Belizean and Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture Extension and Cooperative Officers participate in exchange workshops in La Libertad, Peten on Friday

Photo Credit: MAFSE

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Today, a unique exchange program was conducted at El Centro Genético in La Libertad, Petén, Guatemala. Belizean extension officers facilitated a sheep culinary training workshop for Guatemalan participants while Cooperative Department Officers attended a Rural Extension Services workshop imparted by Guatemalan experts.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE), a number of its Extension Officers conducted a sheep culinary training session at La Libertad sharing their skills and knowledge with their counterparts from Petén, Guatemala. Approximately 40 rural extension officers from Petén attended this session, which aims to improve their capacity to support sheep farmers in their region.

Meanwhile, four officers from the Belize Cooperatives Department participated in a training session on Rural Extension Services at the same center. The workshop was facilitated by officers from the Petén Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food (Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación). This session will help the MAFSE Cooperative Officers enhance their cooperative development and management skills.

MAFSE said the exchange program is part of a bilateral technical agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise of Belize and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Guatemala, Department of Peten Branch. The agreement seeks to foster collaboration and mutual learning between the two countries in various areas of agricultural development.

The two agriculture ministries have agreed to carry out technical exchanges covering topics such as fruits trees, agroforestry, organic farming, animal husbandry, and more.