Soybean harvest looks promising

Over a year ago we ran a story on a project to introduce soybeans to Belize as a viable alternative crop that would help farmers diversify and save the nation’s precious foreign exchange. Today, as this year’s crop reaches maturity, agriculture officials report that soybeans will be an important part of Belize’s future. Estimates are that close to three point five million pounds of beans will be harvested this season and processed into animal feed and soybean oil for the local market. Over two thousand acres of the crop were planted in June and July in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts. Farmers received financing totalling four hundred thousand dollars, and based on prices of thirty-four cents per pound paid for quality beans by the two processing companies, all farmers are expected to meet their repayments. Plantings for the 2004 crop are expected to increase substantially.