Belmopan, December 9, 2024.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Investment, through its Investment Policy and Compliance Unit (IPCU), in collaboration with the Corozal Think Tank, DRTX Drones, Ministry of Agriculture, Corozal ITVET, Pesticides Control Board, the Department of Civil Aviation, and the Corozal Town Council completed the 42-hour training titled “An Introductory Course to Agricultural Drone Pilotage in Belize.”
This course, conducted by DRTX Drones Mexico from Quintana Roo, focused on safeguarding current and future drone assets while enhancing the use of agricultural drones in Belize to improve yields, reduce costs, and minimize pilot errors that could damage valuable resources. The course addressed the need to equip Belizean farmers with new skills, enhance the profitability of their operations, and modernize the agriculture sector in the Corozal and Orange Walk districts. Agricultural drones represent a transformative technology that improves the efficiency, accuracy, and profitability of their operations, and modernizes the agriculture sector.
Initially designed for 20 students, the course successfully trained 26 attendees. Participants came from various sectors, such as various farmers using drones, secondary and tertiary academic institutions in the Corozal District, the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), Pesticide Control Board (PCB), Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE).
The training covered important topics such as drone application, air safety, crop monitoring, and mapping. Course participants were made aware of Civil Aviation regulations and the safe use of pesticides.
Present at the course’s closing were Mr. Lincoln Blake, Director, Investment Policy and Compliance Unit, Ministry of Investment; Mrs. Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Chair of the Corozal Think Tank; Mr. Fred Roches, Ministry of Agriculture; Deputy Mayor Otoniel Riverol, Corozal Town Council; Mr. Jose Antonio Texocotitla Pinzon, Facilitator, DRTX Drones Team from Mexico.
By fostering skills and entrepreneurial development, the Ministry of Investment and the Corozal Think Tank aim to promote export-led growth in agriculture and other sectors.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
Investment, Policy & Compliance Unit
Ministry of Investment
BelizeInvestment@invest.gov.bz
880-4728/880-4729
