Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, and His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), David Kuan-Chou Chien, today signed the Belize Cooperation Agreement for the execution of the “Regional Project for the Prevention and Control of Fusarium Tropical Race 4 of Banana in Central America”. The event took place at the Taiwan Technical Mission headquarters at Central Farm, Cayo District.

An investment of more than BZE 6 million dollars during the period of the project in the participating countries of Guatemala, Belize and Honduras is being invested by the International Cooperation Development Fund (ICDF) Taiwan , the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) and participant countries to enable capacity building, procurement of laboratory supplies and reagents, provision of sentinel farms with satellite image monitoring and introduction of varieties resistant to Foc TR4.

The project benefits the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. Since September 2021, the Taiwan Mission has carried out the joint pilot project stage with OIRSA and the authorities of the three participating countries to advance studies and activities with the objective of preventing and dealing with the Foc TR4 disease of bananas, which includes international virtual forums with experts from Taiwan; face-to-face national fora; technical training sessions for the 3 countries and strengthening capacities in symptomatology and biosecurity measures. The Taiwan Space Center also cooperates with satellite monitoring of the disease through the establishment of nine sentinel points in Central America.

The cultivation of bananas and plaintains has great potential for agriculture in Central America. Fusarium Tropical Race 4 is a quarantine pest that can survive for more than 30 years in the soil and so far, no cure has been found. This plague puts at risk the food security and the economy of the productive sector of the region with an export value of more than US $ 1,500 million in 2020.

Guaranteeing food security is an objective of all countries, so the Taiwan Technical Mission in cooperation with OIRSA and the agricultural authorities in Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras is pleased through this project to share the successful experiences of Taiwan in dealing with Foc TR4.

Also participating in the signing event were Mr. Fermin Blanco, OIRSA Country Representative and Mrs. Zoe Zetina, Belize Agricultural Health Authority Managing Director.