7 News Belize

Agriculture Damage Dire
posted (August 4, 2016)
The situation is even more dire in the agricultural sector where the losses span four districts, and they are substantial. CEO in that Ministry Jose Alpuche gave us the outline today:...

Jose Alpuche, CEO, Ministry of Agriculture
"The areas most impacted are, as the prime minister mentioned, bananas, corn and vegetable production. In the banana industry, the initial assessment is that in South Stann Creek, approximately 75% losses, in the Cow Pen area 60%-70% losses, and Bladen & Swasey area at just about 60% losses. These losses can be categorized in 2 general production cycles, that is, those for harvest through the remainder of this year, and those for harvest next year. The losses are roughly about 50/50 in the 2 production cycles. The real issue that needs to be addressed beyond the fruit loss is a very critical one and that is to determine whether we have sufficient volume to maintain regular exports. This will need very careful study and discussion between the farmers and the marketers. this is a very substantial point, because it means that even those that are still producing a perfectly good product may not be able to export but let us see how that goes, it requires much more careful study and discussion with the marketers and producers. corn has been severely impacted, especially in the central region, Spanish Lookout alone reporting losses of 75,000 tons or approximately 42 million Belize dollars in losses. In Indian creek, losses for corn is another 7 and a half million. Little Belize reports moderate impact and we still have other major growers to survey. As you know, corn is also a small farmer staple and we expect that wherever damage occurred, and corn is present, the losses are also severe. Vegetable production, which is an important income earner for many small farmers have also been severely impacted. The minister's area, the Maskall Bomba, producers almost lost everything. Similarly in the Springfield and Armenia, the damages are almost total. We still have Valley of Peace and other vegetable communities in the Cayo and Orange Walk districts to survey. An important program promoting covered structure for vegetable production has been severely impacted with virtually all structured being compromised or completely destroyed. The infrastructure losses to small farmers will amount to well over 2 million dollars, and that's only the infrastructure, we are not talking about the value of the product. The fisheries sector, we are estimating roughly a half a million dollars in losses to assets, but this does not include the losses from production stock. You are aware that we are in the middle of the lobster season which is our highest price commodity. The poultry sector lost barns and a few birds, that does not seem too severe at this point in time, but we need closer assessment. Sugar, Santander reports some flooding of field and some minor damage to infrastructure. The northern sugar industry is reporting approximately 7,000 acres of stand over cane with wind damage and potential water damage based on how long the water remains."

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