Belize has two new cooperatives: Concepcion Vegetable Farmers and Northern Sustainable Agro-Producers

Photo Credit: Department of Co-operatives

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The two farmers’ groups from the Corozal District have become full-fledged cooperatives today, according to the Department of Co-operatives.

Registrar of Co-operatives Gareth Murillo said the Concepcion Vegetable Farmers and the Northern Sustainable Agro-Producers have fulfilled the requirements and were registered today at a double registration ceremony at the Concepcion Community Center in the village of Concepcion, Corozal District.

Chief Executive Office in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise Servulo Baeza was on hand for the registration.

Murillo said the Concepcion Vegetable Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd has 22 members: 21 men and one woman; all come from Concepcion Village.

The Northern Sustainable Agro-Producers Co-operative Society Ltd has 18 members: 11 men and 7 women. Eleven are from Patchakan, 4 from Xaibe, 2 from Cristo Rey, and 1 from Louisville.

The farmers range from the 16 to 25 years of age category to the 61+ category.

Murillo said that both cooperatives grow a variety of vegetables such as onions, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, and cauliflower, but stressed that the Northern Sustainable Agro-Producers concentrate on onions.

A number of farmers’ groups countrywide are working on becoming cooperatives. Last Friday, May 13, the Orange Walk Beekeepers group was registered as the Co- Orange Walk Beekeepers Co-operative Society Ltd. The Department of Co-operatives said that the Corozal Cattle Group is seeking membership as a cooperative as well.

Murillo said farmers’ groups must undergo eight different training sessions before they are approved to become cooperatives. The eight training sessions are subdivided into four broad topics: Organizational Development, Financial Literacy and Personal Development, Entrepreneurial Development, and the Structure, Administration, and Finance of the Cooperative Model.

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