MOUs to Strengthen Quarantine Inspection at P.G.I.A.

The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the International Regional Organization for Health in Agriculture (OIRSA), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding and addendums under the Fusarium TR4 Disease project. The MOU includes the use of K-9 units for non-intrusive inspection at the P.G.I.A., as well as the development of tissue culture technology at the University of Belize laboratory for banana and plantain propagation. The traceability platform and systems in place since last year at the P.G.I.A. will be strengthened to increase detection levels of unwanted goods that pose a risk to the agricultural sector. Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai shares more on the importance of these MOUs.

Jose Abelardo Mai

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise

“We have a new director of OIRSA in the name of Raul Rodas, originally from Honduras. He was just sworn in a few weeks ago and so it is time for us to sign to make it official; these MOUs. One of them is the P.G.I.A.  We have x-ray machines that OIRSA in conjunction with BAHA. These machines were put in place there as a result of the Central American countries coming together saying that we maintain the area free of diseases, free of pests or try to manage the importation of illegal goods that may be contaminated with diseases, viruses or to a great extent, pest. We are all very concerned with the fusarium disease in Colombia, Venezuela and Peru. This disease affects banana is very serious and a threat to the region. And all the ministers of all the countries agreed that they will place x-ray machines to capture any organic product that is coming in that may not be declared – banana being one of them. And so that is one. To add to that is the collaboration with OIRSA with the K-9 unit. If you would walk through airports in other countries, you would find the agriculture department has their person walking with dogs.  Those dogs are trained to sniff out organic products – seeds, plant material, fruits, meats and these things. So it is very important. Why? Because we sign to these agreements, we sign to these conventions that we will do this so that we protect each other. If we as a country fail to implement those two actions, then the other Central American countries are saying that I don’t want to trade with you because you are a risk to me.”