Sheep and Goat Slaughtering and Nutrition Management Workshop

Twenty-five individuals, comprising of Livestock Technical Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, BAHA, BLPA, University of Belize lecturer and sheep and goat farmers are currently attending a three-day training on “Sheep and Goat Slaughtering and Nutrition Management Workshop” at the Drift Inn & Aguada Hotel in Santa Elena.

The training is through a collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) and the Taiwan ICDF Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project.

The aim of the workshop is to train instructors in Sheep and Goat Nutrition Feeding Management and Slaughtering Techniques. Whereas creating value adding to the local lamb and mutton while improving the productivity of the national sheep and goat industry in Belize. The training includes sessions of nutrition management, hygiene practices of slaughterhouse, animal welfare and meat cuts processing, as well as demonstrations and practices in slaughtering and carcass production. Facilitators for the training are three experts from the University of San Carlos in Guatemala.

Minister of Agriculture attends the National Coconut Fair 2022 in Brazil

Minister of Agriculture attends the National Coconut Fair 2022 in Brazil
Minister Jose Abelardo Mai and Chief Executive Officer Servulo Baeza are leading a delegation of eight entrepreneurs to participate in the National Coconut Fair (Fenacoco) in Brazil.
The delegation will be visiting EMBRAPA Agroindústria Tropical in Fortaleza to get first-hand experience in the advanced technical knowledge of the institution, as well discuss future cooperation projects, and the commercialization of national machinery and equipment.
The National Coconut Fair (Fenacoco) in Brazil was created to study, discuss, and promote the coconut production chain, for Brazil and the world.
The three day event will be held at the hotel Praia Centro, from the 10th to the 12th of August 2022. The events attract producers, entrepreneurs, and managers of the public and private sectors of areas related to culture, products, derivatives, processing of dry coconut shell residues, green and endocarp, cooperatives, artisans, environmentalists, researchers, engineers, architects, professionals, teachers, students, press and other interested in the sustainability of the various types of coconut existing in the world.
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Training on African Swine Fever

August 9, 2022:
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority Animal Health Department, along with the Cayo Extension Service conducted a training session on African Swine Fever for pig producers from the Cayo district.
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The main objective was to conduct public awareness targeting swine producers on African Swine Fever and Bio-Security methods. The training venue was the BAHA Conference Room, Central
Farm.
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African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, with a mortality rate that can reach 100%. It is not a danger to human health, but it has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economy. There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF.
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The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages, or bacon. Therefore, human behavior can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not taken.
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Organic Fertilizer Training on how to do Bokashi

Organic Fertilizer Training on how to do Bokashi

11 members from Los Agricultores del Paraiso Group attended a training session on Bokashi Preparation. The event was held in Paraiso Village, Corozal District.
The training was facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise along with Resilient Rural Belize.
Bokashi is a type of composting in which you seal food scraps and organic waste in an airtight container.
Due to the high cost of fertilizer the Ministry has been working with farmers to implement new alternative to defray the cost of fertilizers.
Present at the training session were Extension Officers Mr. Carlos Martinez, Mr. Samuel Cocom and Ms. Sandra Medina from Resilient Rural Belize.

Poultry Health Management Training For Subsistence Farmers

Poultry Health Management Training For Subsistence Farmers
15 women from the village of San Narciso and San Victor in the Corozal District received two days of training on Poultry Health Management.
The women, who are beneficiaries under the Resilient Rural Belize project, received training on proper bio-security and husbandry practices. They also learnt about the different diseases and vaccines administered to poultry. At the end of the training each participant was awarded a certificate of completion.
The training was organized by Resilient Rural Belize Extension Officer Ms. Sandra Medina and Extension Officer from the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Emilio Perez. Facilitators for the training were Dr. Joe Myers & Mr. Sair Pech from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), along with Dr. Victor Gongora and Mr. Armando Cowo from the Belize Poultry Association.
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Employment Opportunity for Extension Officers being hired for Sembrando Vida Project

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Exchange Visits among Cooperatives

Exchange Visits among Cooperatives
Resilient Rural Belize Program and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise through the Department of Co-operatives and the Extension Services collaborated on an exchange visit. Co-operativa De Los Buenos Amigos Co-operative Society Ltd and Trio Farmers for Development Co-operative Society Ltd, both of the Toledo District along with Chileros Del Sur Cow Pen of the Stann Creek District visited with Servicios Varios El Progresso Co-operative Society Ltd and Laguna Farmers’ Co-operative Society Ltd, both of Valley of Peace, Cayo District.
The purpose of the visit was to strengthen their institutional capacities through learning and sharing of experiences. A field trip to the production site of Laguna Farmers’ Co-operative was also undertaken with a view to enable participants to learn and share practical experiences in the different agricultural production systems and on the best practices utilized for various crops.
While the direction of the training was two-fold (organizational and agricultural production and marketing) more emphasis was given to organizational and management aspects. The aim is for capacity building and development that will improve knowledge and practices of the producer organizations enabling them to integrate the experience gained into their daily activities and operations.

Co-financing Investments to Improve Small Farmer Agricultural Production

The Government of Belize (GOB), with financing of BZ$ 40 Million from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and participating beneficiaries has embarked on a six-year Programme, Resilient Rural Belize (RRB), which aims to minimize the impacts of climatic and economic events on small farmers while supporting sustainable market access for their produce.
The Programme Management Unit of the Be-Resilient Programme (PMU), acting through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment (Lead Programme Agency) and working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, has overall responsibility for programme implementation, including the administration and implementation of the Programme’s Matching Grant Fund (MGF), the main objective of which is to support the achievement of the Programme’s objectives by co-financing investments that would improve, in volume and quality, small farmer agricultural production and safeguard food security in the context of existing and projected climate change effects. Working with Producers’ Organizations, the Programme is providing support for the development of business plans, which identify proposed investments, including technical assistance and capacity building, aimed at achieving the above objectives, and which shall be used as the basis for accessing support from the Matching Grant Fund.
As a follow-up to Matching Grant Fund Agreement signed on December 2nd, 2021, between the Government of Belize and the New River Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited, located in San Carlos Village, Orange Walk District, the RRB Programme will provide support for a total amount of BZ$ 255,530.00. This money will be used by the members of the Co-operative to become more resilient by working cooperatively and build an Office, Storage and Marketing Centre in the community and to hire a Marketing and Administrative Officer to manage customers and suppliers. It will support members to receive, sort, store and sell all the produce from 17 acres of onions and 6 acres of carrots to be cultivated both cooperatively and individually. Other activities will also include the financing of a capacity building plan, to improve management, reduce chemical use, improve water management for irrigation, quality control and enhance gender equity. The MGF also aims to increase the economic, social, and environmental resilience of the Co-operative. It is expected that this investment will positively impact directly 29 households representing the 39 members of the Co-operative.
On Thursday, July 28, 2022, the New River Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited will be presented with office and processing equipment, to support this initiative. These equipment will include: a printer, desktop computer, refrigerator and plastic crates. These equipment, valued at BZ$ 8,000.00, will be handed over by Hon. José Abelardo Mai – Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprises – on behalf of the Resilient Rural Belize Programme, in compliance with the first phase of the implementation process.

Value Adding of Fruits and Vegetables

Training in Value Adding of Fruits and Vegetables for Farmers in the Belize District
20 farmers from Bomba, Maskall, Nagu Bank, Rockstone Pond and Lucky Strike attended a training session in value adding of fruits and vegetables. The training was organized by the Belize District Agriculture Department with the support of the Central Farm Agro-Processing Unit.
The training conducted included the preparation of jams, pasta sauce, salsa casera and tomato preservation. This activity was hosted to instill and develop the potential of small-scale, rural-based food processing as an element of the food chain, enhancing the capabilities to diversity and increase food products as well as to serve as an incentive for producers to reduce food loss due to overproduction and market price fluctuations.
The training had participation of men, women and youths involved in farming.
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Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Impact Survey

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with CARICOM, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), launches the fifth round of the Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Impact Survey.
The survey aims to inform analysis and decision-making of governments in the region in view of their continued response and recovery efforts. This interim survey aims to build on the data collected in the previous four rounds highlighting the impact of COVID-19, and gather the emerging impact of the cost-of-living crisis in the Caribbean, as catalyze by the Ukraine crisis on food security and livelihoods.
The survey is available in English and Spanish and will be open between the dates of July 19 and August 2, 2022.
The Caribbean Food Security and Livelihoods Impact Survey July/Aug 2022 can be accessed at:https://arcg.is/1ueTOb0