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It’s been nine years since sargassum has been drifting to our shorelines, but based on the amounts that are drifting ashore and the broad stretch of beaches that has already begun to cling to, the impact for 2023 is threatening to be the worst yet. This year, even the southwestern portion of the island where […]
Written on March 10, 2023 | Posted in
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Cabinet has made a decision, essentially acquiescing to the demand put forward by cañeros in the north, that a commission of inquiry be convened into the sugar industry. That decision comes hard on the heels of a demonstration in Belmopan on Tuesday. The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association took to Independence Hill as cabinet met […]
Written on March 9, 2023 | Posted in
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G.O.B. has said that it will not nationalize the sugar industry. But what will be the scope of the inquiry? Will the unresolved commercial agreement be settled? Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture “It is not an exercise to go in and finger only on B.S.I. it has to be a holistic approach. It […]
Written on March 9, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Agriculture Minister: Inquiry Is Not to Dig Into B.S.I. Business
We also heard from Alfredo Ortega, the Chairman of the Committee of Management at the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. Ortega was among those leading the protest on Tuesday in Belmopan. Today, he told us that the B.S.C.F.A. is thankful for the decision made by Cabinet to convene a Commission of Inquiry. Alfredo Ortega, […]
Written on March 9, 2023 | Posted in
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Prime Minister John Briceño has said that at this time an increase in the controlled price of brown sugar cannot be entertained due to the high cost of living. Two of the sugar cane farmers associations in the north, as well as A.S.R./B.S.I., have written the government requesting an adjustment to the cost; the last […]
Written on March 9, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Abi Mai: Controlled Price of Brown Sugar Needs to be Revisited
Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow marched in solidarity with members of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association during a protest in Belmopan on Tuesday. He was there with Deputy Party Leader Hugo Patt, who is also a sugarcane farmer in the north. Today, we caught up with Barrow in Belize City where we […]
Written on March 8, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on U.D.P. Supports B.S.C.F.A.’s Call for Commission of Inquiry into Finances of A.S.R./B.S.I.
The ongoing dispute between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and the American Sugar Refinery/Belize Sugar Industries culminated with a protest today in Belmopan under the scorching mid-morning sun. A.S.R/B.S.I was making a presentation to the Cabinet on its position and what it can and cannot afford to pay the B.S.C.F.A. for sugar cane. And […]
Written on March 7, 2023 | Posted in
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The Government Press Office issued a press release in which it outlined, quite like Florencio Marin Senior indicated earlier, that Cabinet met with representatives of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association in January. Today, it was A.S.R./B.S.I’s representatives who made a presentation to Cabinet on a commercial agreement that is yet to be signed between […]
Written on March 7, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Government Says It Won’t Nationalize the Sugar Industry; Sets Up Sub-Committee
If the protest staged in Belmopan today by the B.S.C.F.A does not result in a palatable agreement for them, Committee of Management Chairman Alfredo Ortega said they are prepared to go further. But Ortega stopped short of saying what their next step of action will be. Alfredo Ortega, Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A “This […]
Written on March 7, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on So How Far Is the B.S.C.F.A Prepared to Go to Get It’s Way?
While the government is lending its support to both sides to reach a happy medium on a commercial agreement, earlier today we asked the Chairman of the Committee of Management for the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, Alfredo Ortega, to explain his association’s position to the suggestion among some farmers to raise the price of […]
Written on March 7, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.S.C.F.A. Official Explains Why They Object Price Hike on Brown Sugar
Earlier this week, the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association and the Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association proposed an increase in the prices of brown and plantation white sugars, noting that the last adjustment in cost of the plantation white sugar sold domestically was back in 2015 when it was increased to seventy-five cents. At that […]
Written on March 3, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.S.I. Speaks Out on Request for Increase in Cost of Brown Sugar
But is the sugar industry the victim of a dysfunctional price control system? A.S.R./B.S.I.’s Director of Finance Shawn Chavarria says it has taken too long for any adjustment to be revisited and should be looked at more regularly. If you go into any shop, brown sugar is being sold at fifty cents at the least. […]
Written on March 3, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Is There a Lack of Enforcement in Controlled Price of Brown Sugar?
What’s the status of the 2022 Sugar Crop Season? It’s been sixty-three days since milling began, but according to A.S.R./B.S.I.’s Cane Farmer Relations Manager Olivia Avilez, the mill’s report up to Thursday indicates that three hundred and fifty thousand, eight hundred and thirty-four tons of cane have been processed so far. This is over fifty-seven […]
Written on March 3, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on What’s the Status of the 2022-2023 Sugar Crop?
On Tuesday, the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association and the Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association wrote Prime Minister John Briceño proposing an increase in the prices of brown and plantation white sugars. According to the CSCPA, the last adjustment in the cost of bagged sugar sold in the Belize market was back in 2015. While […]
Written on March 1, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Proposal for an Increase in Price for Brown and Plantation White Sugar
Belize has been producing milk and dairy products for decades now, but there’s never been a document that guides how the dairy industry can grow or become more productive, or even more competitive with other countries – that is until now. This afternoon, the Minister of Agriculture, Jose Mai and the Belize Dairy Association signed […]
Written on February 27, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on New Dairy Strategy Introduced to Improve the Dairy Industry in Belize
As we reported last week, there’s a new pest that is affecting beans crop, but luckily, it is not a countrywide problem as far as is known. Today, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai told News Five that the pest has been detected only in the Toledo District and that samples have been sent abroad […]
Written on February 27, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Samples of New Beans Pest Sent Abroad for Lab Testing
Women who engage in agriculture are poised to be prioritized during the next three months that Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai holds the position of pro tem presidency of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture of SICA. Mai assumed the position in January and today he met virtually with his counterparts to discuss the […]
Written on February 23, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Minister of Agriculture Prioritizes Rural Women in Agriculture During SICA Pro-tempore Presidency
Mai is also of the view that Belize can learn from other countries around us on how to become more efficient, particularly at a time when climate change is becoming more of an issue where agriculture is concerned. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture “We would like to strengthen what we refer to as […]
Written on February 23, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Minister of Agriculture: Belize Can Learn from Others Best Practices in Agriculture
On tonight’s edition of Kolcha Tuesday we take you to the Michael Finnegan Market in Belize City. If you have ever set out to purchase fresh produce in Belize City, there is a great chance that you have visited the Michael Finnegan Market. We know the market as a place where consumers go to check […]
Written on February 21, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on A look at the Market Culture in Belize City
Is the price of bananas going to go up? We have been reporting on the precarious situation in which the banana industry finds itself. The cost of fertilizers has skyrocketed, so fruit production has decreased. Then there is the higher cost of fuel to access the fruit from the farms in the south and also […]
Written on February 17, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Is the Price of Bananas Going Up? Agriculture C.E.O. Believes So
She’s known as the leader of the Belize People’s Front and as a businesswoman and farmer. Now Nancy Marin is celebrating the first ostrich egg that was laid on her fledgling ostrich farm – the first that is also on record in Belize. It’s possible that other farmers who have had ostriches in their possession […]
Written on February 17, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on First Ostrich Egg On Record Laid in Belize
Lamb and mutton are restaurant delicacies across the world. The meats are also very popular in the local market, so much so that several requests have been submitted for their importation. Through the Taiwan I.C.D.F Sheep Project, the quality of meats being produced in Belize has increased over the years. Farmers involved in rearing these […]
Written on February 17, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on More Meat for Your Menu, Mutton and Sheep
In 2022, Belize exported approximately thirty-five thousand heads of cattle. It’s the largest figure to date. Today we asked C.E.O. Servulo Baeza whether this year will see a similar output. Aside from removing tariffs to Mexico, C.E.O. Baeza says that the high figures were due to the surplus of cattle in pastures since exports were […]
Written on February 17, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Cattle Exports to Decrease in 2023; Agriculture C.E.O. Explains Why
Forty-five new beekeepers graduated today in Orange Walk. The graduates are from the Belize, Orange Walk, and Corozal districts. The training course was a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the CARICOM Development Fund. During the training, the new beekeepers were provided with materials and equipment to start their own businesses. It is expected […]
Written on February 17, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Graduation for Bee Keepers in Orange Walk Town
You may be seeing two additional meat options added to menus soon. At least, that’s the goal of the Ministry of Agriculture. In collaboration with the Taiwan I.C.D.F. Sheep Project Phase II, the Ministry held a “Lamb and Mutton Culinary Craft Workshop” in Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk. Today’s workshop was organized in an effort […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Ministry of Agriculture and Taiwan ICDF Sheep Project Holds Culinary Craft Workshop
