The Belize District Agriculture Department hosted a fruit tree propagation training at the farm of Mr. Rondolph Griffith in the Santana community located on the old Northern Highway. Twenty-five fruit producers from the surrounding communities were in attendance.

The objective of the training was to build capacity of growers in asexual propagation practices (budding and grafting).

During the hands-on training, the growers familiarized themselves with a range of propagation techniques of fruit trees, such as the use of air-layering in lychee and guava; and grafting techniques in soursop, mango, avocado, and sapodilla. They were also introduced to aspects of fruit tree management (pruning, fertilization, irrigation and pest management).

Advantages of the techniques to fruit production include resistance to certain insects and diseases, and performance in various soil drainage types. Most dwarf rootstocks are also precocious, meaning that they bear fruit early in the tree’s life.

The objective of the department is to promote crop diversification and to increase year-round availability of fruits promoting food security. Priority fruits of value chain interest to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise include soursop, pineapple, pitahaya (dragon fruit) and coconuts for the export market.

The Tropical Fruit Program of the department is designed to assist farmers/ fruit growers with all aspects of production. Other information and workshops will be offered periodically during the year and will target a variety of topics for specific fruit in management and best practices.

The training was facilitated by Mr. John Sanchez of the Stann Creek Department of Agriculture and coordinated by Extension Officer’s Mr. Marvin Blades and Mr. Noel Ramos