Pitahaya and Soursop Training

More than 40 farmers from Corozal and Orange Walk attended a Pitahaya and Soursop training at the Yo Creek Station in the Orange Walk Districts. The session aimed for a participatory diagnosis on the identification of the technical-productive and commercial problems of soursop and pitahaya via SWOT and PEST analysis tools. The session sessions will help farmers to do analyses to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to their pitahaya and soursop crops.
The training session is part of the technical assistance agreed between Belize and Mexico for mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in agriculture. Under the agreement Mexican experts in soybean and coconut cultivation are also visiting Belize to facilitate training in these areas. The training sessions and registration in the AMEXCID project Sembrando Vida are taking place all over the country to reach as many farmers as possible.
Facilitators for the training are from the Mexican Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) or National Institute for Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research.

Promoting the use of climatic information using MTA

Chief Executive Officer Servulo Baeza was part of a discussion held today at # COP27 on Promoting the use of climatic information using the Agroclimatic Technical Tables. The discussion was led by the Central American Agricultural Council and other exponents.
The Agroclimatic Technical Tables (MTA) was established for decision-making based on real technical information oriented to exchange agroclimatic data, dissemination of the results obtained and the use of methods and tools to manage risks and losses due to climate change.
The discussion focused on how this climate information becomes bulletins for producers to mitigate risks, create an early warning system, generate capacities and promote participation of more people in the sector.
In the experience of the SICA General Secretariat region, there are 37 Agroclimatic Technical Tables that are generating agroclimatic information for decision-making by producers of these, 13 are in Honduras, 19 in Guatemala and 5 in Panama, and it is expected that in the medium term they can be implemented in the other countries.

CEO Baeza attends COP27

CEO Servulo Baeza is in Egypt as part of a delegation of Ministers and Vice-Ministers of the Consejo Agropecuario Centroamericano (CAC-Central American Agricultural Council) attending COP27.  The Central American leaders will discuss issues such as sustainable agriculture and effects of climate change.
The delegates will participate in at least 15 high level panel discussions, round table discussions, and conversations. These meetings will serve to present and discuss challenges and situations faced by member nations of SICA/CAC in developing sustainable and efficient agricultural systems.
This is the first time a high-level delegation of agriculture ministers and officials of this region participates in COP discussions, and Central American nations hope they can sensitize the rest of the world to the fact that while the area is not a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, it is an important producer of food to sustain the vulnerable population of the area and year after year has to deal with the increasing effects of climate change that threaten livelihoods.
The CAC delegation will be returning November 16 from Egypt.

Technical Officers attend workshop on Climate Change and Disaster Indicators for Policy Decision

Technical officers from the Ministry of Agriculture are currently attending a three-day workshop in Belize City from the 9th to 11th of November 2022, on “Generating Climate Change and Disaster Indicators for Policy Decision-making in Belize”. The event is being hosted by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management (MSDCCDRM) and the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) in partnership with the Statistics Division and the Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
The goals and scope of the workshop are to:
1) Train the participants to build selected environment, climate change and disaster indicators and its metadata.
2) Identify data and capacity gaps to develop an Environmental Information System (EIS) and build a regional resilience platform.
3) Have a better understanding of how geospatial data can enhance the use of environment, climate change and disaster indicators for effective decision making.
Other participants include technical staff of national statistical offices, relevant line ministries and other institutions that produce or use environment, climate change, and disasters statistics.
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Inauguration Ceremony of the Newly Completed Sheep Barn

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), in collaboration with the Taiwan ICDF Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project (Sheep Project Phase II), held an “Inauguration Ceremony of the Newly Completed Sheep Barn”, at the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center in Central Farm, Cayo District on November 10th, 2022. Present was guest speaker Hon. José Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, and H.E. David Kuan-Chou Chien, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
In his remarks, Minister Mai spoke about the growth of the sheep and goat livestock sub-sector and said the Taiwan Breeding Sheep and goat program has been successful so far with increases in the quality of lamb and goat meats available for consumption due to better breeds and higher local production. He said there is much more to achieve as Belize keeps an eye on export market opportunities, and asked Ambassador Chien to convey thanks to the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for their generosity in helping agriculture grow in Belize.
The facility will improve the function of the National Sheep & Goat Breeding Center by increasing the capacity of barn infrastructure from 400 sheep to 650 sheep. In addition, the related components of the new sheep barn, such as the gutter system (also known as a water harvesting system), will also enhance the management and sustainability of water utilization. It is one of the main achievements so far of the Sheep Project Phase II.
The ceremony not only marked a historical milestone of the Breeding Sheep & Goat Project in Belize but also gives evidence to the strong ties between Taiwan and Belize. The Governments of Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) are committed to working closely together to strengthen the sheep and goat industry of Belize by further bilateral cooperation in agriculture which will enhance the welfare of the Belizean people.
Approximately 50 people were in attendance at the ceremony, including representatives from the Belize Livestock Producers Association, OIRSA, CARDI, IICA, the University of Belize, BAHA and the Pesticides Control Board.

Signing Agreement for the execution of the Regional Project for the Prevention and Control of Fusarium TR4

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.

GRUMA holds discussion with Grain Producers of Spanish Lookout

This afternoon a Mexican delegation from GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., a global enterprise with branches in Mexico, the USA and Europe, and parent company of the MASECA flour brand, met with grain producers of Spanish Lookout to discuss the prospect of producing white corn for supplying plants producing corn flour in Mexico.
This is the first exploratory meeting held with GRUMA and the grain producers of Spanish Lookout. The GRUMA executives are looking to negotiate price and planting schedules for white corn, among other things, with a view to formalize the supply of Belizean white corn to the Mexican corn flour market.
Present at the meeting were Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Quality Feed Mill and BEL-CAR Export and Import Co, Ltd.

Exchange Visit with two Cooperative Society

On Wednesday, 9th of November 2022, the Department of Co-operatives facilitated an exchange program with members of Western Mopan Farmers’ Co-operative of San Jose Succotz, Cayo and the Hopkins Farmers’ Co-operative. The purpose of the visit was to lend support and provide capacity building on cover structure (greenhouse) management.
Both co-operatives have been recent beneficiaries of cover structures from the UNDP-GEF-SGP/BEST/Dept. of Co-operatives ‘Co-operatives Rapid Response to COVID19 and 2020 Floods in Belize’ and have been cultivating bell peppers. Activities included evaluating the operations of Hopkins farmers and making critical recommendations to improve and strengthen their efforts. Re-organization of the irrigation system, the fitting of a string trellis, and the institution of a spray regimen were also undertaken.
The session was led by Mr. Hugo Miranda, Co-operative Education Officer and Mr. Felipe Puc, Chairman of Western Mopan Farmers Co-operative and served to also exchange information on production methods, marketing, and general best practices. Expected outcomes include increased production and improved maintenance and upkeep of the structure.

Vacancy for an Environmental Specialist & a Social Safeguard Specialist

Terms of Reference for both vacancy can be seen below:

TOR Environmental Specialist CRESAP November 2 2022

TOR Social Safeguard Specialist CRESAP November 2 2022

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION

Belize

Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project (CRESAP)

Loan No.: 9347-BE

Project ID No.: P172592

Assignment Title: Administrative Assistant

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): CS 03

The Government of Belize has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) is for a suitable qualified fulltime PROJECT STAFF- ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT as part of the Project Implementation Unit of the CRESAP within the Belize Social Investment Fund. The Administrative Assistant will be primarily responsible for the project’s general administrative and logistics activities undertaken as part of the CRESAP implementation, including safeguarding of project files.

The GOB has appointed the Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF) as the implementing agency for the project and the BSIF is seeking to recruit an individual to fill the position of Administrative Assistant.

The consultancy is expected to be for an initial period of Twenty-four (24) months commencing November 2022. The Administrative Assistant will be supervised by the Project Coordinator (PC) of the CRESAP.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained by submitting a request in writing via e-mail to nellie.trench@sifbelize.org or at the following link https://sifbelize.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/TOR-Administrative-Assistant-draft-for-CRESAP-October-20-2022.pdf on the website of BSIF at www.sifbelize.org.

The Belize Social Investment Fund now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (such as cover letter, Curriculum Vitae etc.).

Minimum Mandatory Requirements *(Required)

Qualifications

  • An Associate degree in Arts, Business Studies, Business Administration, or any other field related to this assignment.

 General Experience

  • Three years’ experience working in public or private sector performing clerical and /or administrative functions such as making telephone calls; photocopying and/or scanning documents (max: 30 points)

*If these minimum requirements are not met, the candidates will not be considered for the process*

 Additional Requirements (Desirable)

Specific Experience

  • Experience in creating, maintaining, and/or updating files based on public sector guidelines (max: 25 points);
  • Experience in writing basic reports in MS Word, assisting with writing presentations in MS Power Point, preparing compilations done in MS Excel, scanning documents and sending via email (max: 20 points)
  • Experience with logistics, planning and scheduling of events for 10 to 20 persons, preparing travel plans (max: 15 points)
  • Experience working in a project environment (max 10 points)

Minimum total points required to be considered for the assignment is 75 points.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultant method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e. 0800 to 1600 hours Belize Time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by November 4, 2022 at 16:00 hours Belize Time.

Belize Social Investment Fund

Attn: Nellie Trench, Finance Coordinator

P.O. Box 459, 1902 Constitution Drive (3rd Floor), Belmopan, Belize

Telephone +501-822-0239

Email: nellie.trench@sifbelize.org