San Lazaro Youth Wins 2025 Junior Farmer Award

A 25-year-old farmer of San Lazaro Village has been named Belize’s Junior Farmer of the Year 2025. Growing up on a multi-generational farm in the Orange Walk District, Juan Ricardo Carrillo has cultivated a lifelong dedication to agriculture, starting full-time on the farm at just 15. His journey earned him a nationwide recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise.

He specialises in vegetable production, including tomatoes, sweet peppers, and cabbages. To combat the growing climate and pest challenges, Carillo has integrated modern techniques, including the use of natural fertilisers, such as Super Magro and Madrifol from the Sembrando Vida Programme, and applies natural pest control methods like Metarhizium fungi, reducing dependence on chemical pesticides.

His approach not only protects the environment but also strengthens the long-term resilience of his farm. Carrillo has expanded into livestock, raising poultry, cattle, and sheep to create a more diversified and sustainable operation.

With strong support from his wife, Carla Linet Carrillo, he is now focused on mentoring young Belizeans and proving that farming is not just a job; it’s a way to build a future.