Belmopan. August 12, 2021. 2:00 p.m.
Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, attended a field day on August 11, 2021, on the demonstration of pitahaya production at Xul-Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The event was facilitated by Mr. Florencio Sung Solis, engineer from the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Pitahaya has become a commodity of economic importance in Quintana Roo, where they now have over 2,000 acres planted. The objective of the field day was to share strategies and tools being used by SADER to promote commodities in the state of Quintana Roo and for the Belize delegation to learn in the production of pitahaya. A working group was also established to exchange experiences between the two countries.
The presentation facilitator was Dr. Ramiro De Alba Becerra, a retired researcher from Mexico’s National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research (INIFAP) who has done research on pitahaya for more than 20 years. The presentation was held at his farm where he grows pitahaya under an agro-ecological system using minimum pesticide application, fence posts and organic fertilizers.
The Ministry of Agriculture will collaborate with SADER to promote pitahaya in Belize.
Minister Mai was accompanied by Mr. Andrew Harrison, chief agriculture officer; Ms. Ina Sanchez from the Central Farm Research Unit; other technical staff from the ministry and farmers.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Luis Pook
Communication Director
Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise
822-2131
