Agriculture - Channel 5 Belize

Mexico and Belize Collaborate to Enhance Sanitary Protocols for Certified Cattle Importation

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is aiding Central American nations by sharing advanced techniques and technologies to bolster their agricultural, livestock, aquaculture, and fisheries sectors.

To facilitate the safe importation of cattle from Belize to Mexico for immediate slaughter and terminal fattening, thereby strengthening the domestic industry’s raw material supply, the agriculture ministries of both countries are developing a sanitary control mechanism. This mechanism aims to ensure the cattle are free from pests and diseases of quarantine significance.

Currently, Mexico imports around five thousand certified cattle annually from Orange Walk County, Belize, under an existing import protocol validated by the Central American health authority.

The updated protocol seeks to include more certified producers from Belize. These producers must demonstrate through clinical tests that their cattle are free from bovine tuberculosis (Tb), brucellosis (Br), and ticks and pass a sanitary inspection conducted by Mexican veterinarians.

In a meeting with Belize’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, José Abelardo Mai, and the Belizean ambassador to Mexico, Oscar Lorenzo Arnold, Javier Calderón Elizalde, head director of the National Agro-alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality Service, highlighted the shared cultural ties, friendship, and sanitary challenges between the two nations, noting that pests do not respect borders.

Elizalde emphasised that Senasica’s mission is to protect agri-food production and facilitate the trade of healthy and safe products for national supply, building bridges rather than closing borders.

Agriculture supports small and medium-scale producers in Central America by sharing techniques and technologies that enhance their agricultural, livestock, aquaculture, and fisheries development.

The meeting also addressed the cattle screwworm threat in Panama and Costa Rica, which poses a risk to regional livestock. Health authorities are urged to collaborate and allocate resources to prevent the insect’s northward spread. Mexico has proposed a pest eradication plan to the International Regional Organisation for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) to halt its advance before it reaches Nicaragua.

The General Coordination of International Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture reaffirmed the priority of its relationship with Belize, committing ongoing support from the ministry’s technical and scientific institutions to their Central American counterparts.

Minister José Abelardo Mai highlighted that Belize, with over 5,400 livestock producers, primarily small-scale, sees livestock exports as a key opportunity for community development. He noted improvements in Belize’s livestock sector through the acquisition of Mexican stallions, better grass varieties, and infrastructure investments.

Mai also acknowledged the significant contributions of the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP) in boosting the production of soybeans, soursop, coconut, and pitahaya in Belize.

On the topic of cattle screwworm, Mai, a veteran of eradication efforts 30 years ago, announced plans for an awareness campaign and a fund to support regional health initiatives.

The meeting was attended by key officials, including Senasica’s general director of Animal Health, Juan Gay Gutiérrez, and of Plant and Animal Health Inspection, Jorge Luis Leyva Vázquez, as well as Belizean representatives such as the director of the Citrus Revitalization and Diversification Programme, Hugh O’Brien, the general director of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), Zoe Zetina, and BAHA’s director of Animal Health, Roxanna Álvarez.

FAO and Canada launch $14.6M climate-smart agriculture project in the Caribbean

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in collaboration with the Canadian government, has launched a $14.6 million project titled Gender Responsive Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems in the Caribbean. Running until December 2028, this four-year initiative will focus on climate change, youth and gender constraints in value chains and build capacity so that all value chain actors benefit from increased market access and increased incomes.

The project will be implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture in eight (8) Caribbean countries. The project aims to promote and encourage the use of climate-smart technologies in viable agricultural value chains in Belize, Grenada, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We recognise the disproportionate impact of food and input price inflation, supply chain disruptions, and climate change in the Caribbean, which has exacerbated pre-existing food insecurity,” said High Commissioner Chatterjee at the regional launch event on Monday.

The project was originally announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Canada-CARICOM summit last October. She underscored the importance of empowering women, describing them as “powerful agents of change” in achieving sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.

According to the High Commissioner, the project represents a major commitment under Canada’s feminist international assistance policy. It will develop inclusive, gender-responsive, climate-resilient value chains in the named Caribbean countries. It addresses challenges faced by producers and farmer organizations, such as weak business planning and limited access to finance.

Renata Clarke, FAO’s subregional coordinator for the Caribbean, stressed the project’s alignment with broader efforts to transform value chains in the sub-region.

Project coordinator Vermaran Extavour outlined goals including the adoption of climate-smart technologies and improving community facilities with renewable energies to enhance food quality and reduce waste. The initiative aims to build the capacity of women and youth producer organizations to run viable businesses within these value chains.

Since 2017, Global Affairs Canada has invested over $2.5 billion in global agriculture and food programming. High Commissioner Chatterjee expressed confidence that this project will complement other efforts to strengthen agricultural entrepreneurship and food systems in the region.

The FAO-Canada initiative will initially operate in eight Eastern Caribbean countries, with detailed implementation plans forthcoming.

(Press release)

BAHA Refutes Rumors of Issuing Export License for Sugar

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) fired off a press release this morning, denying rumors that an export license was issued for sugar allegedly found being shipped out of the country at a northern Belize border location.

In its release, BAHA says that it is not a “licensing authority for agricultural commodities.”

“BAHA regulates imports to comply with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements as a risk management strategy against plant pests and animal diseases, and to ensure that only safe food is imported. Importers are legally required to obtain BAHA import permits, which details conditions for importation, for this process.”

BAHA says that BSI-ASR and Santander Sugar are the only two companies that receive inspection and certification services for sugar exportation. It says that the only authorized exit points are the Port of Belize LTD and the Port of Big Creek, where BAHA personnel ensure that only certified consignments are shipped out.

BAHA categorically denies any involvement in the irregular export of sugar to Mexico or any other country.

BSI Expresses Concerns Regarding COI

The Belize Sugar Industries Limited is expressing concerns over what it describes as the Commission of Inquiry’s change of focus.

In a release, BSI says that “because it operates in a commodity business that is very competitive, it cannot share proprietary and confidential information.”

BSI says it cannot disclose proprietary and confidential information. The company has also informed the government that it will not cooperate with a COI if its focus shifts towards using the process to negotiate a new commercial agreement, as this is a “private commercial matter.”

Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry Holds First Meeting

Since its formulation in March, the Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry held its first meeting on May twenty-ninth. The session was held virtually, led by Coordinator, Hugh O’Brien and Chairman, Wayne Piper. O’Brien said the first meeting was a good one and the commissioners all charted a plan of action going forward. O’Brien said that when the commissioners visit Belize next week, they will conduct site visits with the various cane farmer associations as well as to cane fields in the north and west of Belize.

Hugh O’Brien, Lead Coordinator, Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry

Since only the secretary of the commission is in Belize, Mr. Wayne paper -chairman is in Belize as well as Mr. Jeffrey Joseph, who is the agronomist, those are the only three people in Belize. The other commissioners are all from abroad. One is from South Africa, one from, the UK and two of them are from Mauritius. So the meeting was held virtually and it actually lasted for just about three hours and very good first meeting. It was the first time commissioners sat together and they started to – first they reviewed what was their scope of work, and they set in place a partial plan as to how they intend to get their work carried out. In particular next week, there will be a visit to the different cane farmers associations. There’ll be visits to the fields, both in the north where sugar is produced by small farmers as well as the fields in the west where sugar is produced more by larger farmers and by Santander and there will be physical visits to the factory, to both factories. These guys who have been appointed to the, commission of inquiry, they have great expertise in both, in the case of two of the commissioners their deep expertise in how sugar mills operate across the world. And the other two guys also have great expertise in terms of all sugar is grown and yields and the various components of having a very successful very integrated and very successful sugar industry. And they also have requisite experience in terms of some of the legislative matters that can help to guide the development of a more sustainable sugar industry

Sugar COI Goal is to Make the Industry More Efficient

O’Brien indicated that the overall role of the Commission of Inquiry is to delve into some of the specifics of the sugar industry in Belize. This is expected to assist them in coming up with specific recommendations on how Belize can have a more sustainable sugar industry and look at the value chain. The result, he said, is to make the industry more efficient and more beneficial to the country.

Hugh O’Brien, Lead Coordinator, Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry

We are still hovering around 100, 000 tons of sugar, 1 million tons of sugarcane. And we’ve been, we’ve fluctuated between 900, 000 tons of sugarcane to up to almost 1. 3. But as a country, we have not been able to jump 1. 27 or something like 1. 3. We’ve been stuck and then we go up, then we come down and that is not good for the factory. It’s not good for the farmers. Our yields are between 15 and 20 tons per acre on an average. In the north, and our the factory claims they are very efficient, but we do know that there are times that they cannot receive more than a certain amount of cane on a daily basis, and there are many years that cane got left in the field. And that is value that could have been saved and so forth. Right now, the price of sugar on the world market is very, good. So there’s great incentive for our industry to grow. The price of sugar that is bulk has good world market price, and the price of sugar that is packaged or is ready to consume. I also have very good retail price in fact, Mexico, Guatemala, in the Caribbean and Belize is exporting sugar to four or five Caribbean countries. We export it to Europe, to Taiwan, various parts of the world, U.K and the U.S. So there’s an opportunity right now, the markets are looking really, good for, the sugar industry. And maybe this commission of inquiries is opportune to try to set really good conditions for a continued growth and a very having a try to trying to create as best as possible a very sustainable and rewarding industry for all parties.

Sugar Inquiry Not Sure About Recording Sessions

The commission will play a similar role to other commissions of inquiry that have been held. O’Brien explained that this body also has a great deal of authority and will conduct its business the same way other commissions have. What these commissioners are not certain about, however, is whether they will record the sessions. O’Brien explained the reason for this.

Hugh O’Brien, Lead Coordinator, Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry

The commissioners will be calling people just as happen in other commissions of inquiry, will be calling people to come forward, will specifically tell them what information they need for them to bring along and can make requests for additional information. I am saying that, so we expect as much collaboration as possible from all the parties involved. But I will say that indeed there has been a press release by BSI in particular to say that there is certain information that they consider proprietary and that they do not intend to discuss or share. I’m hoping that, based on the recent work I did with BSI, which I did have access to a great deal of proprietary information that helped to clear up and sort out some of the issues that had plagued the industry, that caused the protests back in January – I’m hoping that BSI would be a bit more open and realize that at the end of the day, the idea is to reflect on the numbers. It gives them – a sense of confidence will come their way if they share the information, because then if they don’t share people think that there was something that they got to hide, and that only creates more skepticism and does create more chaos in the industry. In terms of the recording of the sessions that matter would be we’re not extremely clear yet. If you will record or all the sessions are just record some or there are some concerns amongst some commissioners that they went when we ask people certain questions if we are recording that we may not get the full insights that they may want to offer because it’s being recorded. So we will deliberate on that specific topic a bit more in our next meeting.

Commission of Inquiry on Belize Sugar Industry Holds First Meeting

The Sugar Industry Commission of Inquiry held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, May 29. The meeting was held virtually.

A government press release says it had the participation of Wayne Piper, Chairman, and the five commissioners: Robert Mariette and Vinod Ramharai from Mauritius, Jeffery Joseph from Belize, Andy Church from South Africa, and Simon Gibbons from the United Kingdom. Also in attendance were Lorena Posada, Secretary to the Commission; Hugh O’Brien, Lead Coordinator for the Government of Belize; Marcos Osorio, Chairman of the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB); and Krity Neermul, Technical Coordinator for the Mauritius team.

According to the government, the meeting focused on discussing and agreeing upon the general plan for the first phase of work, along with associated logistics. This phase will include visits to the mills at BSI and Santander, as well as farm and field trips to sugar production sites in northern and western Belize. Commissioners are scheduled to begin arriving in Belize during the first week of June, with logistical support provided by the SICB.

This commission aims to examine the entire value chain of the sugar cane industry and provide recommendations to the Government of Belize.

The commissioners aim to complete their report(s) by the deadline of November 30, 2024.

Northern Farmers Unable to Sell Their Carrots

Carrot farmers in Orange Walk and Corozal districts will lose all that they have invested in this year’s crop if they are unable to get their produce to market soon. Dozens of acres of carrots remain in the field unharvested, which is uncommon in the north at this time of the year. The Ministry of Agriculture says the market is oversaturated due to unfavorable weather conditions late last year. The Belize Marketing and Development Corporation refutes claims that it is importing carrots currently. The farmers believe that contraband carrots from Mexico have taken their place in the market. News Five’s Paul Lopez traveled north today. He filed the following report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

2024 has been a difficult year so far for carrot farmers, particularly those in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts. Carrots are not selling at the rate they traditionally would, leaving many farmers with acres of unharvested crops that are starting to go bad.

Sabino Yam, Patchakan Farmer

“I guess all the farmers that have carrots right now are basically in the same problem. Basically it is the selling of the carrots we are having problem right now. I have contacted some of my buyers and they are not buying.”

Sabino Yam owns a carrot farm in Patchakan Village in the Corozal District. On a normal year, Yam would have already sold all his carrots on the local market. This year, he has only been able to sell eight sacks of carrots. So, what has led to this shift in the market? The Ministry of Agriculture says there’s a glut of carrots on the local market.

Andrew Mejia, Acting Director of Extensions, Ministry of Agriculture

“The situation we are having now is as a result of what happened last year. During the months from August to October we had a drought preventing the farmers that were to plant early based on the schedule we had created with the Ministry. After that we had an issue with flooding. That compounded the situation. So everybody planted the same time, around the end of November to December.”

To ensure that every farmer gets a fair share of market demands, they take turns planting and harvesting. Carrots in the Cayo District should have already been sold out by now, leaving only carrots from farmers in northern Belize on the market. But that is not the case this year.

William Can, Agriculture Officer for Cayo District, Ministry of Agriculture

“From the data we have Cayo planted sixty-three acres and from that sixty-three acres at the moment we have around eight acres to manage in the Cayo District so we can safely say that the peak of production in the Cayo District has passed. We will have two to three weeks of production left in Cayo and from that the only two districts left is Corozal and Orange Walk.”

The Ministry of Agriculture says that produce in Cayo should be sold out within a week. That will make space in the market for carrots from Orange Walk and Corozal. But farmers are not sold on the ministry’s explanation. Jose Gonzalez, a farmer in Indian Creek Village is doubtful.

Jose Gonzalez, Indian Creek Village

“Si, puedo nostros. We have our doubts. We heard that Cayo have carrots. But in the past they use to come buy eighty, a hundred sacks of carrots from us. And now they are just taking twenty, twenty-five sacks. So we have our doubts and think that contraband has something to do with how they are not buying carrots from us right now.”

Carrot farmers are convinced that the illegal importation of vegetables from Mexico is the reason they are facing these challenges. During our visit to a farm in San Carlos, a group of farmers complained bitterly about the negative effects of contraband carrots. While cleaning their produce to take to the market, the men argued that the government is not doing enough to stop contrabandistas. Mejia says the argument about contraband carrots is, to an extent, justified.

Andrew Mejia

“I do believe so and I won’t discredit them. What the Ministry of Agriculture has done is that we are in the process of re-activating our contraband interdiction team, compromised of customs, immigration, police, BAHA to see what is actually happening with this accusation. Otherwise we don’t have any concrete information on that. So until the team is activated we will be able to get a handle on what is happening with that. But I can assure the farmers that the saturation is due to oversupply at this time.”

The Belize Marketing and Development Corporation is also responding to allegations that it has received import permits from the Ministry of Agriculture to bring in carrots from Mexico. B.M.D.C. Is responsible for importing goods that are not available on the local market. Valentin Carillo, the administrator at B.M.D.C., says the last time they imported carrots was in November 2023.

Valentin Carillo, Administrator, B.M.D.C.

“I have heard concerns about the carrots issue and I have also heard that we have License right now. I came here to clear it out. We are not importing carrots from last year November.”

Paul Lopez

“How often during the season?”

Valentin Carillo

“Like last year we had a meeting with the farmers and we put a cut off date. It depends on how the season goes. As if see it right now it will go a month, a month and a half depending on local production.”

Sabino Yam

“It is claimed that they are not giving license to import but still we are seeing Mexican products on the market. So what is happening? That is rhe reason we want to know. But some of the farmers do have evidence that those importers there are bringing stuff through the border. I am from Patchakan. Patchakan is right next to the borderline to Mexico. I can say maybe six four years back there was a lot of contraband. Now I have not seen much. As a result I can conclude that this contraband is passing through the border.”

Paul Lopez

“The legal crossing?”

Sabino Yam

“The legal crossing.”

Reporting for News 5 I am Paul Lopez.

B.M.D.C. Says No Import Permits for Carrots

Earlier this week, the United Democratic Party raised an issue about carrots purportedly wasting away on farms in San Carlos Village. The Ministry of Agriculture was quick to refute those claims made by Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow and pointed out that no importation permits have been issued for carrots to be brought into the country since November 2023. This morning, representatives from the Belize Marketing and Distribution Cooperation, B.M.D.C., also weighed in on the issue, reiterating government’s position.

Sergio Tillett, Senior Projects Officer, B.M.D.C.

“The B.M.D.C. as one of the main arms when it comes to the distribution and marketing of produce does its best to ensure that our farmers do have the market whenever it comes to local production. And, as such, our ministry has done quite a job to ensure that we do site inspections, we do field visits to ensure that when we have enough production we don’t apply for an import permit. And even if we did, the ministry monitors that and they will never give us either because they have their extension services that monitor the amount of production in the country. We have figures as to what is the weekly consumption of every vegetable, so once we notice there is enough in the field there is no import permit. And that’s how we control what is there. So, one of the concerns that we have is that lots of the times whenever there is local production, the prices tend to be high and carrots is not really a necessity.”