data reported to date, as well as constraints being faced by farmers in terms of productivity, harvesting and marketing of their produce.

Priority crops discussed were lettuce, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, purple cabbage, beets and onions. As production continues for these commodities consumers will see an increase of local produce at the retail markets.

Present at the meeting were farmers, personnel from the Belize Agriculture Health Authority, Belize Marketing and Development Cooperation (BMDC), and MAFSE Extension Officers.

The Ministry of Agriculture continues its collaboration with stakeholders and emphasizes its support for farmers and local producers.

Sensitization on the Poultry Health Regulations

The Belize Agriculture Health Authority (BAHA) today held a sensitization on the poultry health regulations for District Agriculture Coordinators.

The objective of the event was to inform coordinators on the scope of the regulations and identify areas of potential collaboration on backyard farming, biosecurity, reporting and disease prevention and control.

The presentation was conducted by Mrs. Delilah Cabb Ayala BAHA Technical Director in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Enquiry Point Unit. Present at the event were also personnel from IICA.

HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA

ADVISORY #1 of 2023 – HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) H5N1

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management, the Regional International Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) and the Belize Poultry Association (BPA) inform the public that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has recently been confirmed in pelicans on the coast of Puerto Cortes and La Ceiba, Honduras.

Additionally, HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in Yucatan, Mexico in November 2022. Given the proximity of the infected areas to Belize, the threat level has been increased to high. Belize is therefore strengthening the technical and strategic response, using the One Health approach, to reduce the threat. This approach includes:

1. Strengthening the inspections of passengers and vessels at all points of entry;

2. Restricting the importation of poultry and poultry products originating from infected countries;

3. Testing and proper disposal of confiscated poultry and poultry products;

4. Strengthening laboratory capacity for in-country molecular testing of the current HPAI circulating strain including surge capacity;

5. Strengthening passive surveillance by encouraging the reporting of mortality, purple coloration in comb and wattle and acute drop in egg production in poultry within the required twenty-four (24) hours;

6. Promoting the reporting of mortality in wild birds and reducing response time;

7. Strengthening active surveillance programs focusing on high-risk areas that are habitats for wild birds and border buffer zones;

8. Strengthening and maintaining high levels of biosecurity in poultry establishments;

9. Fostering partnerships with the public and private stakeholder agencies;

10. Fostering partnerships with the Forest Department and mandated wildlife partners.

High mortality in birds is reportable to BAHA within twenty-four (24) hours. Reports can be made to BAHA, MAFSE, Forest Department, MOHW, BPA, or any registered veterinarian.

The BAHA veterinary services can be contacted at: phone: 824-4872 or 302-1388, WhatsApp: 614-6891, e-mail: animalhealth@baha.org.bz, and website: www.baha.org.bz

Help us to ensure that Belize remains free of Avian Influenza.

End of Year Cattle Export

End of Year Cattle Export

A total of 490 head of beef cattle equivalent to 303,078 lbs were exported to Mexico.

This end of year export is exceptional since the quantity exported has been one of the highest recorded from the time the cattle exportation started.

The foreign exchange generated from this export is approximately a total of $BZ 650,000.00 or US$ 315,000.00.

Honey Production Redevelopment Support Project

Honey Production Redevelopment Support Project Graduation Ceremony

The Ministry of Agriculture today held a graduation ceremony for recipients of the Honey Production Redevelopment Support Project. The project, which is funded by the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) was signed in November 2018 between the Government of Belize and the CDF, with an initial budget of $281,959.00 USD providing one of the greatest boosts to the beekeeping industry in Belize.

It’s three major objectives were to increase rural livelihood opportunities through beekeeping in farming communities especially among women and youth; increase national production and productivity of beekeeping; and increase the quality of honey and honey products through the promotion of standards and good manufacturing practices.

To date the project has built the capacity of 100 new beekeepers and 42 existing beekeepers. The project has also provided all the tools and equipment necessary for a new beekeeper to start a beekeeping enterprise. Each of the beneficiaries of this project is benefitting from a total of over $4,000.00 worth of beekeeping necessities.

Minister Jose Abelardo Mai assumes the pro tempore presidency of the CAC

Hon. José Abelardo Mai assume the pro tempore presidency of the CAC

The Ministers of Agriculture of the SICA Region have held their last session of the year to make a comprehensive assessment of the actions carried out in the agricultural sector. The session also covered the progress of projects in the region, and approval of the agenda and priorities for the year 2023.

The Central American Agricultural Council (CAC) thanked Mr. Limber Cruz, Minister of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic, who in the last semester was in charge of the pro tempore presidency of the CAC and wished the best success to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise Belize, Hon. José Abelardo Mai, who will assume the pro tempore presidency.

Fusarium Tropical Race 4

Fusarium Tropical Race 4 Training

Six professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, participated in training from December 05 to 09, 2022 on Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4 fungus affecting bananas, also called banana wilt), at the Manuel Mejia Foundation in Pereira, Colombia.

The training was sponsored by the Fusarium Prevention Project between the Taiwan ICDF and OIRSA. The training focused on the biosecurity plan before, during and after an outbreak of TR4, the need for a robust contingency plan to manage the disease and the use of satellite imagery to assist in field surveillance.

A panel of experts consisting of research institutions, public and private sector stakeholders and the NPPO provided the training. The contingent returned to Belize with a better understanding of how serious this threat is to the region including Belize, and how to implement prevention strategies to keep Belize free from this devastating disease of banana and plantains. All biosecurity measures were taken by the participants while in Colombia.

Official signing ceremony for Matching Grant Funds Agreements

Official signing ceremonies for Matching Grant Funds Agreements

Resilient Rural Belize today held an official signing ceremony for Matching Grant Funds Agreements with Concepcion Vegetable Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited, Northern Sustainable Agro-Producers Co-operative Society Limited, and Seven Miles Farmers’ Association.

The two formers are from the Corozal District while the latter is from the Cayo district. RRB mentioned that they have completed a full six-month program articulating development and business plans and today marks the culmination of that work. The quantum of funding approved for the three beneficiary producer organizations is BZ$ 620,000.00.

Present at the signing ceremonies were Dr. Geraldo Flowers, Program Manager of RRB, CEO in the Ministry of Economic Development and Investment, Dr. Osmond Martinez, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government, Hon. Ramiro Ramirez, who all signed on behalf of the Government of Belize.

During the signing ceremonies Dr. Martinez implored the beneficiaries of the project to work hard and communicate effectively to ensure that the projects be sustainable. Hon. Ramiro Ramirez highlighted the issue of climate change, reiterating that these types of projects will be replicated in the years to come and pledged government’s commitment to continue supporting the agriculture sector.

Guatemalan experts share knowledge on tropical varieties of seeds

Guatemalan experts share knowledge on tropical varieties of seeds

Guatemalan experts Ing. Antonio Freire, consultant and general manager of J. Diez S.A., a Guatemalan company specializing in seeds, and Ing. Efrain Hernandez, horticulture expert of the same company, were present today in Central Farm to share expertise on the tropical varieties being tested for adaptability in Peten under similar agroclimatic conditions as Belize.

They expounded on the importance of the added advantage of utilizing seeds bred specifically for tropical conditions. Ing. Freire, whose specialization is in soils, also shared his experience with sustainable management of soil fertility, particularly, making informed decisions for nutrient management based on soil analysis and preserving and building soil organic matter.

This visit follows several exchanges between officials from the Peten agriculture department of Guatemala, and Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise of Belize, as both countries continue bilateral relations to share experience, knowledge and expertise in areas of interest in agriculture.