Belmopan, June 15, 2023.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) today launched the Sembrando Vida-Belize project at the Yo Creek Agriculture Station in the Orange Walk District.
The project is an initiative of the Government of Mexico that seeks to contribute to the social welfare of 2,000 Belizean small farmers. The project started with registration and interviews of the farmers in August 2022 throughout the country.
The three main components of the project are an economic package consisting of BZ$2,000 for the duration of the eight-month project; an agriculture package of seeds, fertilizers, tools, and fruit and forest trees; and capacity-building training. The program will not only enhance productivity but will also provide income generation to small farmers.
During his remarks, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, highlighted the contribution of the project to the well-being of rural Belizean farmers and its emphasis on poverty alleviation and restoration of the environment. He expressed gratitude to the Mexican Government and people for Belize’s inclusion in the project. Dr. Laura Elena Carrillo Cubillas, Executive Director of AMEXCID, also emphasized the fundamental role farmers play in their countries. She said Mexico will continue strengthening cooperation and improving welfare to ensure a more prosperous region.
Mexico and Belize share bilateral and technical cooperation in areas of mutual interest to boost socio-economic development and promote programs in sectors and sub-sectors such as agriculture. The Sembrando Vida project is the product of the signed commitments made by the governments of Belize and Mexico on May 7, 2022, during the official visit of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
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For more information, please contact:
Luis Pook
Communications Director
Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise
822-2243
