Sustainable and Inclusive Belize Program
Overview: The Sustainable Agriculture Program is designed to promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, increase climate resilience and environmental sustainability, and enhance productivity in specific crops and livestock production. The primary objective is to increase competitiveness and access to markets for farmers and agribusinesses.
Program Benefits The program offers several benefits, including:
- Technical Assistance
- Assistance in creating a Farm Plan (FP) or Green Agri-Business Plan.
- Co-Financing
- Partial implementation of a viable farm plan with a maximum of BZE$4,000.00 through a voucher system.
- Grants
- Partial financing for selected green agri-business plans:
- Up to BZE$50,000.00 for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- Up to BZE$150,000.00 for farm groups.
- Partial financing for selected green agri-business plans:
- Capacity Building
- Support to enhance farm management capabilities.
- Learning by Doing
- Activities such as farmers’ field schools and farmer-to-farmer exchange programs.
Beneficiaries and Target Groups The program targets the following groups:
- Small farmers
- Women farmers
- Indigenous farmers
- Migrant farmers
- Youth farmers
- Farm groups
- MSMEs in the agriculture sector
Eligibility Criteria
Individual Farmers
- Proof of land tenure (property title, possession right, lease, or community/collective land).
- Qualify as a small farmer with 0.5 to 20 acres of land in production.
- Register in the Belize Agriculture Information Management System (BAIMS) or commit to register.
- Producer of one or more priority agricultural commodities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE), excluding traditional commodities.
- Farm in operation for at least 12 months.
- No harmful environmental impact.
- Ability to provide a minimum of 15% of the total Farm Plan cost in cash or in-kind contribution.
Farm Groups
- Evidence of working as a group for at least one year prior to application.
- Ownership title of land or possessory right to use or occupy the land.
- Registered as a cooperative/association or commit to formalize.
- Participation of women, youth, indigenous, and/or migrant farmers.
MSMEs
- Evidence of conducting related business activities for at least one year.
- Proof of registration certificate or commitment to formalize (letter of commitment).
- Qualify as MSMEs in Belize.
MSMEs Classification
- Micro Enterprises: Less than 5 employees, annual revenues < BZ$100,000.
- Small Enterprises: 5 – 20 employees, annual revenues ≥ BZ$100,000 and < BZ$500,000.
- Medium Enterprises: 21 – 51 employees, annual revenues ≥ BZ$500,000 and < BZ$4.5 million.
Contact Information For more information or to apply, please contact your district extension office:
- Cayo District Agriculture Office: Israel Galicia, 804-2079, israel.galicia@agriculture.gov.bz
- Belize District Agriculture Office: Kenya Castillo, kennya.castillo@agriculture.gov.bz
- Corozal District Agriculture Office: Edgar Yam, 402-2297, edgar.yam@agriculture.gov.bz
- Orange Walk District Agriculture Office: Jonathan Carillo, 342-7119, jonathan.carillo@agriculture.gov.bz
- Stann Creek District Agriculture Office: Mariano Novelo, 502-2514, mariano.novelo@agriculture.gov.bz
- Toledo District Agriculture Office: Edwardo Moh, 702-2689, edwardo.moh@agriculture.gov.bz
Conclusion The Sustainable Agriculture Program aims to build a resilient and competitive agricultural sector in Belize by supporting small and marginalized farmers, enhancing environmental sustainability, and promoting access to markets through strategic support and capacity-building initiatives.
To apply kindly See Application Below:
Belize Agriculture Price Information System (BAPIS)
Origins and Evolution
The European Union, recognizing the need for a robust agricultural market information system, initiated the collection of market prices in January 2010. This initiative fostered collaboration among key stakeholders, including retail sellers, farmers, and policymakers within the Department of Agriculture. In September 2012, the Ministry assumed responsibility for the retail pricing system, giving birth to the Belize Agriculture Price Information System (BAPIS).
BAPIS goes beyond mere data collection; it plays a pivotal role in formulating and implementing effective pricing policies at a macro-level. This strategic approach ensures the overall success of the agricultural sector.
Farmers are at the heart of BAPIS. By providing them with accurate, adequate, and timely information on various aspects of traded crops, the system empowers farmers to enhance their marketing performance. From precise production planning to strategic harvesting dates, BAPIS acts as a guiding light for efficient farming operations.
Not only does BAPIS benefit farmers, but it also assists traders and buyers. By offering insights into sourcing supplies at reasonable costs, BAPIS facilitates mutually beneficial transactions that yield optimal returns.
Consumers benefit from BAPIS through increased competition among retailers and heightened awareness of price conditions. This information equips consumers to make informed choices in the market.
BAPIS provides a comprehensive set of market prices, covering farm gate, wholesale, and retail points, as well as export and import markets. This holistic approach ensures that all stakeholders have access to the information they need.
Trading Dynamics: A Data-Driven Approach
Market Prices and Volumes: Trading volumes are a cornerstone of market information systems. BAPIS provides weekly information on prices and volumes, enabling a continuous assessment of market strategies. This cumulative data, compiled monthly and annually, offers valuable insights into product performance over time.
Operational Mechanism
The Policy Public/Private Sector Interface Unit (PPPIU) and Agriculture Statistics Unit actively collect weekly retail prices from all six districts of Belize, encompassing seven markets. These prices are diligently gathered by Department of Agriculture Extension Officers. The data is then compiled by districts, with average prices representing the weekly trends.
The PPPIU and Agriculture Statistics Unit maintain official reports dating back from 2010 to the present. These reports are compiled from data provided by BELTRAIDE, forming a rich repository of historical agricultural information. By navigating the complexities of the agricultural landscape, BAPIS emerges as a cornerstone for informed decision-making, fostering collaboration, and driving the success of farmers, traders, and consumers alike.
Current National Average Retail Market Prices ($BZD)
Click on Tab below to download PDF version of BAPIS Report:
BAPIS Issue # 10-2024-National
BAPIS Issue # 11-2024-National
BAPIS Issue # 12-2024-National
Kindly Contact the Agriculture Statistics Unit for more information on historical data
Mr. Alfonso Bautista, Statistician
alfonso.bautista@agriculture.gov.bz
Phone #: 822-2241
National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds Headquarters
34
Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise
Project (Monitoring & Evaluation)
Table 1 Projects for Budget Year 2023 -2024
No. | Name of Project | Funding/Executing Agency | Project Description | Start Date | End Date | External Funding
US$ |
Counterpart Funding
BZD$ 2022 -2023 Approved Budget |
Counterpart Funding
BZD$ 2023 -2024 Budget Request |
Project Type | Comments |
1 | Belize: Climate Resilient Sustainable & Agriculture Project | World Bank | March 2023 | March 2029 | $25,000,000 | $20,000 |
National |
Ongoing | ||
2 | Digital Agriculture Services for a Sustainable and Inclusive Agri- Food System and Value Chains.
|
Food and Agriculture Organization | Oct 2022 | Oct 2024 | $14,000 | $14,000 | National | |||
3 | Belize Agriculture Sector Policy with focus on Seed, Back Yard Poultry Marketing and Indigenous People Affairs
|
Food and Agriculture Organization | Oct 2022 | Oct 2024 | $14,000 | $14,000 | National | |||
4 | Sembrando Vida
|
AMEXCID | Oct 2022 | $6,000,000 | $16,000 | $16,000 | National | |||
5 | Driving innovative financing and sustainable investments toward food system transformation and achieving SDGs in the Caribbean
|
Food and Agriculture Organization | Dec 2022 | Nov 2024 | N/A | $5,000 | Regional | |||
6 | Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Multicountry Soil Management Initiative for Integrated Landscape Restoration and Sustainable Food Systems: Phase 1 (CSIDS-SOILCARE Phase 1) | GEF | $70,000 | $10,000 | Regional | |||||
7 | Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods, Building Resilience-Investments in Cooperatives | GEF | Jan 2024 | June 2026 | $150,000 | |||||
8 | Sustainable and Inclusive Belize | International Development Bank | Sept 2023 | Sept 2029 | $15,000,000 | $3,850 | $15,000 | National | Ongoing | |
9 | Mesoamerica without Hunger Programme: Improve Food and Nutrition Security and encourage healthy eating habits in Belize through strengthening the school feeding programme | Food and Agriculture Organization | Jan 2016 | Dec
2024 |
$70,000 | $7,516 | $7,516 |
National |
1 Year Extension Approved |
|
10 | Farmers´ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific – Action in the Caribbean (FO4ACP – Caribbean)
|
Food and Agriculture Organization | To learn about and analyze the good practices developed by some organizations to access markets, strengthen their governance system, develop strategic alliances, provide rural services and influence policy dialogue.
To identify the main challenges, key actors and opportunities for rural organizations to improve their participation in the value chain.. |
Oct 2020 | Nov 2024 | N/A | $10,000 | $10,000 | Regional | 1 Year Extension Approved |
11 | Follow-up Cooperation for Training on Development of Agricultural Cooperatives and Improvement of Management Capacity | Japan International Cooperation Agency | Dec 2021 | Dec 2024 | $20,000 | $14,000 | $14,000 | National | 1 Year Extension Approved | |
12 | Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project (Ph. II Project) | International Cooperation Development Fund | March 2000 | March 2025 | $325,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
National |
1 Year Extension Approved | |
13 | Use of Nuclear and Isotopic Techniques for Optimizing Soil-Water-Nutrient Management in Rainfed Agriculture Systems | Jan 2021 | Jan 2026 | $183,294 | $15,000 | National |
Table 2. Projects Completed for Budget Year 2022 -2023
No. | Name of Project | Funding/Executing Agency | Start Date | End Date | External Funding
US$ |
Approved Cap II Funding BZ$ | Comments | Project Type | Project Status |
1 | CARICOM-FAO-Mexico Initiative ‘Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean’ subproject Resilient School Feeding program: GCP /SLC/018/MEX.
|
Food and Agriculture Organization | June 2018 | May 2023 | $200,000 | $56,000 | Third disbursement of $18,000 was not received. |
Regional |
Closed |
2 | Honey Production Redevelopment Support Project (Expansion of the Honey Production Sub-sector)
|
Caribbean Development Fund | November 2018 | December 2023
|
$315,942.25 | $76,852. | National | Closed | |
3 | Covered Structures for Agricultural Production | Caribbean Development Fund | September 2019 | December 2023 | $233,933.50 | $53,674. | National | Closed | |
4 | Technical Assistance for Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems in the Rural and Peri -Urban Areas of the Cayo District, as a Response to the COVID -19
|
Food and Agriculture Organization | August 2020 | August 2023 | $330,000 | $12,930 | Closed | ||
5 | Managing Belizean Agriculture Resilience (M-BAR) | Food and Agriculture Organization | March 2021 | July 2023 | $45,000 | $10,000. | National | Closed | |
6 | Co-operatives’ Rapid Response to COVID19 and the 2020 Floods in Belize (UNDP-GEF-SGP/BEST/Dept. of Co-operatives
|
GEF | March 2022 | December 2023
|
$100,000 | $8,000. | National | Closed | |
7 | Sustainable Development of Resilient VCs – Implementation of CARICOM COVID-19 Agri-Food Recovery Plan
|
Food and Agriculture Organization | November 2020 | June 2023 | $200,000
|
$10,032. | Regional | Closed | |
8 | Strengthening Belize’s Evidence Base and Systems for Crisis Response | World Food Program | June 2022 | July 2023 | $302,447 | $5,000. | National | Closed | |
9 | THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CASH BASED TRANSFER (CBT) DISTIBUTION THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT’S AGRICULTURE PLATFORM IN THE FRAMEWORK OF WFP’S CARIBBEAN MULTI COUNTRY STRATEGIC PLAN 2022-2026 (MCSP)
|
World Food Program | June 2023 | September 2023 | $363,400 | National | Closed | ||
10 | Empowering Women and Youths to generate income through Agro-processing and value addition of locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables | International Cooperation Development Fund |
March 2023 |
May 2023 |
$20,000 |
$17,500. | National | Closed | |
Pipeline Projects
2023 – 2024
Table 3. Project in the Pipeline
No. | Name of Project
|
Funding/Executing Agency | Project Description | Projected Cost (BZD) | External Funding
US$ |
Counterpart Funding
BZD$ |
Project Type | |
1 | The Enabling of Belize Statistical System | Food and Agriculture Organization | Strengthening of the Belize Agriculture Management System | $162,000 | $14,000 | National | New | |
2 | Scaling the Implementation of the One Country One Priority Product Initiative (OCOP) | Food and Agriculture Organization | Sustainable and productive agrifood systems and agricultural value chains and inclusive rural societies | $150,000 | $12,000 | World Project | New | |
3 | Green House Project | Food and Agriculture Organization | Capacity Building for extension service on greenhouse designs construction and management. | $100,000 | $10,000 | National | New | |
4 | SCALA Private Sector Engagement (PSEF) Facility Service | Food and Agriculture Organization | Belize National Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Master Plan Belize which seeks to improve the management of 80,000 hectares under sustainable agricultural systems with biodiversity benefits and sustainable production of 500 agriculture and forestry farms covering 15,000 hectares | $50,000 | $7,000 | National | New | |
5 | Cool Storage Project | Japan International Cooperation Agency | Procurement of additional cool storage to extend the availability off season of Onions and Potatoes | $75,000 | $14,000 | National | New |