Ministers Tour Big Falls Rice Mill as Part of Agriculture Ministry Annual Meeting

The Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC) hosted a tour of its Big Falls Rice Mill this morning, welcoming a delegation of government ministers to the Toledo facility. The visit provided an overview of the mill’s operations and its role in the country’s agricultural sector.  The high-level delegation was led by Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise; Oscar Requena, Minister of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology; and Osmond Martinez, Minister of State for Economic Development.  The Toledo-based BMDC staff conducted the tour, which included an inside look at the rice milling and packaging facilities. The mill produces and markets various types of rice under the “Big Falls Rice” brand, including different grain sizes, paddy mechanized, paddy milpa, and rice bran.  Love News spoke with Minister Mai who indicated that the tour signaled the launch of the ministry’s 3-day annual general meeting that began this afternoon.

As a statutory body, the BMDC focuses on marketing agricultural products, improving market access, and developing the sector. The organization is mandated to support food security and boost farmer livelihoods through its initiatives. During the tour, ministers also saw a range of other locally produced items, such as honey and fruit pulp marketed under the “Belize Jewels” brand.