Belizean farmers diversifying from sugar cane, onion production; receive training on carrot production

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belizean farmers who are diversifying from sugar cane and onion production are receiving training on carrot production.

Today, the National Extension Service held its third session of the Farmers Field School (FFS) for carrot production, according to a Facebook post by Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai.

Fifteen farmers from the Corozal village of Xaibe, Patchakan, and Concepcion diversifying from sugar cane and onion production requested technical assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE).

MAFSE has facilitated the extension officers to help the farmers. Today’s session was held in a field setting under coconut trees at a demonstration plot in Xaibe said Director of Extension Clifford Martinez.

“The FFS approach is designed to allow Extension officers and Horticulture technicians to provide timely and consistent technical support at planting, crop management, post-harvest, marketing, and agro-processing stages,” said minister Mai.

Director Martinez said today’s session dealt with projection, irrigation, and diseases affecting carrots. The first session looked at land preparation and the second at planting. Martinez said that carrots were planted in that session two weeks ago.

The fourth session on September 7 will focus on fertigation (a process that combines fertilization and irrigation), soil analysis, and plant nutrition.

The Farmers Field School is being conducted in collaboration with Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) and includes presentations from the Pesticide Control Board, the Belize Animal Health Authority (BAHA), and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), said Minister Mai.