Belize Citrus Industry Receives $1 Million Boost Amid Recovery

The citrus industry in Belize has received a significant boost with the recent approval of a one-time subsidy of one million dollars from the government of Belize. This funding is specifically allocated for the purchase of fertiliser to be applied to citrus orchards. The aim is to enhance production and support the struggling industry. This development comes as the citrus sector continues to recover from one of its most challenging periods in over a century.

In an interview with News Five in June, Hugh O’Brien, the Program Officer for Citrus Diversification at the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the industry has faced multiple setbacks over the years, with citrus greening being a major issue towards the end of the last decade. “We were hit hard by citrus greening back in 2009 and 2010, which had a gradual but severe impact on production,” O’Brien explained. “By around 2013, the industry really started to decline, and last year marked our lowest production in about fifty years, with just over 300,000 boxes of oranges and grapefruits processed at the factory.”

O’Brien remains cautiously optimistic about the industry’s future. “In our best years, we were producing eight million boxes, so last year’s output was just a fraction of that—about one-twentieth. However, there are signs of recovery. The new Silk Grass Plant began operations and processed an additional 40,000 boxes, and local markets consumed another 30,000 to 40,000 boxes, bringing the total to around 400,000 boxes. Additionally, there is a demand for Belizean oranges in Guatemala, particularly in Melchor and Flores, where they supply local markets and resorts.”