Plans underway for Belize Livestock Producers Association to implement model farms countrywide

Published by BBNTEAM at August 30, 2022

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Posted: Tuesday, August 30, 2022. 7:32 pm CST.

Photo Credit: GOB Press Office

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Model farms implemented by the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA) over the last few years proved to be climate Resilient and more productive. As a result, plans are now being discussed for the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA) to implement similar farms countrywide.

On Monday, the BLPA met with the Ministry of Economic Development in conjunction with the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management, the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise to discuss a climate change adoption approach for the cattle industry that is aligned with the Nationally Determined Contribution – Belize, said a press release by the Government of Belize Press Office.

“In 2018, the BLPA piloted a project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank to enhance livestock productivity and resilience to climate change in Belize,” said the Press Office.

The BLPA’ Project Coordinator Maximiliano Ortega presented the results of the model farms to Dr. Osmond Martinez, CEO in the Ministry of Economic Development; Dr. Kenrick Williams, CEO in the Ministry of Sustainable Development; Valentino Shal, CEO in the Ministry of Rural Transformation; and Dr. Victoriano Pascual, Acting Chief Agricultural Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture.

“This project, through the establishment of model farms, tested some climate-smart livestock technologies such as the use of water-stress tolerant grasses and legumes, the promotion of forage conservation strategies (silage), the strategic supplementation of cattle that uses local feed resources and multi-nutritional blocks, and the application of water harvesting technologies, among others,” said the Press Office.

“These technologies showed significant positive results, that if implemented on a national level, will positively impact the livestock industry, not only creating resiliency but increasing livestock productivity.”

As a result, the BLPA developed a three-pronged five-year strategic plan. The plan has the objectives of strengthening the governance structure of the BLPA, strengthening the technical and administrative capacities of BLPA and offering technical assistance to other livestock associations, and strengthening trade cooperation and coordination for improved market access and marketing of livestock and cattle products, both nationally and internationally.

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