Also speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture was Lennox Nicholson, Controller of Supplies. According to Nicholson, the import quantities requested by B.M.D.C. are often reduced and in some cases not approved, as a means of regulating the importation of vegetables into the country.
Lennox Nicholson
Lennox Nicholson, Controller of Supplies, MAFSE
“The licensing regime provides space to local producers, a buffer between them and imports, in that when local production is there we don’t allow the imports. But we’re not there to pick winners and losers between San Carlos in Orange Walk and maybe a producer in Stann Creek. They are both Belizeans. Both sets of producers are Belizeans. So they have to compete among themselves and that’s one the things that they mentioned. This idea, the licensing for these products also come out of my office and I can tell you, once local production is in, none is issued. There’s a process, oftentimes licenses that are applied for by BMDC, the quantities are cut and in some instances they are not approved outright. So as I mentioned, as I indicated earlier, I actually act as a regulator for them as well and oftentimes when people suggest that licenses have been issued and I ask, “Can I see a copy of it?” There is none.”
The United Democratic Party recently raised an issue regarding import permits and prices for carrots on the local market. It is similar to an issue that was brought to light a few years ago in the House of Representatives involving the rotting of vegetables on farms in the north, particularly in San Carlos Village. On Tuesday, Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow commented on what he describes as a wastage of locally grown carrots.
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“The complaint by the farmers is that it‘s all politics and it‘s all corruption. So the minister gives all of these permits to import the produce that the farmers of Belize are selling, so nobody wants to consume their product when the people that bring it in they sell it for much cheaper because they may be in a position to do so. This government promised to be a socially conscious government, a government that is there for the working class, there for the laborers, there for the farmers, and that is not what is happening. Everything should be done to assist small farmers, especially, but all farmers, all Belizean farmers, to sell their produce before we get to any distribution of importation license for those that our farmers are selling. And so, here we are again, the carrots are rotting. When we had the issue and the opposition was raising it, there was a promise that the sales department for crops and cattle would come, representatives would come from the Marketing Board and try to find a solution as to how to help especially the small farmers.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise has since responded to what it calls unfounded and false allegations. According to a release issued on Tuesday, no import permits for carrots have been issued since November 2023. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority, BAHA, has also determined that contraband vegetables are not affecting the market at present because of an increase in surveillance efforts, as well as a heightened military presence on both sides of the border to control illegal activities. Earlier today, News Five spoke with William Can, an agriculture officer in Cayo District.
William Can
William Can, Agriculture Officer, Cayo District
“In terms of carrots production, we know that well, carrots production, a synopsis of the whole crop season, usually in the month of August, September all the way February is the planting of carrots, it‘s carrot season. And then the harvesting usually begins from November and goes all the way through to July of each year. First of all, I just want to clarify that at the moment we have not issued any import license from our last import that we issued in November 2023. Since then, we haven‘t issued out permits and we still continue to maintain that, that we are not importing or giving any importation permits because with the local produce that we have, we have enough to supply the main market‘s demand. In terms of what is happening, this year is a unique year in terms of for the past year and what‘s coming this year, it‘s not one of the most favorable for vegetables and the viability of it is, in terms of last year, typically, right now the main issue is that we have simultaneous harvesting in all four districts; Stann Creek, Cayo, Orange Walk, and Corozal. So that is kinda why there is the situation that some farmers tend to sell more than the next and the prices are lower.”
By Hivy Ortiz Chour, Better Environment Officer. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Biodiversity is essential for life on our planet. Despite the technological advances of today’s world, human beings will always depend on healthy ecosystems for water, food, medicine, clothing, fuel, shelter, and energy, among other essential elements.
Healthy ecosystems are critical for maintaining agricultural, forestry, aquaculture, livestock, and food production systems, combating climate change, reducing the risk of pandemics, and protecting livelihoods. Failure to protect biodiversity, especially when agricultural practices that ignore the natural environment are promoted, puts our well-being and future at risk.
Hivy Ortiz Chour, Better Environment Officer. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), for Latin America and the Caribbean.
This year’s celebration of International Biodiversity Day calls on us to “Be part of the plan” and seeks to motivate governments, indigenous peoples, local communities, NGOs, legislators, businesses, and citizens to actively collaborate in implementing the Biodiversity Plan approved at COP15, sharing their contributions and committing to the cause. Everyone has an essential role to play and can contribute to the plan’s success.
The Convention on Biological Diversity has mandated the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to integrate biodiversity use and conservation criteria into production systems. This means agricultural systems must be analyzed in an integrated manner, considering soil, water, living organisms, biological corridors, and pollinators. All of these are essential for achieving efficient production systems that generate well-being for communities.
A fisher at work in the River Tista in Panjarbhanga, Bangladesh
FAO must ensure these aspects, and the ministers of agriculture at the last Regional Conference, the main governing body of the Organization in Latin America and the Caribbean, stressed the importance of promoting more sustainable and resilient agriculture.
This issue will undoubtedly be central to the COP16 on Biodiversity, which will begin on October 21 in Cali, Colombia. At the event, the 196 participating countries must commit to the 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework, signed two years ago in Canada, to restore ecosystems.
FAO promotes a solid work agenda of sustainable production practices in various regions. In Brazil, the REDESER project promotes sustainable agroforestry management to conserve biodiversity and improve local livelihoods. In Chile, the +Bosques project focuses on restoring native biodiversity, reducing emissions, and recovering landscapes. In Guatemala, forested land is being reclaimed, and natural forests are being managed.
In Honduras, progress is being made in creating a biological corridor connecting protected areas, facilitating wildlife movement, and promoting conservation. With FAO support in Paraguay, the Ava Guarani indigenous people are planting yerba mate trees to preserve their tradition and protect the environment.
In Peru, FAO is leading projects for sustainable management and restoration of dry forests on the northern coast and initiatives in the Amazon forests. In Venezuela, the project Conservation and the sustainable use of biological diversity in the Caroni River basin seeks to strengthen capacities for the sustainable use of the landscape.
FAO also promotes technical cooperation in protected areas and the creation of networks to address common challenges in the region, such as forest health and invasive species, among other initiatives.
Preserving, restoring, and sustainably using biodiversity is a monumental task that requires the commitment of all sectors: governments, civil society, and the private sector must work together to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.
It is time to move from agreement to action to ensure a healthier and more prosperous world for future generations. A Better Environment is key to Better Production, Better Nutrition, and Better Life, leaving no one behind.
A deadly cattle disease has been detected in the Cayo District. A release from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) says that anaplasmosis, an infectious disease that is transmitted primarily by ticks and the re-use of blood-contaminated equipment such as needles, has been detected.
“We are aware of cattle mortality in the Cayo District and that we have been actively monitoring and supporting the farmers in the affected areas.”
The disease can affect cattle of all ages, with increased severity in poorly nourished, pregnant, nursing, or older animals. The risk of infection is higher when noninfected cattle are mixed with infected ones and when conditions favour biting flies and ticks.
Symptoms of anaplasmosis include weakness, weight loss, increased aggression, difficulty breathing, abortion, and anaemia, which may cause yellowing or paleness of the mucous membranes and thin, watery blood.
The situation in western Belize is currently contained and under active surveillance, not constituting an animal health emergency at this time.
Is there another shortage of sugar on the local market? According to B.S.I., there have been complaints of a scarcity of sugar, despite the miller having increased the amount of sugar being sold on the domestic market when compared to the same period in 2023. B.S.I. says that notwithstanding the availability of sugar locally, the contrabanding of plantation white sugar continues unabated. The company says it has written to the Government of Belize once more to urge Cabinet to review and increase the price of domestic sugar. A release from B.S.I. says, (quote) the wide disparity between domestic prices and regional prices, combined with production shortages, particularly in Mexico is creating a lucrative incentive for sugar to be smuggled outside of Belize (end quote).
Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) says that Hugh O’Brien has determined that the terminal handling charges and throughput fees are justified port charges.
In a release, BSI stated, “He also concluded that the industry is saving significant costs from the transition to the Port of Big Creek through more efficient loading. Therefore, based on his findings, these charges remain in the commercial agreement, and cane price estimates issued thus far for the 2023–24 crop stay unchanged.”
BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) commissioned O’Brien to conduct an analysis of terminal handling charges and throughput fees as part of a two-year commercial agreement. The objective was to assess whether these costs, disputed by the BSCFA, qualify as justified port charges. O’Brien was also tasked with comparing the current throughput fee and stevedoring costs at the Port of Big Creek with those previously incurred at the Port of Belize Limited (PBL).
The National Agriculture and Trade Show was held this past weekend under the theme, “Integrating Sustainable Food Systems: Mitigating Climate Change, Strengthening Agricultural Resilience”.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, this year’s show welcomed and hosted over 41,000 visitors, regional delegates, and guests. In its press release, the ministry said it thanked all those who attended the show as well as the committee members who gave their time and energy to help plan and coordinate this year’s event.
The drawing for the raffle of the 2024 Ford Ranger pickup truck was postponed. The ministry said that “at the time of drawing, the minimum threshold for tickets sold had not been met, hence the decision to postpone was made. Given the concerns of entrants and with consideration for the reputation and brand image of the supporting partners, namely BEC and DigiWallet, the Ministry assures that this was a legitimate undertaking that will proceed and for which there will be a winner. Tickets bought have been secured and will remain valid. Ticket sales will resume with the raffle scheduled for May 24, 2024.”
Through the Sustainable and Inclusive Belize Project, six extension officers were contracted to support the Ministry of Agriculture by providing technical guidance and coordination support to the project activities at the district level. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Economic Development, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank, handed over six motorcycles, desks, chairs and laptops at a value of fifty-one thousand, six hundred and sixty-one dollars to the project.
Rocio Medina Bolivar
Rocio Medina Bolivar, Group Country Manager, IDB
“This was a very special and very important milestone for the Government of Belize and actually for the whole of Belize. It was an equipment handing over related to two very important projects that is part of our portfolio and we’re really proud to be partnering with the Government of Belize. One is related to Sustainable and Inclusive Belize that really focuses on two very important sector, like agriculture and tourism and digital innovation. Through these two projects, I think we are going to really, in the agriculture sector, for instance, we are going to really impact the farmers, more than two thousand, eight hundred farmers that will be impacted and we are providing equipment that will really help the extension officers at the Ministry of Agriculture and other ministries, for instance, to have access to the logistics that are required and all the equipment also for digital and innovation. So it’s very important.”
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“Agriculture is a verb, it’s in the field. No extension officer is supposed to be in the office, except when they are writing their reports. The donation today, the contribution of motorcycles for extension officers is very, very important. Farmers need all the help that they can get in these very difficult times of climate change and this project focuses around that, mitigating the effects of climate change. Many of the programs and projects we have now are resilient agriculture . How do we produce under difficult circumstances, you know, higher temperatures lead to quick infestations of insects. We have the experience with low pollination when temperatures are very high in corn and so climate change is real.”
Three farmers will be honored on Friday at the opening ceremony of the National Agriculture and Trade Show. They are Sara Chub, the female farmer of the year, Maura Escobar, the junior farmer of the year and Nandy Aldana, the senior farmer of the year. All three farmers were bestowed with the esteemed title after a rigorous vetting process by personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture. Here are a few words from all three farmers, courtesy of the Government Press Office.
Sara Chub
Sara Chub, Female Farmer of the Year
“Every time my two kids and husband tell me the same thing, mommy you nuh tired? I tell them we need to be out there. Sometimes I was in a program that was training us to have some organic stuff.. it actually helped. Once you put your mind and hear to it you will get ahead, because I believe agriculture is a very important sector in Belize. During COVID, you know what happened, everything was on lock down. I was surviving on agriculture, instead of sitting home doing nothing. I could provide extra income to my family. I will not depend on husband salary, not depend on this one and that. God give us two hands and I believe we can use them for the correct purpose.”
Maura Escobar
Maura Escobar, Junior Farmer of the Year
“My Name is Maura Escobar. I am twenty-four-years-old. I was born here. I am Belizean. I was born in 2000 in the fifteenth of May and I am a farmer. I am a single mother. I have two kids and it was hard for me to be independent at first. But since I already knew about farming, I launched myself into farming and I began to work hard and I want to say that we can get ahead in life without support from anyone else. If you focus on what you want, you can achieve your objectives. You cant pay attention to other people. Sometimes we need advice from someone else, but those people may just come and tell you, “No, you cant do it”, but you have to tell yourself that you can. I wake up at five-thirty a.m every day. I make some coffee, put the stuff in the car and then I go to look for the young man who helps me at the farm.”
Nandy Aldana
Nandy Aldana, Senior Farmer of the Year
“My name is Nandy Aldana. I am from Concepcion Village and I am twenty-seven-years-old. I can say I belong to a family of farmers because my father was a farmer too and now, I continue to be a farmer. I have been farming full-time for fifteen to sixteen years and my passion for farming started when I was small, learning from my father. That is when I discovered that I wanted to be a farmer too. That is where everything started.”
