Agriculture Sector Shows Steady Growth Ministerial Tour Finds

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries Rodwell Ferguson, along with Minister of State Luis Alex Balona, led a two-day tour last week.  Joining portions of the tour were Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard, Orange Walk East Area Representative, and Orange Walk South Area Representative Jose Abelardo Mai. The delegation visited several production facilities in Blue Creek, including the Northern Grains Co-operative Limited soybean factory, the Hilltop Prime Meats processing plant, and the Caribbean Chicken processing facility. They also toured the Golden Products papaya plant, which exports papaya to the United States, and met with soybean farmers in the Indian Creek area. On the second day, the ministers visited the Orange Walk Agriculture Station, where they took part in a handing-over ceremony for materials aimed at strengthening extension services in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts. Love News spoke with former Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai, who said the annual tour has shown steady improvements in the sector over the past six years, pointing to stronger production systems, better coordination, and increased support for farmers. He also outlined plans to further build on those gains heading into next year’s tour.

The tour also included stops at Caribbean International Brewery in Carmelita Village, the farm of Sustainable and Inclusive Belize project beneficiary Andres Cima, the Northern Dairy Farmers Cheese production facility in Shipyard, and Green Hills Farm, where rancher John Wall showcased his cattle operation.