Weather Extremes Push Toledo Farmers to the Brink

Farmers in rural Toledo are battling weather at both extremes. Heavy rainfall is damaging crops and making it difficult to plant, but a sudden shift to dry conditions could deal another blow to production. Toledo West Area Representative Oscar Requena warns that the unpredictable weather linked to El Niño could threaten livelihoods and food security. So, what will the government do to help farmers weather the crisis?

 

Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West

“Most people expected that El Niño would bring drought, we have not really seen drought. What we have seen is a lot of rains, a lot of rain and very intense rain. So certainly that has affected the farmers because sometimes when they plant, the crops don’t come. You’ve seen cases of flooding affecting, you know, farmers who have just planted. And essentially farmers are not adequately prepared because if we do get, which we are, you know, the experts are predicting that we are going to get some drought, some very intense dry weather. It is going to affect production. It is going to affect food security. So our farmers require support, particularly to find alternative ways in which, you know, they can ensure that there is, you know, adequate water to be able to ensure that their crops, that their vegetables can grow.”

 

Shane Williams

“What support is being discussed at cabinet level?”

 

Oscar Requena

“Well, as you’re aware, government has put in place some support for the Belize district. I believe it is the Cayo and Orange Walk district. So government has already started with those districts and I am certain that the, you know, the officials, the technicians at the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant supporting organizations are also looking at other districts to see how best farmers can be supported.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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