Ministry of Investment launches vanilla cultivation training for women in Toledo District

Published by [email protected] at November 4, 2024

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Posted: Monday, November 4, 2024. 6:50 am CST.

By Horace Palacio: The Ministry of Investment, alongside the Office of the Prime Minister and multiple strategic partners, has initiated the “Vanilla Training for Women and Girls in Western and Southern Belize” project, launched officially in Bella Vista Village. This initiative, aimed at empowering women in rural Belize, seeks to boost economic opportunities through vanilla cultivation training.

This program, led by the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit (IPCU) in collaboration with the National Women’s Commission (NWC), the Taiwan Technical Mission, and Belize Permaculture & Renewable Energy Ltd, among others, focuses on equipping 30 women in the Toledo District with the skills to grow and harvest vanilla. This training will enable these women to cultivate an income-generating crop within their own communities, promoting local economic growth.

The training covers multiple aspects of vanilla farming, from basic propagation techniques to advanced cultivation practices. Participants will learn the process of hand-pollination, floral biology, and harvesting methods to maximize vanilla yield. In addition, the project aims to increase vanilla acreage in Belize and to create a propagation nursery at Bella Vista Government Secondary School, which will serve as an educational and practical resource for the community.

Vanilla, a valuable spice known globally for its wide use in foods, beverages, cosmetics, and industrial products, has tremendous economic potential for Belize. As the second most expensive spice worldwide, cultivating vanilla could be a transformative opportunity for the country, especially considering the steady international demand.

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Mrs. Thea Garcia-Ramirez, President of the NWC, and other distinguished guests attended the launch event. Together with partners, including the Taiwan Technical Mission and local leaders, they underscored the importance of this project in supporting the economic empowerment of women and girls in Belize.

For more information, please contact Nadicah Galvez, Investment Policy Officer at the Ministry of Investment, at [email protected] or call 828-6704.

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