The 2019 Budget from an Agriculture Perspective

Jose Abelardo Mai

The agro-productive sector remains a key feature in the annual national budget and is an area of particular interest for Orange Walk South Area Representative Jose Abelardo Mai, who is an agronomist.  During his presentation, Mai focused on the overall performance of the agriculture industry and government’s failure to support local farmers in recovering from the effects of natural disasters.  He also reiterated that agriculture is a ticket for Belizeans to escape poverty.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Area Rep, Orange Walk South

“Madame Speaker, agriculture is the driver of growth and poverty reduction.  Agriculture is the special power in reducing poverty.  It‘s simple, Madame Speaker, and it‘s called investment in agriculture and is being done in many countries around the world.  All that is required is political will and the work ethic on behalf of all concerned.  In our country, in our beautiful country where thirty-three percent of land is suitable for agriculture but only fifteen percent is utilized yearly, in a country where we have hard working farmers, knowledgeable and skillful productive farmers, agriculture and rural development is the only way out, Madame Speaker.  The numbers presented here today clearly demonstrate that as the agriculture sector declines, poverty persists and rises.”