Belize Joins Global Soil Health Initiative With FAO Partnership

Belize has become the latest country to join a worldwide effort to combat soil degradation and promote sustainable farming, through a special training program hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise. The “Soil Doctor Training Program,” is a collaborative effort with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, or FAO. The initiative, part of the FAO’s Global Soil Partnership, is designed to build national capacity in soil conservation and sustainable land management. At the heart of the program is a six-day “training-of-trainers” workshop, led by FAO Soil Expert Juan Carlos Rey Brina. The workshop brings together agricultural extension officers from MAFSE and other key stakeholders in the field. These individuals are being certified as trainers who will then go on to create a national network of “Soil Doctors.” These community-level champions will work directly with farmers across the country, providing them with the knowledge and tools to diagnose soil issues and adopt best practices for soil health. Enrique Rivas, Coordinator for the National Fruit Tree Program in the ministry, said that the major goal of the project is soil sustainability.

The theory sessions were held in San Ignacio while the practical sessions were held at the ministry’s coconut patch in Central Farm. The training concludes on Saturday, August 30.