Pepper growers increase production

It may not be an eighty million dollar a year business like sugar, but the people who grow hot peppers are beginning to make their mark. Last year Belize exported five hundred and sixty thousand pounds of fiery peppers to the United States and this year the amount is expected to rise to six hundred thousand. In order to fully appreciate the growth of this industry, Minister of Agriculture Daniel Silva, went on a tour of hot pepper farms in the Cayo and Orange Walk districts last Friday. The tour took him through the villages of St. Margaret’s, Chunox and San Carlos. Though the villagers are already getting assistance from VIFINEX, a regional program in which Taiwan is helping with the construction of small pepper nurseries, the farmers expressed the need for additional support. Their main concern is the installation of proper irrigation systems to provide an adequate water source for greater year round production of the popular crop. Silva promised continued backing from the government for the industry.