Five-Day Climate-Smart Agriculture Training Underway in Belmopan

The Government of Belize continues to strengthen climate resilience within the agricultural sector, as a five-day Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture, PICSA, training workshop got underway yesterday in Belmopan.  The workshop, being held at the National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds, is designed to equip key agricultural stakeholders with climate-smart information to enhance farming practices across the country.   Participants include representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute, and the University of Belize.  In addressing the gathering, Minister of Agriculture Rodwell Ferguson underscored the importance of climate-smart knowledge in safeguarding and advancing Belize’s agricultural productivity.  He spoke with Love News, highlighting the importance of blending blend agriculture and climate change.

The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Disaster Risk Management, the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, the National Meteorological Service, and the University of Reading, with funding provided through the World Bank-financed Climate Resilient Agriculture Project, CRESAP.  In related news, Minister Ferguson pointed to a key example of how climate change and agriculture are linked.  He noted that there is unusual mango blossom activity along the Stann Creek Valley, an area not typically known for large mango yields. He says the development could present new economic opportunities if properly harnessed.

The training includes practical field sessions at Central Farm and is scheduled to conclude on Friday. Following completion, District Agriculture Coordinators and Extension Officers are expected to cascade the knowledge and tools to farmers nationwide.