Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Health (OIRSA) celebrates 69th anniversary, Regional Agricultural Health Day

Photo Credit: MAFSE

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Health (OIRSA) on Friday celebrated its 69^th anniversary and the Regional Agricultural Health Day. The double-day ceremony and social event was held at Maracas El Gran Mestizo resort in Orange Walk.

Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai, in his guest speaker address, said agriculture is extremely important to Belize’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He also thanked OIRSA for its role in keeping the country free of plant and animal pests and diseases. Minister Mai reiterated the importance of being constantly alert to any threats to agriculture in Belize.

OIRSA was created in 1953 to provide assistance to the Ministries of Agriculture in member countries. OIRSA supports the nine member countries in protecting their agricultural resources in order to guarantee that their agriculture is healthy and safe for the welfare of their populations.

As an international organization, OIRSA works closely with but is independent of the Ministry of Agriculture. 

OIRSA Country Representative Fermin Blanco was accompanied at the event by Prime Minister John Briceño, Ambassador of Republic of China (Taiwan) David Kuan-Chou Chien, Minister Mai, Orange Walk Mayor Ladrick Sheppard, CEOs Rolando Zetina and Servulo Baeza, Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) Managing Director Zoe Zetina, and technical personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, BAHA and OIRSA, and other guests.

Entertainment for the social event was provided by Grupo Norteño Los Felix.

OIRSA said that on October 29, the organization celebrates the Regional Agricultural Health Day to recognize the efforts of the men and women who work for us to have agriculture and livestock that are free of pests and diseases.

Other countries where OIRSA is present include Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.

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