Taiwan Assists in Combating Banana Disease

Minister Mai says that there are other diseases, like the African swine fever, in the region that these safeguards will help to keep at bay. And while the MOUs are being signed today, these agricultural safeguards have been in place for the past six months. The ministry is also looking at introducing these protocols at the land border entry points. Also participating in today’s signing was the Government of Taiwan, as that country has developed technology against this banana disease.

Lily Li-Wen Hsu

Dr. Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize

“I don’t even know how to pronounce the disease properly, but I know the importance of agriculture in the development of Belize and the crucial role the banana industry plays in this country. It accounts for twenty-percent of Belize’s national agricultural output and has an export value of about thirty-nine million U.S. dollars, providing a stable source of foreign exchange for the country. And hence to keep this banana disease at bay is an extremely important task. Taiwanese therefore is proud to work with OIRSA, the International Regional Organization for Health in Agriculture to provide assistance in this regard for our diplomatic allies. Being hit hard by the disease ourselves decades ago, Taiwan has developed the resistant variety of fusarium banana as well as the technology and expertise to fight the disease.”