Today, a Handing Over Ceremony was held in Belmopan to mark the distribution of ten vehicles under the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project (CRESAP). The recipients of these vehicles include the Meteorological Service, Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), Pesticides Control Board, University of Belize, Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC), and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project (CRESAP) is an initiative developed by the Government of Belize and manage by the Belize Social Investment Fund, with crucial financial support from the World Bank. The project aims to bolster agricultural productivity and enhance resilience to climate change risks among targeted producers, while also ensuring a swift and effective response to any eligible crisis or emergency event.

The vehicles were allocated to key institutions vital to the success of the CRESAP Project. The CRESAP Project prioritizes four key districts – Cayo, Orange Walk, Corozal, and Belize – where the impacts of climate change and variability are expected to be more pronounced on crucial agricultural value chains such as sugar cane, rice, maize, soybean, vegetables, livestock, and fruits. With a Moderate environmental and social risk classification under the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework, the project underscores its commitment to balanced and sustainable development.

Approximately 2,500 individuals small-, medium-, and large-scale farmers, members of farmers’ organizations, as well as other stakeholders associated with agriculture food systems in the project districts, are expected to benefit directly. The project is anticipated to have an even broader positive impact on agricultural families, Ministry of Agriculture staff, and students from the Agriculture Department of the University of Belize, among others.

This Handing Over Ceremony symbolizes a pivotal step forward in fortifying Belize’s agricultural sector against the challenges posed by climate change. The government expresses gratitude to the World Bank for their invaluable support in realizing this transformative project.