Minister of Agriculture Receives Donation from OIRSA

18 December 2020:

The Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, the Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai today received a donation from the OIRSA Regional Emergency Funds to assist farmers and livestock producers affected by the recent floods.

This has come about after the Central American Ministers of Agriculture (CIRSA) met virtually on the 13^th of November to declare a Regional Emergency for Central American countries due to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Under this declaration CIRSA approved the use of OIRSA Regional Emergency funds to assist farmers and livestock producers affected with re-establishing their production systems, rescuing animals due to flooding, and safeguarding against pest and disease outbreaks due to the effects of the storms. The Ministers unanimously approved a budget of US$100,000 per country that was affected.

The Ministry of Agriculture, along with BAHA and the assistance of OIRSA Belize, developed an emergency plan for Belize and submitted it for approval. Today OIRSA is delivering to the Ministry of Agriculture part of these materials according to the plan to assist farmers to get back on their feet as well as to assist livestock producers.

The plan consists mainly of providing assistance for the rescuing of and feeds for animals from flooded areas, providing seeds for vegetable farmers, and monitoring for pests and diseases that might arise because of the flooding.

ENDS