More food, More farmers, More exports: Ministry of Agriculture sets new priorities for Belize

By Zoila Palma:  The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise held its 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on August 13 and 14, 2026, at the Russell “Chiste” Auditorium in Dangriga Town.

The meeting brought together ministry leadership, technical officers and industry stakeholders to review the sector’s performance for the 2025/26 fiscal year and establish strategic priorities for 2026/27.

Minister of Agriculture Rodwell Ferguson highlighted the importance of agriculture to Belize’s economy, noting that the sector contributes approximately 15 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said the Ministry is focused on increasing production, encouraging investment and expanding access to export markets, while also strengthening national food security, supporting small and medium-sized farmers and improving the sector’s resilience to climate-related losses.

The AGM also addressed the growing financial pressures facing farmers and the Government, including rising production costs and losses associated with severe climate events.

Discussions emphasized the need to balance requests for subsidies with available government resources while developing more sustainable support systems for the agricultural sector.

 Chief Executive Officer Servulo Baeza also presented an overview of the sector’s performance, including an assessment of ongoing programs and key areas of agricultural production.

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