Sugar cane farmers across Belize are still anxiously waiting for the sugar roads to be repaired. Earlier this week, we reported that sugar cane deliveries have been crawling due to the terrible condition of the roads, which has severely impacted sugar production in the north. On Wednesday, Prime Minister John Briceno acknowledged the farmers’ struggles and assured the public that the roads will be fixed eventually. He explained that funds have already been allocated for the repairs, but the heavy rains Belize has been experiencing have delayed the process. Today, we asked the Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, if there’s any timeline for these much-needed repairs. Here’s what he had to say.
On the Phone: Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“ I can’t give you a time frame of when the weather will fix right? Iit’s raining a lot. The Prime Minister this morning said, I think on a talk show, he said that he has okayed another million dollars for repair of sugar roads, but you cannot repair sugar roads when it’s raining. Right? We have done, we have given out contracts for contractors. If they continue work while it’s raining and roads are destroyed again, they will complain again. And if we do that, it is not wise for us to take taxpayer’s money, throw it on sugar roads, erase the following day and tax the taxpayer money gone. So we have to be timely. We have to choose the time when to do right for us to fix sugar roads.”
The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed a second case of screwworm in Belize. The first case of this highly destructive parasite was detected in late December in Crique Sarco Village, Toledo District. This Sunday, another case popped up in Toledo, this time in San Pedro, Columbia. We spoke with Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, who shared that this case likely originated in Guatemala as well.
On the Phone: Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“Screwworm can only move in a number of ways. The first one is the flies. The fly flies. They are closest point to Guatemala. Guatemala’s case from our border was eleven miles. It could have easily been a fly that flew into the country, right? And laid eggs on a therefore we had the first case. Secondly, there is a strong connection between the farmers in Toledo and Guatemalan farmers, the exchange cattle it seems and so that could have been the second possibility. The animal may have arrived in masses, in vehicles. No, we do not put cattle for human consumption none at all. Those two possibilities are the only two that we have reviewed and the could be the source of entry into the country in the case right now in San Pedro Colombia, we are still not sure how it got there. We have investigated around the neighborhood. If any of them are important to the area, we can’t find evidence of it. We believe that it’s too far away from the deep jungle to say it is wildlife. And so we are not too certain. We haven’t ascertained yet what was the source but we have people on the ground. We have a dozen people on the ground or more that are doing a house to house campaign and a farm to farm campaign to ensure that there are no more cases on the ground.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has rolled out new restrictions on live animal imports from Belize, effective January third, 2025. This move follows Belize’s confirmation of its first case of New World Screwworm in late December. Under the new rules, ruminants like goats and cattle, as well as swine, are banned from entering the U.S. Dogs can still be imported, but they must have a health certificate confirming they’ve been inspected for screwworm. Horses will also need to undergo inspection and isolation upon arrival. Earlier today, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai reassured News Five that these restrictions are unlikely to have a significant impact on Belize’s trade sector.
On the Phone: Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“We’re the last country in Central America to have contacted screwworm. Mexico had it first on us. When Mexico had the case, the U.S. did put some sanctions on them until they reviewed and made changes to the export protocol. So the Mexicans use the same protocol with us, Belize. We intend to use the same protocol with us, Belize. So we have screwworm now in the Belize, we have two cases confirmed, but Mexico has never stopped or closed the door on our exports for cattle. As a matter of fact, they are helping by reducing the number of quarantine deals from twenty-one to seven years. So that they could export a different protocol, easier and less expensive. All they want for us to do animal inspection and thorough treatment before we export. But it has not affected us. The U. S., put that on the website. We do not export any livestock to the U. S., so it does not affect us in any way.”
The sugar roads in northern Belize are in rough shape, making it really difficult for cane farmers to transport their harvest to the mill. Even though the new sugar crop season started on December twenty-seventh, deliveries have been slow, which is impacting sugar production at Tower Hill. On Tuesday, industry stakeholders like the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association and A.S.R./B.S.I. shared their thoughts on the issue and its impact on the sector. This morning, Prime Minister John Briceño added his voice to the discussion, speaking on behalf of the Government of Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well, the sugar roads, look at the weather. We have set aside the money, we have signed contracts, but I constantly tell our farmers that we will be wasting money if we try to fix the road right now because then, one day or two days later, it’s going to break up. So, we have the money, we’ve signed the contracts. We’ve set aside even another million dollars plus to be able to fix the sugar roads. But, until the rain clears up, there’s not much that we can do.”
The recent rains might be a relief for some, but they’ve been causing a chain reaction of problems for the sugarcane industry in northern Belize. The Corozal Sugar Cane Producers’ Association issued a press release today, highlighting how the delay in road repairs has led to under-delivery of their cane quota to the mill. This could spell trouble for Belize’s 2025 cane crop output if the mill can’t compensate for the losses already recorded since the crop season began in December. In a conversation with A.S.R/B.S.I., we learned that the rains have been affecting cane delivery across the north. Farmers can’t harvest the mature cane planted in low-lying areas and are forced to turn in younger cane from more accessible areas, which don’t yield as much. However, B.S.I. spokespersons suggest that smarter planting and harvesting methods could help address this issue. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
On the Phone: Vladimir Puck, Chairman, Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association
“What the cane farmers have to endure is messing up their units, right? I mean, it’s almost impossible and they will just damage the road even further and their machinery. And that is why we have a very poor delivery at the moment, you know, because of those conditions of the road.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
Vladimir Puck, Chairman of the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association, is raising the alarm about the poor road conditions that are preventing their members from delivering their daily sugarcane quota to the Tower Hill mill. Puck explains that the road passing through his residence and plantation, which includes several villages, is just one example of the many areas affecting association members. Olivia Carballo-Avilez, Cane Farmer Relations Manager for Belize Sugar Industries Limited, also highlighted that the recent rains have been impacting cane farmers across the entire north, making it even harder for them to meet their delivery targets.
“We are experiencing challenges in general here in the in the north, both for Corozal and Orange Walk. The challenge, the crop has started very slow. The cane supply has been almost 50 percent of what we should be getting for the day. It’s increasing now at this point, but, the farmers have expressed challenges of can supply reaching to the more mature fields that they should be reaching.”
The problem has led to a shortage of delivery for the canefarmers. Adding to the problem is the fact that the cane being delivered is younger and doesn’t produce as much sugar. This means the overall yield is lower, further impacting the sugar industry’s productivity.
On the Phone: Vladimir Puck
“We are short right now for about a third of what we are used to. To be delivering, which is the amount of out of 500 tons. We are only delivering about 300 at the moment.”
Olivia Carballo-Avilez
“This not only affects the quantity of cane, but also the quality. Cane quality is very, very important for farmers and for us because, um, it is, uh, we, we need to extract the sugar and based on the amount of sugar that we can extract out of that cane, which is the quality of the cane. We have milled 38,500 metric tons of cane, and we’ve done that in 11 days. That amount of cane on a normal grinding rate at 6,800. We would have gotten that done in five days, five and a half days.”
Carballo-Avilez explained that the issue has hit the mill hard, forcing it to halt operations. This is far from the outcome anyone wanted.
Olivia Carballo-Avilez
“The factory does not do well, um, with a start and stop. It’s not a, uh, an electronic device that you can just switch on and switch off. It doesn’t work that way. It’s a whole series of of machinery that come together to work. So, it affects the mill when we have to start and stop. It’s not, it’s not automatic. We have to be able to have enough cane on the ground, uh, at the, at the queues and at the cane yard so that we’re able to restart and we are able to continue.”
The Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association has called on the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing to collaborate with them to plan the road repairs in the future.
On the Phone: Vladimir Puck
“I think that together with stakeholders, not the authority should. We should have more meetings and maybe do a plan on how and when road repairs and needed roads need to be targeted, you know, before a start of crop. Plenty of time before a start of crop.”
CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Victor Espat, explained that the recent rains have delayed the repair of dirt roads. The ministry has been working on fixing over seventy-five sugar roads in the north, covering almost four hundred miles. Espat noted that this is an annual task with a limited budget, but this year, the rains have set back their efforts. He pointed out that trying to repair roads during the rain would be futile, as the materials would just wash away before they could be properly compacted.
On a brighter note, Olivia Carballo-Avilez suggested a climate-resilient approach to planting and harvesting that could solve many of the issues cane farmers are currently facing. She emphasized that this would require community effort and organized planning. Key techniques include planting according to the land’s topography and the rainy season, and strategically timing when certain roads and fields would be accessible. Essentially, it all comes down to smart planting.
Olivia Carballo-Avilez
“What is required is really a transformation in the, in the delivery system. Currently we have 250 reaping groups, um, that harvest wherever they, they are, they are available to harvest. But what we really should be. thinking is about the geography of the area. Um, we need to harvest in larger groups, consolidate some of the smaller groups into larger groups. Focus attention on those areas that you are able to harvest at at a given time when it’s, um, what conditions you harvest in all the identified higher areas instead of of harvesting in low. And when it’s drier, you go into the into the less accessible and, and areas that we know are lower.”
On Monday, the Ministry of Agriculture announced the first case of screwworm in southern Belize. The infestation was limited to one animal, which has since been treated. While the New World Screwworm is treatable if caught early, it can have deadly consequences for both animals and humans. Since July 2023, the ministry has been proactive in preventing the spread of screwworm in Belize. Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, elaborates on the measures taken to protect livestock and ensure the safety of Belizeans nationwide.
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“We have been working hard to prevent the introduction of screwworm into Belize. Belize is the last of all Central American countries to be reporting on a suspect case. We activated our national plan in October and aggressively engaged with stakeholder groups to strengthen our position. As part four hundred twenty-five establishments, farms, and homes were visited and more than two hundred and thirty-five technical personnel have been trained in new worlds home prevention and control brochures were designed and printed in English, Spanish, lower German, Ketchi, Mopan, and Yucatec, Maya, and Garifuna, and these have been widely distributed. Technical teams made appearances on morning shows and this was supported. by social media, post billboards, and home visits. All this contributed to thousands of religions becoming aware of and informed of the New World Screwworm as a country as a part of the prevention plan, we also increased inspections of pets being imported from New World Screwworm-infested countries at all official points of entry, these are on land, sea, and air. And then by moving control points when installed at Bullett Tree, Cayo District, and Toledo district. These are manned by BAHA officers, the police and a BLP officer and are operational twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. These movement controls were strengthened to ensure no animals enter Belize at these unofficial crossing points, and that all cargo vehicles entering Belize through these points are sprayed with an insecticide that’s also a larvicide.”
On December twenty-sixth, 2024, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) received a report about a suspicious wound on an animal in southwestern Toledo. The wound was suspected to be caused by New World Screwworm, a highly destructive parasite that typically targets livestock and other animals. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture quickly dispatched technical teams to the area for a thorough assessment. Earlier today, the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners held a press conference to share details on their response to the infestation. Here’s Doctor Roxanna Alvarez, Animal Health Director of BAHA, with more information.
Dr. Roxanna Alvarez, Animal Health Director, BAHA
“Upon arrival at the farming establishment, a six-month-old Brangus heifer was observed penned in a coral. Closer inspection found a suspicious seeping wound on her right ear near her ear tag. A total of fifty-nine larvae were removed. The wound was treated with Cyperchlor, which is cypermethrin, gentian violet, pine, and citronella oil. Comafuss powder and ivermectin was administered subcutaneous. No other wound was found on the animal and no other animals in the herd presented lesions, wounds, or infestations. The producer was informed that his farm was under quarantine and therefore he would not be allowed to move any animals in or out of the establishment. He was also advised that follow up technical visits would be necessary. He was given advice on treatment and preventative measures for his entire herd. The samples were transported to the BAHA Entomology Laboratory and preliminary findings by the BAHA Entomologist indicated New World Screwworm. We are awaiting confirmation by COPEG. The nearest positive case from the suspected case in Crique Sarco is in Modesto Mendez, Guatemala, which is approximately eleven point eight three miles in a straight line. We have been on high alert for months. As the minister mentioned, we have had an aggressive education and outreach program, coupled with active surveillance. We have done well at preventing infestations, and I must acknowledge the vital role stakeholders have played. In this specific instance, the producer, his neighbors, and the community of Crique Sarco acted with caution, consistently inspected their animals, and immediately notified us. BAHA of wounds with larvae, also known as worms. This was crucial to our immediate response.”
On Thursday, a screwworm case popped up in Crique Sarco village, Toledo District, causing quite a stir. Since October, over two hundred and thirty-five technical experts have been trained in preventing and controlling New World screwworms, and four hundred and twenty-five farms and homes have been inspected for thChannel 5 Belizeese pesky pests. Belize had been free of any outbreak signs until now. The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that last week’s infestation was limited to just one animal on a southern Belize farm, which has since been treated. Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, shared insights on where they believe the outbreak originated.
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“How did the worms get there and Dr. Alvarez explained that it’s a fly and it flies distances. The team on the ground is doing a thorough investigation. So far, we will show you right now where the, where the case was found. There is no direct contact with the community in Guatemala, eleven miles away from Crique Sarco. For there is no connection, no road. So, if you look on the map, you will see Crique Sarco and, you look way at the, down at the corner where Belize and Guatemala meet. That, that area there is where Modesto is. That’s the last case found in Guatemala sometime last week. So, the distance between these two communities is eleven miles. So, there’s no road that leads directly from Modesto Mendez to Crique Sarco. And that is why we are assuming that the fly may have flown in from Guatemala into Belize. If you look on the Guatemala territory, south of the Sarstoon, all the cleared area you see there is all farmland. They’re all farms. So we have to assume there is a population of fertile flies, and one of them may have found his way into Belize. If you look where Crique Sarco is, it is central, Southern Toledo. And so that is why we’re assuming that the fly had to fly into Belizean territory and found an open wound. And that is where we have the case today.”
The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed a single case of screwworm in Southern Belize. Earlier this year, Mexico warned that if Belize reported any screwworm cases, livestock exports to Mexico would be halted for up to a year. However, at today’s press briefing, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai reassured everyone that Belize’s trade won’t be affected by this incident. Mai has been in touch with Mexico’s new Minister of Agriculture, Doctor Julio Berdegue, who has pledged his full support to Belize. Here’s more on that.
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“When we met last two weeks in Palenque, Chiapas, one of the main topics discussed was the new export protocol. At that time, they were still banned from exporting into the U.S. But a few days after, the U.S. gave them a new protocol saying that you can export, but these are the new conditions. A while ago, Dr. Berdegue got in contact with us and his Senasica office saying that they’re almost almost completing the new protocols for Belize’s export to Mexico. It means that we will not lose a day of exporting cattle to Mexico. Our cattle exports will continue. Of course, with a different protocol. But, one of the most important protocols to us is the reduction of quarantine time from twenty-one days to seven days. You will know that a million animals find its way into Mexico from Central America. And much of it is informal, informal. So the formal trade is competing with the informal trade. The cost of exporting cattle formally is very high as compared to exporting the informal. So Mexico is of the view that if we manage to lower off exporting formally, then the majority of cattle then will go into Mexico legally with all the protocols being put in place. So, for us, that is a blessing. I believe it’s an example where you convert a challenge into an opportunity. And so Dr. Berdegue and Mexico have been very understanding of us and not a single day of cattle export will be lost because of this case of school in Belize.”
This morning, Belize Sugar Industries and other stakeholders kicked off the 2024-2025 sugar cane season. Originally slated to start on December sixteenth, the season’s opening was delayed to the twenty-seventh due to poor road conditions. Although the season is just getting underway, stakeholders are already bracing for challenges. Tumultuous weather, rough road conditions, and the rapid spread of fusarium disease across northern Belize are expected to impact cane farmers and sugar producers. News Five’s Britney Gordon was at the opening ceremony to get the scoop on what next year holds for the sugar industry. Here’s her report.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
This morning marked the official start of the 2024/2025 crop season, kicking off Belize’s sugar production for the upcoming year. Despite the excitement, it’s a slow day at Belize Sugar Industries. 2024 was a landmark year for the local sugar industry, with record-breaking cane prices and the largest raw sugar export in the country’s history. However, stakeholders are cautious about 2025, uncertain if it will match the previous year’s success.
Vladimir Pook
Vladimir Pook, Chairman, Corozal Sugar Cane Producers
“This symbolic opening is very important. Where it shows unity, the full association, we came here today and do what is best for our keen farmers, right? To the start of a crop. It’s a very challenging crop coming ahead. Reasons, weather, roads, the fusarium, as you all know. And other pests that have been affecting the industry. But I think that at this point in time, there is one major reason why today it looks a little bit sad, I can say. At the beginning of a crop where you don’t see as many trucks as we normally do, right? And that has contributed mostly to the roads. The pest that has done its damage, but now it’s time to deliver. We wanted to have an early start, but unfortunately the authorities did not prioritize on that.”
In late October, cane farmers were overjoyed as sugar cane prices soared to a record-breaking ninety dollars and ninety-five cents. It was a moment of celebration for the industry. However, Alfredo Ortega, Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association Committee of Management, warns that tougher times are on the horizon for farmers next year.
Alfredo Ortega
Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A.
“We are seeing the realities novel of climate change, as you rightly said. As we have said before, the problems we are seeing are many of them are caused by climate change. And yes, there’s a situation because as everything has, fuel is up, labor is up. So the farmers are really very tight in regards to what they make and in regards to the sugarcane they have. So it’s not an easy issue, it’s not very easy for the farmers to see when we are getting a huge amount on the sugarcane we produce. Nevertheless, last year we got ninety dollars per ton of cane which has been the highest in history. But when we see all the payments that we have to do in regards to fuels, in regards to social security, that has doubled from five years ago to now what we have to pay for labor from six to ten dollars now for cutting. So it’s a very huge amount that the farmers now have to pay to to get that cane coming here to the mill.”
Despite the looming challenges, farmers remain resolute. Alfredo Ortega notes that many have already started planting seeds for the next crop season. Likewise, Belize Sugar Industries (B.S.I.) is preparing for the year ahead, ready to tackle whatever comes their way.
Shawn Chavarria
Shawn Chavarria, Financial Director, B.S.I.
“Symbolically, it’s a good day in that we have an agreement with all our associations, which paves the way for the crop. That’s really the most important thing you need to have, a successful crop. If you have an agreement with all your associations for the cane, that makes, planning the crop much easier. I think we certainly know what are the challenges this year. We’ve heard from farmers and their leaders that sugar roads are in a bad state. And that’s making it difficult to get the cane in. So we’re expecting that today might be a very slow day in that respect. We know as well about the disease fusarium, which will result in lower-quality cane. So what we need to ensure from the mill standpoint is that the mill has been maintained properly so that we can deal with this cane. From our standpoint, we’ve done that. We put in about fourteen million Belize dollars just in out-for-crop replacement of maintenance equipment. And general maintenance to get the prop on the middle ready for today.”
So far, only a handful of trucks loaded with cane have made their way to the B.S.I. compound. However, BSI’s financial director, Shawn Chavarria, is optimistic that the operation will ramp up to full speed very soon.
Shawn Chavarria
“ We were currently doing some phone calls to the different leaders and groups to find out how much cane they have ready. We’re still getting some numbers. We’re trying to at least get quantity of our own fifteen hundred assured before we start putting on our cane shredder and our cane knives because that really then requires a lot of power to start receiving the cane. So we need to be assured a certain quantity before we can get that. I would expect maybe by late this afternoon, we will probably have an indication of sufficient quantity. Then we will be able to make a start with the milling, but we’re hopeful that by tomorrow, we start seeing a steadier level of cane coming in and start getting into full force.”
The bleak outlook for sugar production is a major concern for B.S.I., which relies on fixed assets. Low output makes running the mill costly. While B.S.I. assures that the local sugar market won’t be hit hard, Cane Farmer Relations Manager Olivia Carballo-Avilez warns that international sales are expected to drop.
“We will be able to supply for the Belizean market. It’s only ten percent output. of the total production that’s for the Belizean market. And of course, if we are, if we don’t have the sugar production, we can’t sell those amounts. The local market has, we don’t have to worry about that, but yes, we will be selling less sugar if there is less sugar.”
