Coming out of the ongoing controversy is the fact that grain growers in the south are being paid considerably less per pound of rice than their colleagues in the Orange Walk District. That point was made earlier today by activist Wil Maheia. He contends that farmers in Toledo are being paid thirty cents per pound, […]
While there is controversy over rice, consumers are up in arms over the price of sugar, which is also locally produced. The Bureau of Standards has been hard at work following up official reports of price gouging where local plantation white sugar is concerned. Based on a long-standing request from cane-farmers, G.O.B. approved an increase […]
A shipment of rice is sitting at a Guatemalan port and is scheduled to be unloaded at the Big Creek port this Thursday. At least that is the plan of businessman Jack Charges of Xtra House who says he can bring in the staple at a lower price to retail locally. But there is a […]
The Mennonite community of Blue Creek, in Orange Walk District, is the largest producer of rice in the country. Considering significant investments that have been made in the industry to date, a lot is at stake for farmers in the north. According to Stanley Rempel, Managing Director of Circle R Products, the Belize Agro-productive Sector […]
At news time tonight, we can confirm that a total of three shipping containers en route to Belize from Guyana are presently in port at San Tomas, Guatemala. The consignment of rice is scheduled for delivery by barge to the port at Big Creek next Thursday. The quantity, imported by businessman Jitendra Chawla, Jack Charles […]
Ads advertising cheap rice from Guyana, imported by Xtra House, have been circulating for a couple weeks now – setting the stage for the rice which should arrive in country soon. It’s caused some concern among local producers because there is a rice surplus, and the rice which is allegedly on the way would sell […]
As we have reported, the strike has implications with goods coming into and going out of Belize for the Christmas season. Caught in all this, is the importation of turkey which as you know Belizeans will want on the dinner table for the holidays. On Monday a cargo vessel, the Caribe Navigator, sailed away with […]
According to Barkman the impact is tremendous and the losses so far are about half a million dollars during one of the busiest times of the year. For now, the resolution of the standoff is crucial. On the Phone: Raymond Barkman, General Manager, Quality Poultry Products “I have another ship that I have some […]
There is a bit of good news for caneros tonight as the first cane payment will increase to thirty-six dollars and sixty-five cents based on a revised first cane price estimate, which increased from forty-one dollars and fifty-six cents. According to Belize Sugar Industries Limited, the increase fully reflects growth provided under the new Statutory […]
After two successive crop season delays underscored by tension and strife in the industry, the 2015/2016 crop season started right on schedule. But even with that start there is concern since world market prices have dictated a very low first payment for farmers this crop. And if that’s not bad enough there is worse on […]
Traditionally, on the first day of crop cane trucks and tractors-trailers are lined up to weigh in and deliver. Today was different, with trucks trickling in to the point where the factory could not start milling until almost midday instead of early morning. There are many factors which contributed to the very slow start, including […]
Because the last survey estimated one point seven million tons of cane in the field, and the factory can only mill one point three, the Sugar Cane Production Committee had to juggle and jump through hoops to make magic happen. S.C.P.C. Chairman Jose Novelo explained the formula used to get as much cane delivered and […]
The price of white sugar on the domestic market will increase from fifty cents per pound in January 2016. A Statutory Instrument was signed today setting the maximum price to seventy five cents effective News Year’s Day; the increase does not extend to brown sugar. This came about in light of the low prices being […]
The C.E.O. also provides an update in respect of sugar industry. A new crop season begins this Monday. Via Phone: Jose Alpuche, C.E.O., Ministry of Agriculture “As they said last week Sunday when the DPM met with farmers is that the crop is suppose to start on Monday and what has changed now with […]
This morning stakeholders in the sugar industry met at SICB headquarters in Orange Walk. For the first time in three years, the crop season is set to start when it should, but there are critical issues which need to be resolved including the first payment for sugar. That and other matters were on the table […]
There has also had to be some tweaking where deliveries to the factory are concerned. A most recent survey estimates that farmers have one point seven million tons of cane in the fields to deliver. BSI, best case scenario, can mill about one point three million. That means if all goes exceptionally well, about four […]
It went mostly under the radar until very recently, but the shrimp industry has taken a major hit and it hasn’t recovered. We’re talking all shrimp farms in the country but one completely closed down…six hundred employees laid off and production down to almost zero, a loss of about thirty million dollars so far. Today […]
And from agriculture to straight politics…Minister of Agriculture Gaspar Vega and Minister of Natural Resources Godwin Hulse have been at loggerheads since elections, over office space. Vega is a senior Minister, a major player in the UDP and he wasn’t letting go of his office at the Natural Resources building, which also houses agriculture. Hulse […]
Tonight, a tripartite body comprised of sugar cane farmers from various associations in the north is awaiting a response from the Ministry of Agriculture in respect of a request for government intervention in the ongoing sugar crisis. The associations, including the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, are turning to Minister of Agriculture Gaspar Vega to […]
News Five also spoke with Belizario Carballo, Chief Financial Officer at Belize Sugar Industries Limited. According to the CFO, while the first estimates for the 2015 crop cannot be adjusted, B.S.I. supports the farmers’ request for an adjustment of sugar prices sold on the local market. On the Phone: Belizario Carballo, Chief Financial Officer, […]
Three major sectors in the agriculture industry are in deep trouble. In the shrimp industry, thirty million dollars has been lost due to a bacteria that has infected upwards of fifty percent of the farms. The banana industry also in the south is faring no better as hundreds of workers are losing their jobs as […]
The B.S.C.F.A. held its Annual General Meeting on Sunday where key agenda items included the passage of a resolution to seek an increase in the cost per pound of sugar sold on the local market. According to Alonzo, all efforts are also being made to commence the 2015/2016 crop on time to avoid a recurrence […]
Seasoned canero Leonardo Cano is the newly-elected Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. He succeeds Ezequiel Cansino as chief presiding officer of the largest group of cane farmers in the country. Cano’s leadership of the organization comes at a critical juncture when the membership of the B.S.C.F.A. is concerned about the future of […]
The original, authentic, annual Orange Walk Tacos Festival is back, and organizers say it will be bigger and better than ever. Going on its fifth year, the festival showcases every possible variety and style of the always popular Orange Walk tacos, with vendors competing to see who can wow the crowds from every part of […]
We’ve been following the crisis in the shrimp industry where losses to jobs and finances are massive. Six hundred persons have been let go so far and losses are in the range of thirty million dollars. It is all due to a bacteria that has infected more than fifty percent of the fifteen shrimp farms […]
