Battle for Belizean Cattle Creates Local Imbalance

Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, reiterated Garcia’s position during his appearance on Open Your Eyes this morning. According to Minister Mai, his team conducted a survey over the past two days and what they found is that sufficient cattle are available in the country. However, Minister Mai also says that Guatemala and Mexico are willing to pay more than twice the price for Belize’s cattle. Ranchers are now benefiting from the demand in neighboring countries, while local buyers are being put on hold.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

Jose Abelardo Mai

“We did discuss in our senior staff meeting, our coordinators meeting, and the statement that was shared by one of the business men. I asked my officers to do a quick survey of the availability of meat in the country. By no way shape or form that information is accurate. We have enough beef. We have enough pork. We don’t have surplus. We have enough poultry. We have enough sheep for the country. Again, this is the law of supply and demand. If the neighboring countries are offering you a good price, obviously locally the price will tend to go up.  When Guatemala was buying they set the price. The price was at one dollar and fifty cents, one dollar and sixty cents, one dollar and fifteen cents, low.  When they opened the marker to Mexico that price went up to one seventy five, one eighty. Mexico started to buy more from us it went up to two ten. With the announcement of the Mexican President, Guatemala is now seeing the price going up because Mexico is paying two dollar and ten cents and the Guatemalans are saying look, I will pay you two dollars and fifty cents now.  So the competition is healthy for the farmer.”