Challenges & Success

Challenges :

The citrus and banana industries in Belize have long been vital to the economy, generating substantial foreign income. However, recent years have seen a decline in production and exports, posing significant challenges. This report explores the issues faced by these industries.

Production of citrus and bananas has declined in recent years, despite some slight earnings increases in 2023 compared to 2022. This downward trend reflects struggles in maintaining production levels and export volumes, influenced by various factors affecting both sectors.

The Belize Citrus Industry attributes the production decline to factors such as the spread of Huanglongbing (HLP) disease, worsened by climate change, and the disruption of migrant labor due to COVID-19 restrictions. These challenges have strained production capacity, hindering harvesting and processing activities.

The citrus industry faces rising costs of input materials like fuel and fertilizer, driven by global market dynamics and fluctuating commodity prices. Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai is actively addressing these concerns, emphasizing the need to manage input cost inflation to sustain industry viability.

Success : 

The industry has made strides in adopting new technologies and practices, such as the development and use of disease-resistant banana meristems and integrated soil fertility management techniques to improve productivity.

Partnerships between the government, educational institutions like the University of Belize, and international bodies have fostered research, development, and support for the banana industry, exemplified by projects like the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM).

Belize has successfully maintained and expanded its access to key markets, including the European Union, by ensuring compliance with international standards and exploring market diversification strategies.

The banana industry has contributed to the socio-economic development of the banana belt area, providing employment opportunities and supporting community projects that aim to reduce poverty and improve living conditions.

There has been a growing focus on sustainable practices, including efforts to minimize the use of chemical inputs, manage waste effectively, and conserve biodiversity within banana plantations.

overall, the Belize Banana Industry went through many challenges but throughout the years with the help of the  University of Belize and the Banana Grower's Association, these actions contributed to the economic development of the Banana Belt area.