Supporting Farmers to Keep Pace in an Evolving Industry

It’s one of Belize’s leading industries, one that brings valuable earnings to rural communities across the nation. Agriculture is vital to creating jobs, driving exports and ensuring food security in Belize. That is why the Ministry of Agriculture is doing its part to make sure that farmers are equipped with resources and opportunities to stay ahead of the game in the fast-evolving industry. Today, the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation gave us a closer look at the equipment available for farmers to boost production and the products that can be made with them. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

With climate change and global trade tensions putting pressure on our food systems, supporting Belizean farmers has never been more important. That’s where the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation steps in. According to Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Jose Abelardo Mai, the government is working through BMDC to make sure farmers have the tools and resources they need to thrive because when farmers succeed, the country eats.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture & Food Security

“The goal of BMDC is to consolidate products from the farmers, one and two to provide technical assistance, storage assistance. And now we are working as a packing operations unit where we have invested in a packing facility to start exporting coconuts shortly. We expect to start exporting coconuts next month. Tomorrow we’ll do the first trial we will see if we can adjust the equipment to what we are doing and hope to finalize that tomorrow and next month we do the first shipment to Mexico. I will admit to you that Belize is the only country so far been able to export coconut to Mexico. Given the conditions that the to green coconuts with husk.”

 

Coconut exports are booming in the north; five million expected next year, and thirty million by March. It’s a growing industry open to all planters, big or small. Meanwhile, BMDC opened its doors today, showing off the tools and products available to help farmers thrive.

 

Jose Abelardo Mai

“This facility also provides capacity for cold storage for farmers, who last year we stored, I think eight tons of dragon fruit. We have sour sop, we have passion fruit. And we are making that available to the schools. We have slush machines, we have juice machines, and we hope that at some point children can start to understand the importance of drinking a healthy juice as to drinking a gaseous drink..”

 

The Ministry of Agriculture will be partnering with the Ministry of Health to push the natural juice alternatives in schools. It’s a cool idea. Slush machines are being donated to schools, but they’ll need to buy twenty-five pounds of fresh fruit pulp from BMDC every week to keep the drinks flowing. It’s a win-win; students get refreshing treats, and farmers get steady support. Minister of Health and Orange Walk East Area Rep, Kevin Bernard, was on hand to show his support for the initiative and the boost it brings to local agriculture.

 

Kevin Bernard, Area Representative, Orange Walk East

“Farmers are able to benefit from looking at diversification. You are looking at, I mean, you see the various use of local produce being made into other products. And so, farmers have access to better equipments. You are now seeing where in the south. I remember when in initial stage, discussing with the whole Toledo rice growers at the time when they were saying, oh, but we are not producing. Now from two hundred seventy thousand in three years and a half, they have gone to almost over three million. And so that shows progress, that shows development. Now people are benefiting. Those thirty plus farmers in the south are benefiting. Likewise, here in the north. We have a lot of people utilize this and BMDC buy these products from them.”

 

Recently, the BMDC has been rolling out a new product, prepackaged sugar. This value-added product is currently only available in San Pedro, but expansion plans are underway. Senior Project Officer Sergio Tillett explains.

 

Sergio Tillett, Projects Officer, Belize Marketing and Development Corporation

“You know in the past they used to weigh sugar. They put it in little bags and tie top, and that’s on the shelves, not anymore. Now we’re doing a sealing of bags. So it’s more secure, it’s more guaranteed. And the sugar that we package basically comes from BSI. So it’s, we are not producing anything. All we’re doing is just doing a different presentation for the market that desires to have it that way.”

 

The BMDC is also working with the government of India to receive one million dollars’ worth of food processing equipment so that very soon, farmers can bring excess fruits to the facility and turn them into bottled juice ready for sale. Britney Gordon for News Five.