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Boosting agribusiness development in Northern Belize - TCP/BZE/3502

Year of publication 2019

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Policy reforms in international sugar markets have the potential to negatively impact the profitability of sugarcane production and render many farmers uncompetitive. In Belize, where sugar production is the largest industry and accounts for the livelihoods of many small farmers, sugar producers often have limited capacity to pursue alternative economic activities. Therefore, the Government of Belize promotes mixed farming systems, which provide other income opportunities as an alternative to sugarcane production. The aim of this project was to promote opportunities in onion production and thereby support the development of diversified agricultural production for small farmers in northern Belize by improving efficiency along the onion value chain, strengthening farmers’ technical capacities and facilitating access to alternative markets.

Language English

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    Promoting agribusiness development in Northern Belize - GCP/BZE/001/EC 2019
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    Sugar production has traditionally been the largest industry in the agricultural sector of Belize, particularly so in the northern districts of Orange Walk and Corozal, where small and medium-sized producers have played an important role in this industry. However, it is expected that as a result of the reform of the European Union (EU) sugar regime many-small scale farmers will leave sugar-cane production, mainly because of their inability to remain competitive. Against this background, the Government of Belize is supporting farmers in Northern Belize to diversify their production into market-driven non-sugar cane agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration (MAFFESD) sought assistance from FAO to enhance its capacity to facilitate the strengthening of onion, honey and sheep value chains, to increase productivity, quality and consistency of production, and improve farmers’ linkages to markets.
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    Journal, magazine, bulletin
    The value chain approach in Northern Belize
    Issue Brief. August 25, 2015
    2017
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    The value chain concept has become very popular in agricultural development. This brief gives an explanation of what value chains are and describes how the use of the concept can help governments support their farm-ers in understanding market opportunities better and increase their incomes. We will use the example of the onion value chain in Northern Belize to illustrate the use of a market-oriented value chain approach.
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    Project
    Developing and Enhancing Small Scale Agro-Processing Capacity in Belize - TCP/BZE/3601 2020
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    The agriculture and food sector in Belize contributes greatly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), rate of employment, and to the macroeconomic growth and development of the country. Food and agricultural products account for more than 80 percent of Belize’s exports. For these reasons, the Government of Belize (GOB) has prioritized the expansion and strengthening of the agriculture and food sector for the country’s economic transformation. A number of emerging market opportunities exist for locally processed foods in Belize, and the GOB has recognized this. The opportunities include: (i) the demand for bulk-processed products by public institutions; (ii) an interest in specialty food products among tourists; and (iii) a growing local preference for convenient agriculture-based products that are minimally processed. While efforts are made being made by small-scale entrepreneurs to meet these market demands, they lack the knowledge and capacity to effectively process and package their products to be compatible with the size, scope and quality required by these markets. This project was designed to address these challenges. It aimed to develop a national strategy on agroprocessing for small-scale entrepreneurs, to support the rehabilitation of the Central Farm Agro-processing Unit (CPU), to provide technical support for the development of the agrifood industry at the national level, and to build the capacities of national technicians and small-scale agroprocessors in food production, processing, safety and quality management, marketing and trade.
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