Shane Williams, Reporting

In the heart of cane country, industry leaders, government officials and international partners came together to discuss the future the industry. The BACSuF project is being implemented by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs) with a twenty-five million U.S. dollar grant funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). It’s aim is to help farmers adapt to a changing climate.

              Candace Leung Woo-Gabriel

Candace Leung Woo-Gabriel, Portfolio Manager, Green Climate Fund

“This project is funded by the GCF with grant funding twenty-five million, thirteen million co-financing. It’s meant to focus on the farmers and making sure access to the farmers is met. So how the project was designed and structured, the GCF comes in and derisk the investment. So in the project we actual fund the mechanism to give the seeds to the farmers. So that risk is alleviated and they get the funding for the seeds to begin that process. And also the training is encompassed within that. And not only the seed provision and the training but to create that market mechanism and to make sure that the process is climate-smart so that there is continuity after the project which is about five years.”

The GCF supports climate adaptation and mitigation projects across developing countries, and representatives say BACSuF underscores that mission by targeting one of Belize’s most climate vulnerable industries. Project Manager Darrel Audinette explained that the initiative rests on three main pillars.

                       Darrel Audinette

Darrel Audinette, Project Manager, BACSuF

“Right now the industry is about seventy percent of one variety, so what that means is we are dependent on one variety being successful. That component of the project is the main one. What we are looking at from a menu of eleven varieties, we want to be able to replant ten thousand acres. That would allow us to have diversity within the industry. Diversity means that you have better sustainability within the industry. That’s one of the objectives. The second objective is introducing irrigation and soil management, very critical components to any industry. The sugarcane industry is a rain-fed industry. What that means is it is dependent on the rain. What we want to do is introduce new technology irrigation systems that would enable us to be more predictable in terms of the growth process. Soil health is another important element under that component and so we need to renovate, rejuvenate our soils because generation upon generation of cane farmers have been planting on the same soils. And so the idea of this component is to add biologicals, rejuvenate the soils. And then the last component of it is a major component is looking at the transformation of the industry from both a technological standpoint but in terms of practice, agronomic practice”

Ryan Zuniga, Senior Project Coordinator at 5Cs, spearheaded the proposal. He says success will be measured not only by acreage replanted, but by improved yields, stronger farmer incomes and long-term resilience against droughts and floods.

                     Ryan Zuniga

Ryan Zuniga, Lead Senior Project Development Specialist, CCCCC

“As the executing entity, the Five Cs ensure that all the deliverables and output of the project are realized. So the project has several investment activities and so the Five Cs work with other partners to ensure that it comes to fruition on the ground.”

Shane Williams

“How will you all ensure that the farmers on the ground, the most vulnerable, are the ones who benefit?”

Ryan Zuniga

“That’s a very good question, So this project was designed by the farmers for the farmers. So the entire design of the project took into consideration how we can ensure that the farmers benefit fully from the investment. So for example what we saw today was the varieties. These varieties were developed so the farmers can have seed, actually free of charge. So these seeds are going to be paid for by the project and use as a method to subsidize the replanting cost of the farmers.”

Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, Dr. Osmond Martinez, says oversight and additional support mechanisms will be rolled out simultaneously with the BACSuF project.

               Osmond Martinez

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State, Ministry of Economic Transformation

“What has been approved by Cabinet is a hundred and twenty million Belize dollars for the next five years so as to help with farmers’ debt. So the farmers are highly indebted, so there is very limited to no cash flow whereby they can continue to invest in the industry. The second point is replanting. While forty percent of the industry will enjoy replanting under this program, we also have issues that we have sixty percent that we will continue to facilitate through a loan systems to the farmers whereby they can continue to do replanting.”

The hope is that by combining international climate financing with local expertise and farmer participation, the BACSuF project will not only safeguard Belize’s sugar industry but future-proof it. Shane Williams for News Five.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Climate Financing to Strengthen Sugar Industry first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

              Candace Leung Woo-Gabriel

Candace Leung Woo-Gabriel, Regional Focal Point, Green Climate Fund

“Belize has been quite active with the GCF and we have been very supportive. In terms of farming, this is just one of two. But this one is unique because it is for sugarcane farmers in Belize. there is another farming project that just finished as well, market mechanism for farming in different areas of north, central and south Belize. We have some other projects that we are working with the government on with other agencies and we hope that that can come into fruition. And that’s part of our purpose here and our mission in Belize is to listen to all the stakeholder, especially the country because all project has to be country led so the government is our key stakeholder.”

Shane Williams

“I understand there may be a project in the pipeline for the indigenous people. Can you speak about that?”

Candace Leung Woo-Gabriel

“Well I can’t speak in details about it but yes, as the project lead on that initiative, the concept note was endorsed. So right now that is another reason why we are. We are going to the community tomorrow to hear the community, see the sight, assess what the ideas are for the projects and then we will working closely with the Five C’s and the Julian Cho Society on how they will building on the funding proposals to be submitted to us.”

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Belize Among Most Aggressive In Pursuit of Climate Funds first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The project, called Maya LED Pathways for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Economies, is designed to help farmers adapt to changing weather and strengthen local agriculture and businesses.

Executive Director Pablo Mes said the focus is on the communities themselves. “This is because 25% of the world’s landmass is actually managed by indigenous peoples. And a large tract of this landmass remains forested. And this is critical to climate mitigation,” he explained.

Mes added that if the world is serious about tackling climate change, investment must go directly to indigenous peoples, whose traditions and knowledge are key to finding solutions that actually work.

After speaking with more than 60 high school teachers, Mes noted one concern stood out. While climate funding is increasing, the rules for accessing it often don’t match the needs of those who require direct support. This project, he said, is meant to respond to the realities of Maya families by offering practical solutions that fit their circumstances.

Mes also stressed that the money is not yet available. The government has endorsed the project, but organisers are waiting on final approval from the Green Climate Fund before moving into full proposal development.

If things go as planned, the project could start in 2027, bringing direct help to Maya communities in southern Belize.

The post US $40M Climate Financing Expected for Indigenous Communities first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Belarmino Esquivel, Principal Agriculture Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, said it best: “I think this is a very important extension strategy… we need to move and transform the cultural sector into one that is no longer traditional but more productive, competitive, sustainable, and… more resilient. Very importantly, with a regenerative focus, meaning that we want to… take care of our soil, we need to take care of water management practices… This is a refresher course… farms are already in place in some districts and are being used to train our cattle farmers in the area of regenerative agriculture.”

In simple terms, the idea is to help farmers raise cattle in a way that’s healthy for the land, water, and animals, so future generations can keep enjoying farming in Belize.

Luciano Chi, Regenerative Agriculture Specialist for The Nature Conservancy, explained that this isn’t a one-group effort. “The extension strategy basically is a collaboration effort between different… stakeholders within the livestock sector in Belize, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Belize Livestock Producer Association, the University of Belize, Belize Maya Forest, and The Nature Conservancy… Because we want to continue… doing the transition towards a more sustainable regenerative livestock system in Belize.”

Over six months, 25 extension officers learned everything from rotational grazing to using trees in pastures, improving animal nutrition, and the full concept of regenerative agriculture. “Phase one has to do with the capacity building of the extension officers… we had a guest speaker, Dr Martin Battaglia, who discussed the entire concept of regenerative agriculture and the different principles that can be implemented by farmers,” Chi added.

Learning How to Care for Cows and the Planet

Now comes the fun part: putting all that knowledge to work. The second phase of the programme sends extension officers out to five model farms and 50 satellite farms, where they’ll train farmers on all these greener, smarter practices. As Chi explained, “These extension officers… go and train the livestock farmers… towards that transition.”

The programme also gave participating organisations practical tools to make the transition safer and more effective. Daniel Juan, a livestock lecturer at the University of Belize, said, “There were two sets of kits that were handed over. The first kit was primarily for animal health purposes. All of our participants who successfully completed the training deal on a regular basis with livestock, whether it’s through their extension service or the BLPA services that are provided to the farmers. One of the things that we want to do… safeguard as much as possible the wellbeing of the animals, of course, but in particular the wellbeing and health of the people who are handling these animals… So the kit includes things like gloves, masks, rubbing alcohol and an array of items that are used on farms with livestock… But they will also ensure that the farmers are safe, the personnel are safe, and the animals are handled properly, uh, with care… When they’re performing the husbandry practices on these farms… we feel that it’s very important that the people working with animals have the right tools, the right equipment, and the right knowledge and skills so that they can impart the new knowledge to move the industry forward.”

The second kit was designed to help extension officers demonstrate sustainable farm practices directly to farmers. “Using one of those tools is a self-pastoral system… A big component of the self-pastoral system is being able to rotate your cattle… One aspect of allowing or facilitating that rotational grazing is the use of electric fencing… In the kits, it is set up for the technicians to be able to demonstrate, again, keeping safety in mind… So there are leather gloves for safety, earth rods, wires, poly wire… all the tools and equipment that will allow the technicians to demonstrate with safety to the farmers how to install and operate an electric fence.”

Learning How to Care for Cows and the Planet

Juan stressed that soil health is just as important as the animals. “We have other tools such as a soil auger. Because soil health is a super important component of that transition mechanism… One of the things that we are going to strongly encourage farmers to do is take soil samples and have these analysed. The technicians will then be able to assist the farmers in interpreting that soil analysis so that they can then plot a way forward of how to go about amending their soils… Hopefully one of those amendments will include things like using cover crops, using legumes that are native to the areas and so on… So it’s a very comprehensive set of tools and equipment that are in the kits to, again, promote the industry for the long term and to safeguard the individuals working with the industry.”

The post Learning How to Care for Cows and the Planet first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

On The Phone: Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries

“Over the last couple months, maybe two years, discussion was with them to see how we can get a processing facility to do agro-processing. And lo and behold, for the last two or two weeks they made contact with us and said they were successful in making sure that we get this facility. I believe it’s very expensive. We are talking about four-point-five million US dollars. And our contribution was only five hundred thousand. It’s obvious that Taiwan contribute more than ninety percent towards the project and we appreciate it very much. It’s gonna be based in Central Farm, and then we are going to – taking the fruits from the farmers and put it into value added.”

Shane Williams

“Can you tell us how the farmers will be selected and when do we see this coming on stream?”

Rodwell Ferguson

“It’ll take another two or three months, I believe, because they have to improve the infrastructure and put the machines in place to be able to tell the farmers they are now ready. Because the processing will be in Central Farm, I’m quite sure the people in the Cayo district might benefit more because they are closer, but the same time we can transport the produce from point A to point B once we establish what they are going to process.”

The post Belize’s Farming Future Gets a Boost with New Agri-Processing Hub first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Mennonite farmers are taking part in training programmes covering habitat protection, land management, soil health, biodiversity, water use, energy flow, community involvement, and profitability.

As part of the programme, model farms have been established in Shipyard and Spanish Lookout. These sites are being used to demonstrate practical ways to farm productively while protecting the environment.

Organisers say the effort is intended to support farmers while ensuring that agricultural practices remain compatible with the protection of Belize’s natural resources.

The project is being done with the Belize Livestock Producers Association, the Ministry of Agriculture, the University of Belize’s Central Farm Campus, and the Belize Maya Forest Trust.

The post Farming That Works With Nature, Not Against It first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                               Colin Young

Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director, CARICOM Climate Change Center

“So as part of the projects we have right now is a fifty-million-dollar project that is focusing on building the resiliency of sugar cane farmers in Northern Belize. They’re saying the effects of climate change are having a devastating impact on that industry, which is a lifeblood of the Belizean economy and directly impacts over five thousand farmers and their families in the north. And so through our Green Climate Fund investment, we’re looking at replanting new varieties of sugar cane. We are looking at assisting the farmers with land management techniques and providing seed cane for the farmers to replant their fields, capacity building and also grants that they can help use if they were to abide by certain land management technique. When you look at the projection Shane, the air is going to get even more dry and the rain is gonna become more and more unpredictable. And so what this investment is trying to do is to ensure that the systems are built to help to minimize the shocks from those system in that particular industry.”

                      Osmond Martinez

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State, Economic Transformation

“That again is testament of the capacity that Belize has now to be able to mobilize climate finance, which is a grant. And with that grant now we will be able to rejuvenate the fields that needs to be retired. In addition to that, it will help us to move into more of a mechanized system with irrigation systems in place and systems that can help us to move away from the traditional harvesting into a mechanized system with irrigation systems in place.”

As climate threats intensify, officials say this fifty‑million‑dollar investment is designed to help cane farmers replant, modernize and adapt, so the industry can withstand the harsher, drier years still ahead.

The post Climate Change Centre’s $50 Million Intervention in Sugar Industry first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

On February 9, 2026, Agriculture Minister Rodwell Ferguson and Taiwan’s Ambassador Lily Li‑Wen Hsu signed the agreement for the “Belize Agricultural Product Processing Innovation and Incubation Project”. The programme will run for four and a half years and establish an Agro‑Processing Incubation Centre at Central Farm in Cayo. The centre will introduce new technologies, train entrepreneurs, and connect farmers to markets.

Agriculture already makes up nearly 40% of Belize’s exports and has grown 17% in value over the past four years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. However, without proper processing facilities, much of that produce spoils before it can be sold.

The new project will use Taiwan’s advanced technology and expertise to help about 200 farmers start their own small agro-processing businesses, turning fresh produce into products with a longer shelf life that can sell at higher market prices.

Taiwan has long been a development partner for Belize, supporting agriculture and other sectors.

The post Belize Farmers Get U.S. $4.5M Lifeline first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The trip is being organised by two U.S. groups, the Prolific Achievers Academy and the entrepreneurial organisation Pink and Black Honors. Aharon Ben-Keymah, founder of the Prolific Achievers Academy, said the programme is designed to help students become more global-minded and community-centred leaders.

“We’re taking students from the industrial city into an oasis of greenery so that we can bring about abundant opportunities for the city,” he explained to News 5 Cleveland.

Students will explore fashion, agriculture, and landscape design. Among them is Slader Moss-Coleman, who hopes to learn more about landscape architecture and agriculture. “I really hope to take away some fresh ideas when it comes to how different gardens are built and how they’re set up in different ways that I can improve the environment and make a healthy ecosystem,” she said.

For Belize, the trip is a chance to showcase the country’s agricultural practices, creative industries, and natural environment to young learners from abroad.

“We feel as if there’s a demand for children to be in the agribusiness industry as it’s growing,” Ben-Keymah said.

The post Cleveland Students To Learn About Agriculture in Belize first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Shane Williams, Reporting

Tucked away in the tranquil haven that is Trinidad Village, the Belize High School of Agriculture offers free secondary education, complete with daily nutritious meals, transportation and hands-on training that blends academics with real-world skills.

                      Abel Celiz

Abel Celiz, Principal, Belize High School of Agriculture

“What is unique about Belize High School of Agriculture is that we are an institution that emphasizes on agriculture. We have a wide range of agriculture programs that provide, that give students the skills, real life skills and practical experiences so that they can become productive citizens.”

Shane Williams

“Tell us what we would experience here on a day-to-day basis with the students.”

Abel Celiz

“What you will see every day is students working out in the sun planting and taking care of all the different plants that we have. And we also have different programs. Like I said, some of them take care of the sheep. We have tilapia farming. We have poultry, that includes layers and broilers. And also we have Apiculture, beekeeping. So students are involved in a lot of activities on a daily basis.”

Agriculture isn’t an afterthought here at BHSA, it’s the foundation. Students learn modern farming practices, animal husbandry, environmental stewardship and leadership, preparing them not just for exams, but for life.

                        Delsi Deodanes

Delsi Deodanes, Belize High School of Agriculture

“It’s wonderful. It’s like being with a family that always gives you love with friendship. And in agriculture I feel good because I am from San Carlos and we practice agriculture. And we plant, we farm, we harvest our own food. We sell in the market and being here I feel like if I am in my village, my home where I have grown.”

For many students, the experience is transformative. Free tuition removes financial barriers, while a safe, structured environment allows young people from across Belize to discover their potential.

                      Zaire Gonzalez

Zaire Gonzalez, Student, Belize High School of Agriculture

“Yeah, I see it as a huge benefit because I live with my mom and two brothers. So, I work part-time in the evenings and Saturdays and Sundays too to help my mom and help myself as well with the things I need here and there. So it is something good. I come to learn and I’m looking forward to finishing my 4th form and graduating. I’ve liked the school so far, and I’ve enjoyed the journey here.”

Beyond the fields, students thrive in sports, culture clubs, cadets, music, and student government, building confidence and discipline along the way. From classroom instruction to agricultural plots, from team sports to national celebrations, BHSA prides itself on shaping well-rounded students rooted in Belizean culture. With a clear mission and a growing vision, the Belize High School of Agriculture is cultivating the leaders of tomorrow. Ernesto Pech is the school’s Director of Agriculture. He has been at BHSA for twenty-nine years and has taught some of today’s policymakers.

                    Ernesto Pech

Ernesto Pech, Director of Agriculture, Belize High School of Agriculture

“Individuals Graduating out of BHSA have been exemplary; for example, right now the Chief Agricultural Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture graduated from here Dr. Pasqual. Most of them have been successful. They have become – they have done their degrees. They have their Masters. There is this other young man as well, Luciano Chi, who works for SIRDI. He also has his doctorate degree, graduated from BHSA. We have Mr. Esquivel who is – I think is also a little underneath the Chief Agricultural Officer, he is one of the managers, directors in the Ministry of Agriculture as well, another graduate from BHSA.”

Second Form student Tracy Mojica is among hundreds of students from Northern Belize hoping to follow in the footsteps of the school’s distinguished graduates.

                        Tracy Mojica

Tracy Mojica, Student, Belize High School of Agriculture

“I am from San Felipe Village and my village has a lot to do about cattle. And I want to show the world that we girls can be as well farmers and so they know not only males can be farmers and we can do it.”

Abel Celiz

“I just encourage those in standard six in primary school to join our institution because here we teach them not only the by the books, but also with each them the skills necessary that they can become productive citizens, especially in the agriculture sector.”

You can find some of BHSA’s hottest products in northern shops. This is a school proving that when education meets community’s needs, the seeds planted today will bloom wonderfully tomorrow. For News Five’s Kolcha Tuesday, I’m Shane Williams reporting from the Belize High School of Agriculture.

The post Inside Belize’s Agriculture High School Where Students Grow Futures first appeared on Greater Belize Media.