N.C.C.O. Funds Model Farm Renovations for ANRI
The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, through the National Climate Change Office, on Thursday signed a memorandum of agreement with the Agriculture and Natural Resources Institute in Stann Creek for the renovation and expansion of its model farm. ANRI, as it is also known, is located some four miles off the road in Hope Creek Village and the donation of sixty thousand dollars for renovations will see modifications made to its greenhouse structure, piggery, poultry and hydroponics unit. The M.O.A. is being described as a unique partnership to ensure climate resiliency and food security.
Debbie Jones
Debbie Jones, Chairperson, ANRI School Board
“It’s an agricultural school. And definitely this help that we are getting through the Ministry of Sustainable Development will assist us in being able to provide another screen house as well as irrigation system because we only at the moment have one well that provides us with all the water that is needed to run the school as well as to run all the agricultural plot. So definitely with this help that we are getting all of that will be enhanced.”
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of State, Education
“We have focused quite a bit on the agriculture side in our efforts to bring back ANRI, so to speak, with a strong tradition from Lynam College. But we haven’t really focused on the natural resources side and the climate resiliency and adaptation side and so certainly these funds that we will be getting to ANRI will definitely be able to address those issues of climate resiliency, of making sure that our agriculture is developed in such a way that we address these issues that are important to us as a nation.”
Kenrick Williams
Dr. Kenrick Williams, C.E.O., Ministry of Sustainable Development
“It reflects a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk along with the Agricultural Natural Resource Institute (ANRI). And it is within the framework of climate change and food security within Belize. It is a unique partnership because often times these institutions are not part of the beneficiaries of these types of funding and financing. So we are looking at it as a unique partnership between the ministry and institutions like ANRI.”
Lennox Gladden
Dr. Lennox Gladden, Chief Climate Change Officer, N.C.C.O.
“I think the importance of the signing is what in essence we are looking at not only currently, but futuristically. We keep discussing issues such as food security and actually having an impact on those who are the most vulnerable. For the most part, certain projects, certain initiatives, they tend to not benefit those who are the most vulnerable. However, with the engender project, under the ministry, we target those who will benefit the most, those who sometimes slip through the cracks and we are all for capacity building. So I think by supporting ANRI through this initiative it should help them to not only help them, but help the students in this instance because it is quite vital for them to get the necessary resources to learn the proper way to manage a farm, in this instance, or look at some new technologies as it relates to irrigation systems.”
