Int’l and local specialists look to improve agriculture
For the past two days, fourteen specialists from Central America, South America, and the Caribbean have convened at the Biltmore Plaza in Belize City to discuss agricultural development. CATIE (Kathy-eh), the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre of Costa Rica, met with representatives of the University of Belize and the Toledo Cacao Growers Association. The parties are looking to devise methodologies and standards for increasing education in industrial and agricultural processes which in turn should assist our country’s economic development and sustainability. The seminar started with presentations from T.C.G.A. and discussions on Belize’s progress. Helmut Eger is the President of CATIE.
Dr. Helmut Eger, President, Board of Director, CATIE
“There is already a long standing cooperation between the Toledo Cacao Grower Association and CATIE. And, first of all, I would like to congratulate the T.C.G.A., especially the board who made yesterday a very good presentation in this room and showed the advancement of the institution, of the collaboration that they have with CATIE and other institutions and everybody of the board and the national authorities were very much impressed.”
Dr. Jose Joaquin Campos Arce, Director General, CATIE
“This cacao project also works all the way down from Belize to Panama with all the cacao producers. And what we are doing is linking our research so we are doing research in breeding cacao varieties so that they could produce more and they can be more resistant to diseases and bring those varieties to Belize. We are planting six hectares of improved material, genetically improved material and also helping the producers how to manage better the cacao plantations and also how to access better the markets.”
Helmut Eger
“We will certainly continue to strengthen the cooperation in different levels. The different levels are in order to improve the technical side of cacao production, but also the organizational and institutional side that concerns the board and the organization of the T.C.G.A. So, for us, we are very happy that we are part of this effort.”
On Thursday, CATIE reps met with officials from the University of Belize.
