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Studies have found that coconut water is a rich source of nutrients. It contains antioxidants, helps to lower blood sugar, and it may even support heart health, among other health benefits. Over two decades ago, one farmer took to the streets of Belize City to sell coconut water to pedestrians. He was the first to […]
Written on February 16, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Recognizing the Past, Looking to the Future; the Sale of Coconut Water
The banana industry is also facing challenges. Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai confirmed that a disease has been affecting the production of the plants, hampering their exportation. That is compounded by the high cost of fertilizers used during production. He says production is expected to reduce between six hundred thousand and a million boxes. A […]
Written on February 13, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on No Shortage, but Accessing Bananas is Expensive
A fifteen million U.S. dollar loan from the I.D.B. to support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises as well as farmers was the second loan motion from the House of Representatives to be debated at today’s Senate Meeting. While there were objections from the Opposition Senators as to the amount being borrowed, Senator for the Church […]
Written on February 10, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on Churches Supports Greater Investments in M.S.M.E.’s and Farmers
As we reported on Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging more Belizeans to engage in honey production and to diversify into value-added ventures like infusing honey with other condiments that can be used for minor health ailments. But because Belize has transitioned from a honey exporter to an importer over the last three decades, […]
Written on February 10, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on BELTRAIDE OFFICIAL: Belize Produces Top Notch Honey, But We Must Meet the Market Demands in Order to Begin Exporting Again
Buena Vista Village is a small farming community located on the banks of the Mopan River in the Cayo District. The village primarily produces citrus and bananas, but now, the women of Buena Vista Village are creating a trade of their own. The up-and-coming artisans are weaving a name for themselves with their exquisite tapestries […]
Written on February 10, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on The Bright Side of Banana Fibers
Many of us can attest that honey, often infused with a few plugs of garlic or a grated slice of tumeric, was the go-to miracle medicine that grandma or mom used to offer as a home remedy for a stomach ache, a cough, or a sore throat. But the once thriving honey industry waned in […]
Written on February 9, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Honey-based Home Remedies – Grandma’s Natural Home Elixir, Tweaked
Belize has enacted regulations to further protect the poultry industry from health hazards. The Poultry Health Regulations 2022 came into effect in November 2022. And a few days ago, the Eleventh European Development Fund Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Project praised the move by the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA). A media release from Bridgetown, Barbados, […]
Written on February 6, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Belize’s Poultry Health Regulations Recognized Regionally
And, while BAHA plans to host training sessions for stakeholders within the industry, Belize remains threatened by the highly infectious Avian Flu. Early last month, we reported that the industry is on high alert following confirmation of the virus in neighbouring Mexico and Honduras. And while we haven’t heard much more since then, Cowo says […]
Written on February 6, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Health,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Increased Threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu to Belize
On tonight’s episode of Belize On Reel, we continue our coverage of the coconut water industry. We take a look at the symbiotic relationship between the sale of coconut water and the sale of single-use plastic bottles. Businesses that sell single-use products, like plastic bottles, are very much reliant on the success of vendors that […]
Written on February 2, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on The Harmonious Relationship between Coconut Water Sales and Single-Use Plastic Bottles
Early Mortality Syndrome, or EMS, is one of the main reasons why the local shrimp industry shrank by eighty percent over the last decade. But, a newly established task force is looking to see how best it can revive the industry to its former glory. In 2014, Belize was producing close to a hundred million […]
Written on January 30, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on A Task Force to Revive Belize’s Shrimp Industry
According to O’Brien, a revived shrimp industry can take advantage of several export markets, including Taiwan, whose government has already expressed interest in purchasing Belize’s shrimp. O’Brien noted that of the sixteen shrimp farms that existed a decade ago, only seven are still operational. The Shrimp Industry Task Force will also seek to make recommendations […]
Written on January 30, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on Export Market Ready for Belize’s Shrimp
Coconut water, it’s the latest craze in the local beverage industry. Referred to as Mother Nature’s Gatorade, coconut water contains a variety of nutrients that provide a number of health benefits. And in Belize, the market for coconut water is growing rapidly. Street side vendors have found that selling coconut water is a profitable venture. […]
Written on January 26, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on The Healthy Business of Coconut Water
Vegetable producers from across the country met this morning in Belmopan for the National Vegetable Stakeholders Meeting. The annual session addressed the current status of the national vegetable crop production season 2022-2023. Present at the meeting were farmers, personnel from the Belize Agriculture Health Authority, the Belize Marketing and Development Cooperation, as well as extension […]
Written on January 26, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on Vegetable Farmers Meet to Discuss 2022/2023 Crop Production
The role of the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation is to assist farmers with promoting and selling their produce. Participating in this dialogue allows BMDC to understand what quantities of local produce are on the market, so as to prevent the importation of those vegetables. Edgar Fuentes has been a farmer for the last twenty-five […]
Written on January 26, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Farmers Raise Concerns About Vegetable Crops
Over the weekend, the media travelled to Calabash Caye and were exposed to an alternative livelihood to reduce pressure on the traditional fisheries products. It’s a seaweed farming project by The Nature Conservancy, the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association and the Fisheries Department. It is an economical option that is being piloted with eight fishing camps […]
Written on January 19, 2023 | Posted in
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Economy,
Environment,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Seaweed Farming – an Alternative, Economical Livelihood for Fishers
And, according to Minister Mai, those producers are pleased with the resolutions made in the meeting and the price they will be able to fetch for their produce during this year’s crop. But, there is a concern that the market will become oversaturated with local onions this year due to over production. Minister Mai told […]
Written on January 12, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Troubles Ahead Due to Abundance of Local Onions Says Agriculture Minister
On Tuesday, Cabinet heard a presentation from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. According to Prime Minister Briceño, in light of the ongoing negotiation between B.S.C.F.A. and B.S.I., Cabinet has taken the decision to hear presentations from both parties. We asked the Prime Minister about the takeaways from yesterday’s presentation. Here is what he told […]
Written on January 11, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Featured |
Comments Off on BSCFA Makes Presentation to Cabinet amidst Commercial Agreement Negotiations
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority has issued an advisory informing the public that confirmed cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1, has been detected in pelicans on the coast of Puerto Cortes and La Ceiba, Honduras. According to the advisory, additional cases have been confirmed in Yucatan, Mexico, in November 2022. Given the proximity […]
Written on January 6, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Confirmed Cases of H5N1 in Honduras and Mexico Pose Threat to Belize’s Poultry Industry
In light of the confirmed cases of the H5N1 virus in Mexico and Honduras, BAHA is strengthening its technical and strategic response. This is being done through the One Health approach, a multi-agency initiative to reducing the threat. Doctor Meyers tells us more. On the phone: Dr. Joe Anthony Meyers, Interim Chief Vet Officer, […]
Written on January 6, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Increased Measures at Points of Entry to Decrease H5N1 Threats to Belize
Is there trouble ahead in the citrus industry? This morning, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai shared dismal news coming from the south where farmers are refusing to deliver grapefruits to the factory because of prices being offered per box of fruit. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture “We are right now in the […]
Written on January 3, 2023 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on Citrus Growers Reject $14 Dollar Offer per Box of Grapefruit
The 2022/2023 sugar crop officially kicked off on Tuesday. Previously, there have been concerns about the conditions of sugarcane roads. Farmers have persistently complained that sugar roads become impassable following incessant rains. Today, we asked Minister Espat about his ministry’s efforts to assist sugarcane farmers throughout the season with these roadways. Here is what he […]
Written on December 29, 2022 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on M.I.D.H. Commits to Maintain Sugar Roads throughout 2022/2023 Sugar Crop
Last night, we told you that the 2022/2023 sugar crop finally got underway, after the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and A.S.R./B.S.I. signed a one-year interim agreement. Farmers are now tasked with ensuring that they deliver their sugarcane to the mill before the start of the rainy season. The Sugar Cane Production Committee has estimated […]
Written on December 28, 2022 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on Over One Million Tons of Sugar Cane to be Milled in 2022/2023 Crop Season
And, while the 2022/2023 crop progresses, over next twelve months the millers and the farmers must once again engage in discussions towards a long-term commercial agreement. Shawn Chavarria, the Director of Finance at A.S.R./B.S.I. is hopeful that achieving a mutually beneficial long-term agreement within the next year is possible. Shawn Chavarria, Director of Finance, […]
Written on December 28, 2022 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on Will the Next 12 Months Yield a Long-Term Agreement between B.S.C.F.A. and A.S.R./B.S.I.?
The 2022/2023 sugar crop officially began this morning, following long-drawn-out negotiations between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and B.S.I. As we reported on Friday, the B.S.C.F.A. and the miller signed a one-year interim agreement under the same conditions as last year’s crop. This was a watershed for the entire industry, as the Sugar Industry […]
Written on December 27, 2022 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on B.S.I. Is “Content and Happy” at the Start of the 2022/2023 Crop Season
The Sugar Cane Production Committee is estimating that one point three million tons of sugarcane is available for grinding during the 2022/2023 crop. Due to the substantial amount of sugar cane to be milled, any time lost is costly. But, it was not all smooth sailing this morning at A.S.R./B.S.I.’s compound. There were further delays, […]
Written on December 27, 2022 | Posted in
Agriculture,
Economy,
Environment,
Featured |
Comments Off on Weekend Rains Led to Delivery Delays on Sugar Crop Opening Day
