Brazilian agronomist conducts Soursop Training for 90 Cayo District Farmers in Ministry of Agriculture effort to develop soursop industry

Published by BBNTEAM at February 27, 2023

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Posted: Monday, February 27, 2023. 5:21 pm CST.

Photo Credit: MAFSE
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Brazilian agronomist Dr Abel Reboucas on Monday conducted a soursop workshop for 90 Cayo District Farmers as part of the effort of Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE) of developing soursop industry.

“The training comes through the Sustainable Development of Resilient Value Chains – Implementation of CARICOM COVID-19 Agri-food Recovery Plan” Project, signed back in October of 2020,” MAFSE said.

“This Agri-food Recovery Plan is a regional project involving Belize, Dominica, Guyana and St. Lucia with objectives of strengthening the technical tactics and process capability of ministry staff to select and develop high potential national value chains and also to focus on one selected value chain per country.”

Facilitator Dr Reboucas holds a doctorate in tropical fruits from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, with concentration in citrus, mangos, passion fruit, soursop, papaya, avocado, and coconuts.

MAFSE said the workshop comprised both theory and practical aspects of soursop cultivation.

Dr Reboucas is conducting three more workshops this week. On Tuesday, February 28, he will be at Citrus Products of Belize Limited (CPBL) in the Pomona Valley, Stann Creek District. On Wednesday, March 1, he travels to Trinidad, Orange Walk District and on Thursday, March 2, he’ll close the series at San Pedro Columbia in the Toledo District.

This is Dr Reboucas second visit to Belize. The Brazilian soursop specialist first came to Belize last October when he conducted several workshops which focused on pruning, hand pollination, nutrition, pests, and diseases, weed control, and fruit bagging.

MAFSE said Dr Reboucas’ second visit is in fulfillment of the Ministry of Agriculture’s outreach to support the soursop industry in Belize. According to National Coordinator for Non-Traditional Fruit Trees Barry Palacio, Belize has approximately 400 acres of soursop. He said the industry is growing as farmers are planting more and more soursop.

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