Belize farmers to get support in sustainable market access for produce

The government of Belize (GOB) informed that they, with the financing of BZ$40 Million from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), has embarked on a six-year Programme, Resilient Rural Belize (RRB), which aims to minimize the impacts of climatic and economic events on small farmers while supporting sustainable market access for their produce.

Tuesday, 6th July 2021

MATCHING GRANT FUND AGREEMENT – SIGNING CEREMONY
Monday, July 5, 2021 Valley of Peace Farmers’ Land, Cayo District, BELIZE

Belize: The government of Belize (GOB) informed that they, with the financing of BZ$40 Million from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), has embarked on a six-year Programme, Resilient Rural Belize (RRB), which aims to minimize the impacts of climatic and economic events on small farmers while supporting sustainable market access for their produce. Also, The Programme Management Unit (PMU), acting through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment (Lead Programme Agency) and working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, has overall responsibility for programme implementation, including the administration and implementation of the Programme’s Matching Grant Fund (MGF).

Moreover, the main objective of which is to support the achievement of the Programme’s objectives by co-financing investments that would improve, in volume and quality, small farmer agricultural production and safeguard food security in the context of existing and projected climate change effects. Working with Producers’ Organizations, the Programme will provide support for the development of a business plan, which shall identify proposed investments, including technical assistance and capacity building, aimed at achieving the above objectives, and which shall be used as the basis for accessing support from the Matching Grant Fund (MGF). Notably, on Monday, July 5, 2021, the Government of Belize and the Valley of Peace Farmers Association Holdings Limited has signed an agreement, which will allow for the provision of support to the Association by the Government of Belize through the Programme’s Matching Grant Fund for investments identified in the second business plan to have been prepared and approved under the Programme. Additionally, These investments include the construction of a climate-resilient office, packing and storage center with equipment, irrigation equipment (water pump, water tanks, PVC piping, hoses & sprinklers), construction of climate-smart seedling nursery with equipment and the provision of technical help and capacity building geared toward improving governance, administration, financial operations and marketing; introducing climate-smart agricultural techniques; and improving production scheduling, planning and product quality. The government of Belize, in their press release, further stated that the Valley of Peace Farmers Association Holdings Limited registered as an Association has been engaged with the RRB programme and the Department of Co-operative over the past two years, and to date, many of the members have been trained on numerous topics by the Department of Co-operative. The Association is based in Valley of Peace, Cayo District, and produce a variety of vegetables. The press statement added, " They believe that they have a competitive advantage with cabbage, lettuce and onions, and thus the business proposal concentrates on improving capacity and market opportunities of these crops. The total number of beneficiaries to be positively affected by the proposed investment is estimated at 185 persons, including 28 women and 80 youths."